SMS Schlesien a Deutschland class launched between
1904-1906 were the last German pre-dreadnought battleships. The rate of
fire for their 6.7 inch guns was slow due to the handling of the 154 lb
weight of the shells.
SMS/KMS Schlesien
The Schlesien, although by now somewhat out dated,
participated in the Battle of Jutland
under the 2nd Battle Squadron of
the High Seas Fleet during 31 May 1916. With the stagnation of the fleet
in port she was used a year later as an accommodation ship, being
de-activated on 10 Nov 1918.
After the war she became a Sea Cadet Schools ship. In 1926/27 she
was refitted extensively at Wilhelmshaven, which included
the re-installation of her central artillery, fitting of a modern
engagement mast, replacement of 8 boilers and re-trunking of her funnels
into 2 units (re-activated on 01 Mar 1927). After various foreign
training journeys she was converted between Feb-Apr 1934, again
into a Cadet School Ship. During the opening stages of September
1939 Schlesien took part with the Schleswig-Holstein in
bombardment of Polish artillery
positions along the Hela Peninsula. She also participated in
Operation "Weser Exercise", (Norwegian Operation) in April
1940 before being laid up. Between 1941-44 she was used as an accommodation ship and also as an
Icebreaker in the Baltic. In Aug 1944 she was converted as a Convoy Escort Vessel. In
March 1945 she used her guns to fire upon advancing Red Army troops in the area of Danzig. Schlesien
was later mined, crippling her in the shallow water of Swinemunde (Pomerania) on 3rd May 1945. The next day she was
partly blown up to prevent capture. After the war the Russians used the
ship as a target. She was broken up between 1949-56, although remnants
of her were still visible into the 1980’s.
Contributed
by Car Proctor
Displacement:
13,200 tons Speed: 18 knots Range
4770 miles at 10 Knots.
Complement: 743
Armament:
Four 11 inch guns in pairs. Fourteen 6.7 inch guns. Twenty 3.4 inch
guns. Six 18 inch torpedo tubes (1 bow, 4 beam, 1 stern) all submerged.
