German PreDreadnoughts
Entries in bold indicate photos.
Sachsen Class
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Baden Bayern Sachsen Wurttemberg |
The Sachsens were based on the previous Preussen class ironclads. They were built with a sailing rig which was removed during refits. |
Brandenburg Class
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Brandenburg Kurfurst Friedrich Wilhelm Wiessenburg Woerth |
The first ocean going battleships of the German navy were innovative in that they mounted 6 heavy guns when most other ships only mounted 4. |
Kaiser Friedrich III Class
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Kaiser Barbarossa Kaiser Friedrich III Kaiser Karl Der Grosse Kaiser Wilhelm II Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse |
The Kaisers were larger, faster and better protected than British ships, but mounted only 9.4" guns in the belief that rate of fire was better than weight of fire. |
Wittelsbach Class
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Mecklenburg Schwaben Wettin Wittelsbach Zaehringen |
The Wittelsbachs featured better protection that the Kaisers, but still mounted only 9.4" guns. |
Braunschweig Class
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Braunschweig Elsass Hessen Lothringen Preussen |
The Braunschweigs were a result of the Second Navy Bill. Though smaller than British ships, firepower and protection was improved considerably over previous classes. |
Deutschland Class
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Deutschland Hannover Pommern Schlesien Schleswig-Holstein |
The last of the German predreadnoughts, the Deutschlands were a development of the Braunschweigs, and along with them would form the post-WW1 navy. |
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