sms sms second pre dreadnought battleships class german_imperial_navy laid commissioned named german province french region sister ships ship served squadron german fleet commissioning outbreak world war moved squadron saw action baltic_sea august participated engaged russian battleship placed reserve crew shortages spent remainder war training ship terms treaty versailles retained end war modernized served surface fleet placed reserve stricken short time hulk wilhelmshaven dated battleship sold late broken scrap following year construction laid danzig construction number second unit class ordered contract new unit fleet cost marks launched commissioned fleet november ship long overall beam draft forward ship powered cylinder vertical triple expansion engines drove screws steam provided naval cylindrical boilers burned coal powerplant rated indicated horsepower generated speed knots mph armament consisted main battery guns twin gun turrets fore aft central superstructure secondary armament composed fourteen inch guns eighteen quick firing guns armament increased torpedo tubes mounted submerged hull service history commissioning november assigned german fleet joined sister old battleship german_navy consisted divisions battleships divisions squadron supported cruiser division composed armored cruisers protected cruisers assumed command vessel command entire high seas fleet battle jutland eventually serve chief naval staff held command ship years ship transferred alongside sisters time battleships built increase size division vessels march exploded aboard ship training kiel sailors killed wounded world war began august assigned high_seas_fleet squadron commanded vice admiral july following loss cruiser baltic squadron ships transferred reinforce german naval forces area july german cruisers squadron ships support conducted sweeps baltic engaging russian forces august german fleet attempted clear russian naval forces assist german_army advancing city squadron joined squadron consisted nassau class battleships high_seas_fleet battlecruisers smaller craft task force commanded vice admiral operational command remained vice admiral morning august german fleet initial push gulf assigned engage russian pre dreadnought preventing disrupting german clear clear minefield nightfall called attempt second attempt august remained outside gulf dreadnoughts nassau dealt august russian minefields cleared flotilla entered gulf reports allied submarines area prompted german fleet operation following day manpower shortages ships squadron july drill ship floating barracks based kiel treaty versailles ended war specified germany permitted retain battleships older class kept training ship aging ship underwent major overhaul dry docked wilhelmshaven conning tower rebuilt work completed following year class battleship assigned served fleet withdrawn active service february stricken naval register march served hulk wilhelmshaven october sold broken scrap following year
SMS Elsass