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  Hessen 1919  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Braunschweig		97	Germaniawerft, Kiel	24.10.1901	20.12.1902	15.10.1904	barrack ship 7.1916-1921, stricken 3.1931
Elsass		696	Schichau, Danzig	05/09/1901	26.5.1903	29.11.1904	barrack ship 7.1916-1924, stricken 3.1931
Hessen		100	Germaniawerft, Kiel	15/04/1902	18.9.1903	19.9.1905	hulk 1917-1925, target ship 3.1935
Preussen		256	Vulcan, Stettin	14/06/1902	30.10.1903	12.7.1905	hulk 1917, depot ship 1919, stricken 4.1929
Lothringen		716	Schichau, Danzig	01.12.1902	27.5.1904	18.5.1906	TS 1917, depot ship 1919, stricken 3.1931

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	13208
Displacement full, t	14394
Length, m	126.0 wl 127.7 oa
Breadth, m	25.6
Draught, m	8.10
No of shafts	3
Machinery	3 VTE, 8 Marine + 6 cylindrical boilers
Power, h. p.	17000
Max speed, kts	18.2
Fuel, t	coal 1670
Endurance, nm(kts)	5200(10)
Armour, mm	belt: 225 - 100, main turrets: up to 250, secondary turrets: up to 150, casemates: 150, gunshields: 70, CT: 300 - 140, deck: 40 with 140 - 75mm slopes
Armament	2 x 2 - 283/37 SK L/40 C/01, 14 x 1 - 173/37 SK L/40 C/01, 18 x 1 - 88/32 SK L/35 C/01, 4 x 1 - 7.9/79, 6 - 450 TT (1 bow, 4 beam, 1 stern)
Complement	743

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

1st class of battleships built under the 1898 program, differed from the competitors by enough good protection. Usage of turrets for placing of 4 of 14 170mm guns called criticism because of their low reliability and tactical inexpediency.

Besides being bigger and faster than the previous class the Braunschweigs also carried heavier guns as both main and secondary armament, though still, in the former case, lighter than the 305mm guns carried by the British batdeships of the time. Visually they differed in carrying the forward main turret on the forecastle deck instead of mounted above it, and also they had three funnels. Their armour was the same thickness as the previous class, except for an increase of 10mm for the main armament.

Ship protection

Main belt had 225mm thickness between barbettes (tapered to 150mm at lower edge) and 100mm outside them, there was short unarmoured part of WL near stern, this belt was placed on 100mm wooden backing. Upper belt between barbettes was 150mm. 225mm part of main belt was closed by 140mm bulkheads abreast barbettes. Main 40mm deck was connected with lower edge of main belt by 75mm slopes, thickness of slopes outside citadel was 140mm. Main gun turrets had 250mm sides and 50mm roofs, secondary gun turrets had 150mm sides. Majority of 170mm guns were protected by 150mm casemates, 88mm guns had 70mm shields. Fore CT had 300mm sides and 50mm roof, aft CT had 140mm sides and 30mm roof.

Modernizations

1916, Braunschweig, Elsass, Hessen, Preussen: were unarmed.

1917, Lothringen: - 2 x 2 - 283/37, 4 x 1 - 173/37, 18 x 1 - 88/32, 4 x 1 - 7.9/79, 6 - 450 TT

1918, Lothringen: - 10 x 1 - 173/37 (unarmed)

1921, Braunschweig: was armed with 2 x 2 - 283/37 SK L/40 C/01, 12 x 1 - 173/37 SK L/40 C/01, 8 x 1 - 88/45 SK L/45 C/13, 2 x 1 - 500 TT

1924, Elsass: was armed with 2 x 2 - 283/37 SK L/40 C/01, 10 x 1 - 173/37 SK L/40 C/01, 8 x 1 - 88/45 SK L/45 C/13, 4 x 1 - 500 TT

1925, Hessen: was armed with 2 x 2 - 283/37 SK L/40 C/01, 14 x 1 - 173/37 SK L/40 C/01, 8 x 1 - 88/45 SK L/45 C/13, 4 x 1 - 500 TT

1931, Braunschweig, Elsass: - 4 x 1 - 88/45

1931, Hessen: - 2 x 1 - 173/37, 4 x 1 - 88/45

Naval service

Braunschweig in 1916 was laid up into reserve and since August, 1917 used as the auxiliary. During the 1921 - 1926 period she had active service and sold in 1931 on demolition. Elsass since July, 1916 served as TS and had active service since 1924 till 1930, stricken in 1931 and served as test ship till October, 1935, BU in 1936. Hessen since 1917 used as hulk, she had active service since 1924 till November, 1934. Preussen and Lothringen since 1916 served as receiving ships, in 1919 both ships were converted to minesweeping boats carriers. Both were sold for BU in 1931. Hessen was in 3.1935 - 4.1937 converted to wireless controlled target (new boilers were installed (18000 hp), maximal speed was 20 kts), transferred in 1946 to Soviet Union and named Цель (Tsel`) (Target in English).

1919