Gneisenau

Ballistics

Armor Model

Overview

In 1933, German engineers began designing ships that exceeded Versailles restrictions. Initially, the new ships were an enlarged version of the Deutschland-class 'pocket battleships,' but the project was revised due to the characteristics of the French Dunkerque-class battlecruisers under construction. To counter 330 mm guns, the new project received enhanced armor, and for adequate firepower, a third turret was added to the ships. Gneisenau was built in Kiel. During World War II, the ship participated in the invasion of Denmark and Norway, and in Operations Juno and Berlin. In February 1942, Gneisenau broke through the English Channel and returned to Kiel. As a result of an attack by British aircraft, the ship was hit by a bomb in the forecastle, causing an explosion in the forward turret. The guns removed from the battleship were used for coastal defense in Norway. Gneisenau was scuttled on March 27, 1945, due to the advance of the Red Army.