Schleswig Holstein

Pre-Dreadnought

Service Data

In Service: 7 December 1906 to 19 December 1944

Production Data

Ordered: 11 June 1904
Builder: F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel
Construction No: 113
Laid down: 18 August 1905
Launched: 7 December 1906
Commissioned: 6 July 1908

Technical Data

Type: Pre-Dreadnoughts
Class: Deutschland

Displacement: 13,191 tons standard 14,218 tons full load
Length: 127.6 m
Beam: 22.2 m
Draft: 8.21 m
Propulsion: 3 × shafts 3 cylinder expansion engines producing up to 19,330 hp,
Propellers:
Speed: 19.1 knots
Range: 4,800 nautical miles at 10 knots
Crew: 742 men and officers
Armament:
14 × 17 cm L/40 SK L/40 range 14,500 m
carried 1,820 rounds
4 × 28 cm L/40 SK L/40 range 18,800 m
carried 340 rounds
10 × 15 cm L/45 SK L/45
2 × 8.8 cm L/35 SK L/35
carried 2,800 rounds
4 × 3.7 cm L/83 SK C/30
22 × 2 cm L/83 SK C/30
6 × 45 cm torpedo tubes
16 torpedo's carried
Armour Belt 230 mm Deck 76 mm Turrets 280mm
Aircraft:
Electronics:
Operators: Kriegsmarine
Variants:

Other: Pre-Dreadnoughts
Articles:

History

The Schleswig Holstein was a German battleship that fought in both the World Wars. It is rumoured to have fired the first shots of World War II by bombarding at the Polish base at Westerplatte on 1 September 1939.

Career

6 July 1908
The Schleswig Holstein is commissioned.

1 September 1939
At 4.45 am The Schleswig Holstein opens fire on the Polish garrison at Westerplatte which lasted 7 days.

8 April 1940
The Schleswig Holstein takes part in operation Weserübung (Invasion of Denmark and Norway) along with motor torpedo boats and fishing boats. The Schleswig Holstein also carried troops on board from Eckernf�rde Bight.

9 April 1940
The Schleswig Holstein lands Troop at Nyborg.

1941
The Schleswig Holstein is used along Schlesien and the 6th E-Boat Flotilla, for mine laying operations in the Baltic Sea to prevent a Russian breakthrough of ships to Britain.

1941 to 1944
The Schleswig Holstein is used as a training ship and barracks.

1944
The Schleswig Holstein is used as AA batterie equipped with more AA guns.

19 December 1944
The Schleswig Holstein is attacked in an air raid and was hit three times and partially sinks.

20 December 1944
The Schleswig Holstein is still on fire.

25 January 1945
The Schleswig Holstein is removed from fleet list.

21 March 1945
The Schleswig Holstein crew, places scuttling charges.

1946
The Schleswig Holstein is raised by the Russians and towed to Tallin.

29 September 1946
The Schleswig Holstein is is used as a dormitory ship for a short time.

1948
The Schleswig Holstein is scuttled in shallow water near Odsmussar island and used as an airforce target ship.

Commanders

Gallery

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Sources

German Warships, 1815-1945: Major Surface Vessels.
ISBN-10: 0851775330

German Warships, 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels.
ISBN-10: 155750301X

German warships of the Second World War.
ISBN-10: 0668040378

For a complete list of sources