SMS
Preussen. of the Braunschweig class German battleship. The
class was bigger, heavier guns and
faster than the Wittelsbach Class battleships, The Braunschweig
class autherised under the Naval programme of 1900. launched
on the 30th October 1903 and commissioned into the German navy on
12th July 1905. Served with the fleet until 1916 when she was sued
for coastal defence. and in 1917 she was used as a tender at
Wilhelshaven. In 1919
Preussen and Lothringen were converted to depot ships for
minesweeper motor boats. (F types) . Stricken on the
5th April 1929.. and finally sold on the 25th February 1931 for
216,800 marks. and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven but a small part of Preussen was kept, a
63metre section of the midship was used for explosive trials
target for torpedoes. and nicknamed SMS Vierkant (even
keel or rectangle). Bombed and sunk on April 1945, and
raised in 1954 and scrapped.
Displacement: 14,167 tons,
Speed: 18.5 knots, Compliment: 743. Armament: Four 280mm
Guns, Fourteen 170mm Guns Eighteen 88mm Guns and four
machine guns, also Six 450mm Torpedo Tubes.
