german battleship german capital ship alternatively described battleship battlecruiser nazi_germany kriegsmarine lead ship class included ship ship built dockyard wilhelmshaven laid june launched year months later october completed january ship armed main battery guns triple turrets plans replace weapons guns twin turrets carried operated early portion world war including sorties atlantic raid british merchant shipping operation sank auxiliary cruiser short engagement participated german invasion norway operations norway ships engaged battlecruiser sank aircraft carrier escort destroyers ardent engagement achieved longest range naval gunfire hits history early repeated british bombing raids ships daylight dash english channel occupied france germany early joined class battleship norway allied convoys soviet_union destroyers sortied norway attack convoy germans instead intercepted british naval patrols battle north cape royal_navy battleship york escorts sank men pulled seas crew construction characteristics ordered replacement old pre dreadnought contract wilhelmshaven awarded contract keel laid july ship launched october witnessed adolf_hitler minister war widow commander armored cruiser sunk battle islands world war fitting work followed launch completed january commissioned fleet january sea trials revealed dangerous tendency ship considerable amounts water heavy seas caused flooding bow damaged electrical systems forward gun turret result went dockyard extensive modification bow original straight stem replaced raised atlantic bow funnel cap installed reconstruction enlarged aircraft hangar main mast moved aft modifications completed november time ship finally fully operational displaced long tons built long tons fully loaded length beam maximum draft powered geared steam turbines developed total shp yielded maximum speed knots mph speed trials standard crew numbered officers enlisted men augmented war officers men serving squadron flagship carried additional officers enlisted men armed guns arranged triple gun turrets turrets forward superfiring aft design enabled ship inch guns took place secondary armament consisted guns fourteen sixteen initially anti aircraft guns number guns eventually increased thirty water torpedo tubes taken light cruisers leipzig installed commanding officers commissioning commanded tenure ship commander brief september illness forced sick leave replaced served ship captain april promoted awarded knight cross transferred command ship friedrich october shortly mission replaced killed ship final battle service history operation began november ship company sister light cruiser destroyers patrol area iceland intent operation draw british units ease pressure heavy cruiser pocket battleship admiral pursued days later german flotilla intercepted british armed merchant cruiser aboard spotted vessel hour later closed range opened fire minutes later guns hit bridge killing captain majority officers brief engagement managed score hit caused minor splinter damage burning badly process sinking admiral aboard ordered pick survivors rescue operations interrupted appearance cruiser newcastle german force quickly fled north weather dash south north_sea allied capital ships nelson french followed pursuit germans reached wilhelmshaven november trip battleships incurred significant damage heavy seas winds repaired wilhelmshaven dock boilers overhauled operation following completion repairs went baltic_sea gunnery training heavy ice baltic kept ship february return wilhelmshaven arriving february assigned forces participating operation invasion denmark norway covering force assaults trondheim ships left wilhelmshaven morning april joined heavy cruiser admiral hipper later day ships came attack force british bombers failed hits heavy winds caused significant structural damage evening flooding contaminated portion fuel stores following morning admiral hipper detached reinforce destroyers reported engaging british forces early april ships encountered british battlecruiser radar picked radar contact prompted crews vessels combat stations half hour later navigator spotted gun flashes renown firing germans returned fire minutes later hit twice opening portion engagement shell disabled rear gun turret radar prevented able effectively engage renown battle british battlecruiser shifted fire avoid falling shells superior speed escape pursuing renown heavy seas high speed pair battleships escaped caused ship large amounts water forward forward turret action severe flooding mechanical problems starboard turbines developed running speed forced ships reduce speed knots mph reached point north west norway april ships turned west hours temporary repairs effected day steaming west ships turned south admiral hipper april raf patrol aircraft spotted ships day prompted air attack german warships protected poor visibility ships safely reached port later day returned germany repaired kiel repair process aircraft catapult installed rear gun turret removed ships left wilhelmshaven june return norway joined admiral hipper destroyers purpose sortie allied efforts resupply relieve pressure german troops fighting norway june squadron tanker refuel admiral hipper destroyers day british corvette discovered sunk oil tanker germans launched float planes search allied vessels admiral hipper destroyers sent destroy long tons passenger ship atlantis hospital ship allowed proceed admiral detached admiral hipper destroyers refuel trondheim steam area german battleships spotted british aircraft carrier glorious escorting destroyers ardent range closer fired minutes opening fire scored hit range shell struck carrier upper hangar started large fire minutes later shell struck bridge killed glorious captain destroyers attempted cover glorious smoke screens german battleships track carrier radar range fallen firing carrier approximately hour shooting german battleships sent glorious sank destroyers sinking managed hit torpedo hit forward superfiring turret guns damage torpedo hit caused damage tore hole allowed long tons short tons water ship rear turret disabled men killed flooding caused degree list increased stern draft meter forced reduce speed knots mph ship machinery significantly damaged flooding starboard propeller shaft destroyed damage severe force trondheim temporary repairs reached port afternoon june repair ship waiting following day reconnaissance plane spotted ship raid hudson bombers took place june dropped thirty armor piercing bombs missed royal_navy joined attacks ship sending battleship aircraft carrier june launched dive bombers german fighters intercepted attackers shot seven past air defenses attacked scored hit bomb failed detonate preliminary repairs completed june permitted ship return germany route heavy escort june british launched air attacks torpedo bombers bombers second driven anti aircraft fire fighters germans intercepted british radio traffic indicated royal_navy sea prompted british warships nmi position turned day left kiel repairs carried lasting months operation berlin following completion repairs underwent trials baltic returning kiel december joined preparation planned raid atlantic_ocean designed havoc allied shipping lanes severe storms caused damage undamaged ships forced port storm went went kiel repairs repairs quickly completed january ships command admiral left port north_atlantic detected heavy units deployed cover passage iceland germans radar detected british long range allowed avoid british patrols aid february battleships evaded british cruiser patrol broken open atlantic february ships tanker south shortly february spotted convoy escorted battleship orders prohibited engaging allied capital ships attack called commander closed attempt lure away convoy attack convoy ordered rejoin flagship immediately battleships steamed northwest search shipping february pair spotted convoy sailing west dispersed appearance battleships managed sink ship encounter ton tanker decided new area surviving members dispersed convoy sent distress signals chose cape town gibraltar convoy route positioned northwest cape_verde ships encountered convoy escorted battleship malaya march forbade attack convoy directed boats attack pair boats sank total tons shipping night march malaya turned battleships closed range germans guns refused drawn engagement instead turned mid atlantic sank greek cargo ship marathon ships march march battleships company encountered dispersed convoy mid atlantic sank ships days later main body convoy located sank seven ships totaling tons surviving ships location german battleships summoned powerful british battleships king high speed escape intervention british battleships convinced chances success small decided head brest occupied france ships reached march operation difficulties tubes boilers work lasted july caused ship unavailable operation sortie new battleship air raid july repairs completed july went trials 21st easily steamed knots mph july attacked ship anchored bombers scored hits straight line starboard parallel centerline bombs armor piercing bombs high explosive bombs bombs hit deck forward starboard twin turret conning tower passed upper middle decks exploding main armored deck contained blast joints torpedo bulkhead weakened cause leaking second bomb fell forward rear main battery turret penetrated decks exploded armored deck tore small hole explosion caused splinter damage disabled ammunition anti aircraft guns bombs hit amidships gun turrets failed explode penetrated ship completely went deck exited ship double torpedo bulkhead penetrated hull beneath belt armor bomb hit rear turret ship failed detonate passed hull protected main armor belt hits caused significant flooding caused degree list starboard forward rear gun turrets temporarily disabled half anti aircraft battery men killed injured attack damage control teams managed correct list counter flooding draft increased able leave brest morning july escorting destroyers shot british patrol plane ship reached brest later day went dry dock repairs damage repaired new radar system installed aft power output forward radar increased torpedo tubes installed operation january conference hitler decision return heavy cruiser germany intention deploy vessels norway allied convoys soviet_union called channel dash operation avoid increasingly effective allied radar patrol aircraft atlantic vice admiral commander given command operation early february swept route english channel british february left brest entered channel hour later ships sped knots mph french coast voyage british failed detect departure submarine tasked observing port withdrawn batteries passed point joined flotilla torpedo boats torpedo boats led aboard destroyer general der general fighter force directed luftwaffe fighter bomber forces operation fighters flew height avoid detection british radar network liaison officers present ships german aircraft arrived later jam british radar ships cleared hour later flight torpedo bombers escort attacked germans british failed penetrate luftwaffe fighter shield destroyed voyage unscathed struck air dropped magnetic mouth abreast forward superfiring turret blast damaged ship circuit breakers knocked electrical system minutes explosive shock caused damage turret jammed twin single mounts port blast damaged fuel oil pumps turbo generators brought ship halt power disabled emergency shut switches boilers turbines turned power restored explosion tore large hull allowed long tons short tons water ship flooding watertight spaces main watertight compartments took list degree bows meter ship admiral transferred engine room crews managed restart turbine nearly minutes explosion second turbines restarted respectively permitted speed knots mph time turbine restarted single bomber dropped bombs approximately port caused damage ship way launched minute attack beaten anti aircraft fire escorting luftwaffe fighters british carried series attacks unsuccessful anti aircraft guns red hot end action gun burst strain ship struck starboard briefly knocked power system temporarily disabled turbines jammed turned long tons short tons tons water flooded watertight spaces main compartments centerline shaft operational permitted speed knots mph partial power eventually restored starboard turbine allowed speed increased knots mph shock damaged rotating parts ship gun turrets turrets seriously jammed reached jade bight ice prevented ship entering wilhelmshaven waiting outside port admiral returned ship ice cleared noon permitting entrance wilhelmshaven days later went kiel permanent repairs work conducted floating dry dock lasted july afterward round trials conducted baltic revealed necessity replacing boiler tubes deployment norway early august conducted exercises cooperation boats maneuvers collided german submarine caused damage necessitated dry docking repairs work completed september ship conducted training baltic steamed late october new rudder design based lessons learned earlier year boiler turbine troubles kept ship germany remainder december shafts operational complete overhaul propulsion system required early january ship service trials left germany january company destroyers reports heavy activity british airfields near coast prompted force return port attempt reach norway canceled similar circumstances march poor weather grounded british bombers destroyers able journey norway severe storm bergen forced destroyers seek shelter able continue reduced speed knots mph march dropped anchor outside met battleship march steamed repairs damage incurred heavy storms early april destroyers conducted training mission 8th internal explosion occurred aft auxiliary machinery space armor deck explosion killed injured men prompted crew flood magazines turret precaution magazine explosion repair ship completed work vessel weeks fuel shortages prevented major operations months able conduct short training maneuvers destroyers embarked offensive september known ships tasked bombarding island operation destroyed battery guns shelled fuel tanks coal mines harbor facilities military installations particular importance weather station weather information allies schedule convoys soviet_union destroyers landed troops pushed norwegian garrison mountains completing mission major loss september pair british craft mini submarines attacked seriously damaged reduced escorting destroyers november carried hour power trial achieving knots mph noted draught increased metres trials attained knots mph battle rapidly deteriorating military situation german_army eastern increasingly important flow supplies soviet_union december german_army forced continuous retreat luftwaffe seriously weakened long years war increasing allied anti submarine capabilities steadily effectiveness boats effective weapon disposal germans norway badly damaged remaining heavy cruisers committed baltic conference hitler december decided employ allied convoy presented promoted given command task force december ordered ready sea hour notice later day reconnaissance aircraft located convoy transports escorted cruisers destroyers approximately nmi west convoy spotted days later determined course definitively soviet_union boat reported convoy location december ordered action instructions advised break engagement presented superior forces remain aggressive planned attack convoy december conditions favorable attack time year minutes daylight hours twilight significantly limited operational freedom germans concerned developments allied radar directed fire control allowed british battleships fire great accuracy darkness german radar capabilities opponents destroyers left port open sea hours later received instructions conduct attack heavy seas interfered destroyers ability fight germans british reading radio aware plan attack convoy position forces accordingly nmi southwest turn position attack convoy admiral commanding cruisers norfolk belfast sheffield escorting placed ships convoy expected direction attack powerful battleship duke york cruiser jamaica destroyers moved position southwest block possible escape attempt hour making turn deployed destroyers line screening remained nmi half hour later called crew battle stations preparation attack belfast picked radar germans unaware detected turned radar prevent british picking signals belfast spotted range cruiser opened fire minutes later followed norfolk minutes fired turret turning increasing speed cruisers battleship hit twice shells failed explode caused damage second struck forward destroyed radar antenna aft radar possessed limited forward arc ship remaining radar capability turned south attempted work cruisers superior british radar prevented successfully carrying maneuver northeast convoy belfast radar contact took cruisers minutes close range begin firing detected cruisers aft radar opened fire main battery guns turning away second time shortly hit norfolk twice shells shell hit forward superstructure disabled norfolk gunnery radar second round struck ship barbette disabled turret turned increased speed hopes escaping cruisers finding convoy chose distance shadow radar way scene duke york german destroyers continued searching convoy success decided return base dismissed destroyers instructed return port duke york radar contact thirty minutes later belfast illuminated german battleship star shells duke york opened fire range quickly returned fire minutes opening fire duke york shells struck abreast forward gun turret shell hit jammed turret training gears putting action shell splinters started fire ammunition magazine forced germans flood forward magazines prevent explosion magazine quickly drained ship fighting thirds main battery shortly shell struck ventilation trunk attached caused turret flooded gases time opened shell hit deck turret caused flooding shell splinters caused significant casualties shells struck forward gun turrets destroyed shell struck ship starboard passed thin upper belt armor exploded number boiler room caused significant damage ship propulsion system slowed ship knots mph temporary repairs allowed return knots mph managed add distance duke york ship shell splinters duke york disabled fire control radar duke york ceased fire having fired scoring hits pulling away hits badly damaged ship secondary armament left open destroyer attacks ordered destroyers launched total torpedoes hit torpedo exploded abreast turret caused jam second torpedo hit ship port caused minor flooding struck rear ship damaged port propeller shaft fourth hit ship bow torpedoes slowed knots mph allowed duke york close turret operational available men sent retrieve ammunition forward turrets heavy guns supplied ordered jamaica belfast range finish crippled ship torpedoes torpedo hits settled water began list starboard ship went bows propellers slowly turning british ships began searching survivors soon ordered away pulled water voices heard calling help darkness crew officers enlisted men men survived wreck discovery september joint expedition find sunken battleship conducted bbc began underwater survey vessel operated scan sea floor locating large submerged object research team underwater recovery vessel examine object visually wreck positively identified september located armament consistent ship sank approximately water hull lies upside debris including main mast scattered wreck extensive damage torpedoes evident bow blown presumably magazine explosion forward turrets lies mass steel distance rest hull
German battleship Scharnhorst