Distant Guns: Jutland
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Braunschweig

SMS Hessen of the Braunschweig class


Description[]

This is the oldest brand of battleship still in service in the Imperial Navy. Many older vessels still exist, but were removed from active service due to their low combat value and a severe shortage of crews to man them. When these ships entered service from 1904 to 1906, they brought several improvements compared to the preceding Wittelsbach class. The main artillery calibre was increased from 24cm to 28cm, and the secondary artillery was also upgraded to 17cm in order to have a heavier rapid firing artillery. Five of these ships were commissioned, all named after German states, but only two are at the disposal of the High Seas Fleet. The other three serve as training ships, coastal defence vessels or floating barracks.

Ship data
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Relative combat value: 5145

Basic damage control capacity: 68%


Dimensions

Displacement: 14167 tons

Length: 128 m

Width: 26 m

Draught: 8 m

Standard crew: 743


Performance

Maximum speed (undamaged): 18 knots

Endurance: 10192 km

Coal capacity: 2000 tons


Armour protection

Conning tower armour: 12

Hull armour: 4

Main belt armour: 14.7 (includes backing slope of deck armour)

Deck armour: 3 (sloped at edges to provide additional belt level protection)

Best armour type: Krupp


Armament

4 x 28cm SK L/40, centrally controlled. Ammo: 320 rounds

14 x 17cm SK L/40, centrally controlled. Ammo: 1820 rounds

18 x 8,8cm SK L/35, centrally controlled. Ammo: 2700 rounds

6 x 45cm C/03 D Torpedoes, locally controlled. Ammo: 12 torpedoes

Ships in class
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  • Braunschweig (unavailable, floating barrack)
  • Elsaß (unavailable, training ship)
  • Hessen
  • Preußen
  • Lothringen (unavailable, coastal defence ship)
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