SMS Baden (1915)

SMS "Baden" was a "Bayern" class battleship of the German Imperial Navy during World War I. Launched in 1916, she was saved from scuttling in Scapa Flow by beaching and later sunk in extensive gunnery testing by the Royal Navy in 1921.

History

"Baden" was one of four planned "Bayern" battleships, the other three were the "Bayern", "Württemberg" and "Sachsen".

"Baden" was not originally intended to be surrendered under the terms of the Armistice, but was substituted for the battlecruiser "Mackensen", which lay incomplete and could not put to sea.

"Baden's"' crew attempted to scuttle her along with the rest of the interned fleet at Scapa Flow, but British tugs succeeded in beaching her. "Baden" was then carefully examined by Royal Navy technicians.

"Baden" was eventually expended as a gunnery target. First the monitors "Erebus" and "Terror" fired their 15 inch guns into selected parts of the hull and superstructure. Various bombs were detonated on her decks and finally the battleships of the Atlantic Fleet used their main guns on her. "Baden" sank southwest of Portsmouth on 16 August 1921. Her wreck lies in 180 metres of water.

See also

* List of German Imperial Navy ships
* List of naval ships of Germany
* List of battleships

Notes

#The gunnery tests showed that had the improved British 15 inch shell been available at Battle of Jutland the German fleet would have suffered far more than had occurred.

References

*William Scheihauf, "The Baden Trials" in "Warship 2007", Conway's Maritime press, ISBN 1 84486 041 8