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SMS Brandenburg

Warrior1354

Warrior1354

ax - hole
This is a cool photograph that came in. This is the Marine detachment on the SMS Brandenburg with their Model 71/84 rifles. The SMS Brandenburg was laid down in 1890, and was a pre dreadnought battleship for the time. One of the first ships armed with six heavy guns. The Brandenburg and her sister class pre dreadnoughts: Kurfurst Friedrich Wilhelm, Weissenburg, and the Worth. Helped pave the way for the modern dreadnoughts that came to be later on for the Kaiserliche. But she still served proudly in the fleet, and saw action in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion. During the Great war she was mainly used in coastal defense, and a training ship. By then she was pretty outclassed by modern standards. And sadly was scrapped in 1920. The fate of many ships from the Kaiserliche.

SMS Brandenburg .jpg
 
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Great photos Jordan but I disagree with your statement on the Brandonburg class paving the way for the modern Dreadnought type of battleships. That title belongs to the HMS Dreadnought and later USS South Carolina class and Imperial Japanese Satsuma. All three ships were designed around the all-big-gun battleship design.
The HMS Dreadnought was just laid down first in January 1905. USS South Carolina laid in March 1905. Satsuma was laid down in May 1905. Yes the HMS Dreadnought was first and became the name of a whole generation of warships. Germany wouldn't lay down there first Dreadnought type battleship until July 1907 with the Nassau class.
Her gun layout was obsolete compared to the USS South Carolina. The US South Carolina's gun layout had two superfiring turrets forward and aft. Meaning all of her main battery was down the center line. Eventually all navies would adopt the main battery down the center line design.

Gun layout comparison.
HMS Dreadnought
20220630_082709.jpg

USS South Carolina
20220630_082644.jpg

Now the Brandonburg class we're the first ocean going battleships built for the unified German or the German Empire and were the first ships of Germany's own design. They were also the first German battleships to use radio communications.
Yes the Brandonburg class had six 11" guns. The forward and aft turrets held 2x28 cm (11 in) MRK L/40 guns. The midship turret held 2x28 cm MRK L/35. The MRK L/35 was not the same 11" caliber as the MRK L/40. The MRK L/35 had shorter barrels and shorter firing arc. Making it less effective at long range.
 
I think you misunderstood my statement Michael. These ships helped pave the way for the later Dreadnought classes for the Kaiserliche. She was the first pre-dreadnought built for the German Navy. Earlier, the navy had only built coastal defense ships, and armored frigates. The Brandenburg, and her three sisters were unique for their time in that they carried six heavy guns instead of the four. That were standard in other navies. Was not saying she was the first dreadnought, but these ships that the Germans laid down helped pave the way for the later modern ships for their navies. Regardless if the Germans copied the later British design for their next class of modern ships. These earlier ships, helped with the training and tactics. That made the German Navy a better Naval force later on.
 
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The Brandonburg class had six 11" guns yes. Not all six 11" guns were of the same caliber. The forward and aft turrets held 2x28 cm (11 in) MRK L/40 guns. The midship turret held 2x28 cm MRK L/35. The MRK L/35 was not the same 11" caliber as the MRK L/40. The MRK L/35 had shorter barrels than the forward and aft turrets.
I think you don't understand when the midship turret was fired. The blast damage from the midship turret cause damage the ship's superstructure. The Brandonburg class showed Germany that they could make their own ocean going battleships and didn't have to borrow designs from other countries.
Did they pave the way for other designs of ships to be like them? No. The next four classes of pre-Dreadnought battleships designs would drop the midship turret or third turret and go back to the two turret main battery. Hence why I said I disagree with you.

Kaiserliche Marine Pre-Dreadnought battleships before the Nassau class.
Kaiser Friedrich III-class had four 24 cm (9.4 in) SK L/40 guns in twin-gun turrets.

Wittelsbach-class had a main battery of
four 24 cm (9.4 in) SK L/40 guns in twin-gun turrets.

Braunschweig-class had a main battery of
four 28 cm SK L/40 in twin turrets.

Deutschland class had a main battery of four
four 28 cm SK L/40 in twin turrets.
 
Thank you very much for sharing these pics!
I've never seen these before and I especially enjoy the Navy and 11mm black powder pics.
Pre-Dreadnought debate aside thank you for sharing.
 
Neat pics, thanks for sharing. The bottom line is we need to be thankful the Imperial German navy did not have enough years to catch & surpass the Brit Royal navy, otherwise the war most likely would have had a different outcome....
 
feldmütze said:
Neat pics, thanks for sharing. The bottom line is we need to be thankful the Imperial German navy did not have enough years to catch & surpass the Brit Royal navy, otherwise the war most likely would have had a different outcome....
Click to expand...
Agreed. Or, conversely, if the Kaiser didn't build up the Navy as aggressively Britain may not have joined the war. But that's a whole other conversation best saved for cigars and/or a good whiskey.
 
Well the Imperial German Navy had quite a large fighting force up until the end of war. It does make you wonder what would have happened if they left port for one last major Naval engagement. Instead of having the big Mutiny in 1918. But poor conditions, and poor morale was the leading outcome of that mutiny. And Chris is right. That's something more to talk about with a fine whiskey, and a cigar.
 
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