700-02 SMS "VON DER TANN"

SMS Von der Tann was a German battlecruiser (according to the German classification from the beginning of the 20th century - a great cruiser) from the First World War. The keel for this vessel was laid in 1908, the launch took place in 1909, and entry into service in the Kaiserliche Marine - in 1910. The length of the ship was 171.7 meters and a width of 26.6 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 21,300 tons, and maximum speed - approx. 26-27 knots. The deck armament, at the time of launch, consisted of 8 280 mm guns placed in four turrets of two guns, 10 150 mm guns, 16 88 mm guns and 4 torpedo tubes. SMS Von der Tann was the first line cruiser in the history of the German navy. It was built at the Blohm und Voss shipyards in Hamburg. The unit was created in response to the British Invincible units being built at that time. Compared to them, it had slightly weaker main armament, but it had much better armor and a slightly better top speed. It was generally seen as a structurally very successful unit. The unit actively participated in the activities in World War I, taking e.g. participation in the Battle of Jutland in 1916, when the SMS Von der Tann artillery sank the British battlecruiser HMS Indefatigable. The unit happily survived until the end of the war. Upon its completion, SMS Von der Tann was interned at the British base at Scapa Flow, where he was sunk by his own crew on June 21, 1919. In 1930, it was excavated by the British and scrapped.