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First German Dreadnaughts, The Westfalen Class Battleships,
Westfalen,
Nassau, Posen and Rheinland. German Dreadnaughts all served at the battle of
Jutland (known as the battle of Skagerrak in Germany. A Brief
Naval History of Battleships of the First World war. with these First German
Dreadnaughts. |
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WESTFALEN CLASS BATTLESHIPS (or sometimes referred to as the Nassau Class)
Being the first Dreadnaughts of the German Imperial navy, some short comings
showed up, the Main Armament turret formation gave only a 8 gun broadside,
and very cramped living conditions for their crew of 963. they has a comparatively short
length but a broad beam which gave a stable platform for
their 11inch guns
 | WESTFALEN Built by A G Weser at Bremen and launched on the 1st of July
1908. Saw her first action at the Battle of Jutland, where she received
shell damage. and on the 19th August 1916, was torpedoed by Royal navy Submarine
E23 in the North Sea. The Westfalen became a gunnery training ship on the 1st
September 1918. Surrendering to Britain on the 5th August 1920. and was scrapped
at Birkenhead in 1924. |
| NASSAU Built at Wilhelmshaven Dock Yard and launched 7th of March
1908. (The first dreadnaught to be completed) took part in the Battle of Jutland.
Striken on the 5th of November 1919 and surrendered on the 7th April 1920,
given to Japan and scrapped Dordrecht. |
| POSEN Built at Germaniawerft, Kiel and launched on the 12th December 1908.
Took part in the Battle of Jutland but was stricken on the 5th November 1919.
surrendered on the 13th May 1920 to Britain and scrapped at Dordrecht 1921 /
1922 |
| RHEINLAND Built at A.G Vulcan, Stettin and launched on the 26th
September 1908 Took part in the Battle of Jutland where she received a direct
hit. she also took part in the evacuation of German Forces in Finland in 1918
but also received damage by running aground in the Aaland Sea on the 11th April
1918. Being towed into Kiel later and became a accommodation ship without the
repairs being done. On the 29th July 1920 she was towed to Dordrecht for
scrapping.(1921 / 1922 ) |
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SHIPS DETAILS.
DISPLACEMENT 18,900 tons to 20,535 tons,
DIMENSIONS 478FT(145.6M) X 89FT(26.9M) X 27.5FT(8.8M)
SPEED 19 TO 20 KNOTS. RANGE, 8,400 NM AT
10KNOTS, 2,800NM AT 19KNOTS
ARMAMENT TWELVE 11-INCH IN ( 6 X 2 ) SIX
TURRETS TWELVE 5.9 INCH SINGLE GUNS SIXTEEN 3.4 INCH SINGLE
GUNS. SUBMERGED TORPEDO TUBES, SIX 18INC H TORPEDOES
COMPLIMENT 963 TO 1130
ARMOUR PROTECTION. MAIN BELT 290MM DECK 80MM TURRETS (11
INCH) 280MM. CONTROL TOWER 12 INCHES (400MM)
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