List of Battleships of Germany - Braunschweig Class

Braunschweig Class

The Braunschweig class, which consisted of Braunschweig, Elsass, Hessen, Preussen, and Lothringen, was a considerable improvement over the preceding types of battleships in the German navy. They were equipped with much more powerful 28 cm guns for their main battery, although this was still smaller than the standard 12 inches (30 cm) guns used on British ships. The main battery turrets were mounted on the forecastle deck, as opposed to one deck higher as in the older ships. They were also larger and faster than their predecessors, though armor protection was largely the same. These ships were authorized under the Naval Law of 1900.

In 1907 the II Battle Squadron was organized; the five Braunschweig class battleships were assigned to it, along with the five new Deutschland class ships. When war broke out in 1914, four of the Braunschweig class ships were assigned to the IV Squadron alongside the Wittelsbach class ships. Braunschweig and Elsass took part in the Battle of the Gulf of Riga in 1915. Hessen remained in the II Battle Squadron and saw action at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. After the war, Lothringen and Preussen were converted into depot ships for minesweepers. They were eventually scrapped in 1931. A 63 m (207 ft) long section of Preussen was retained for use as an explosives target; it was eventually bombed and sunk in April 1945. The hulk was raised and broken up in 1954. The other three ships were used as coastal defense ships, though between 1931 and 1935, they too were withdrawn from service and broken up, with the exception of Hessen. Hessen was converted into a radio-controlled target ship in 1935 and served in that capacity until the end of World War II in 1945. She was then ceded to the Soviet Navy and renamed Tsel.