Germany (1898) SMS Gazelle, Niobe, Nymphe, Thetis, Ariadne, Amazone, Medusa, Frauenlob, Arcona, Undine The first modern light cruisers: The Gazelle class has been often dubbed as the “first modern light cruisers”. They had indeed all the trademark of the type and formed the basis for Germany of a long lineage which will go straight through … Read more
Germany (1906) Scharnhorst, Gneisenau The last German armoured cruisers: Before the ones you probably know better from ww2, the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau has been Imperial Navy’s most recognizable and famous German cruisers. Named after famous Prussian generals during the Napoleonic wars, they had been were the ultimate and very best German armoured cruiser, at the … Read more
Kaiser Friedrich III class Battleships Germany (1896) Friedrich III, Wilhelm II, Wilhelm der Grosse, Karl der Grosse, Barbarossa The “Emperors” class – This class of 5 battleships (the “emperors”) included the Friedrich III, Wilhelm II, Wilhelm der Grosse, Karl der Grosse and Barbarossa. Very different from the Brandenburg in all respects, they would formed the … Read more
WW1 German Destroyers Germany (1898-1918) German Destroyers of the great war By their denomination alone “Hochseetorpedoboote”, these ships were not only bigger derivatives of torpedo-boats. By range, size and armament they were meant to escort the Hochseeflotte in the high seas, and not staying in close vicinity of German naval bases. Compared to the Italian … Read more
Nassau class battleships (1908) SMS Nassau, Rheinland, Posen, Westfalen Germany’s first dreadnoughts The four Nassau (Nassau, Westfalen, Rheinland, Posen) were the first monocaliber battleships of the German Navy. They were not however ordered or designed in response to the HMS Dreadnought as often assumed but predated her in the Admiralstab. Another confirmation the monocaliber type … Read more
Germany (1906) Battleships Deutschland, Hannover, Pommern, Schleisen, Schleswig-Holstein The five battleships of the Deutschland class were the last pre-dreadnoughts built in Germany. Ordered in 1903-1905 just as HMS Dreadnought was under construction, they were completed and accepted into service in 1906-1908 and virtually obsolete by 1914. Tirpitz eluded these criticisms by arguing that future dreadnoughts … Read more
