SMS Götterdämmerung

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SMS Bayern.jpg
Rhodeve Naval identification drawing of the SMS Götterdämmerung, the image is missing the third aft gun turret.
Class overview
Builders: Englean Kaiserreich
Operators:  Kaiserliche-Marine
Preceded by: Hohenzern Class
Succeeded by: Nassau Class
Built: 1914-1916
In commission: 1916-1950
Planned: 2
Completed: 1
Active: 0
Retired: 1
Scrapped: 1
Englean Kaiserreich
Name: Götterdämmerung
Namesake: Twilight of the Gods
Laid down: 2 February 1913
Launched: 3 March 1915
Commissioned: 6 June 1916
Decommissioned: 20 December 1967
Fate: Vessel deemed too costly to preserve, essential parts scrapped and ship sunk as artificial reef in 1980.
Status: Wreck currently used as eco-tourist attraction in about 130 feet of water, Haldemar Archipelago.
General characteristics
Type: Battleship
Displacement: 49,000 tons
Length: 248 m (814 ft)
Beam: 35.37 m (116.0 ft)
Draft: 9.90 m (32.5 ft)
Propulsion: 17 Hardelwerke boilers
Speed: 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Complement: 1,313
Armament:
  • 2 x 42 cm SK L/45 guns
  • 8 x 38,0 cm SK L/45 guns
  • 16 x 15,0 cm SK L/45 guns
  • 8 x 10,0 cm SK L/35 guns
  • 12 x 4,7 cm LSK guns
  • 20 x 20,0 cm FlaK 26 guns (1930 refit)
  • 4 x 60,0 cm torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried: 1 x reconnaissance aircraft
Aviation facilities: 1 x catapult

The Götterdämmerung class was a planned set of two superbattleships to be operated by the Englean Kaiserliche-Marine during the First Great War. Planned during the early 1910s, the class was designed to succeed the previous Hohenzern class battleships and to "out-gun" the vessels currently in service with the major nations of the time. The primary feature of the vessel was the inclusion of the prototype 42 cm (16.5 in) SK L/45 guns recently developed by the Kaiserliche-Marine. Ultimately only one vessel would be built, the SMS Götterdämmerung, which would see service until 1950. The Götterdämmerung would see action in the First Great War, being a major target of the Rhodeve Navy during the Hunt for the Götterdämmerung in 1917.