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Laid down: 6 May 1935
Launched: 8 December 1936
Commissioned: 21 May 1938
Decommissioned: 1 July 1942
Description: Gneisenau was a German capital ship, alternatively described as a battleship and battlecruiser, of N*zi Germany's Kriegsmarine. She was the second vessel of her class, which included her sister ship, Scharnhorst. The ship was built at the Deutshe Werke dockyard in kiel; she was laid down on 6 May 1935 and launched on 8 December 1936. Completed in May 1938, the ship was armed with a main battery of nine 28 cm (11 in) C/34 guns in three triple turrets. Plans were approved, once construction had started, to replace these weapons with six 38 cm (15 in) SK C/34 guns in twin turrets, but as this would involve a lot of redesign, construction continued with the lower calibre guns. The intent was to make the upgrade in the winter of 1940–41, but the outbreak of World War II stopped this.
Design: Gneisenau 32,100 long tons (32,600 t) at standard displacement and 38,100 long tons (38,700 t) at full load. She was 229.8 m (753 ft 11 in) long overall and had a beam of 30 m (98 ft 5 in) and a maximum draft of 9.9 m (32 ft 6 in). She was powered by three Germania geared steam turbines, which developed a total of 165,930 metric horsepower (163,660 shp; 122,041 kW) and yielded a maximum speed of 31.3 knots (58.0 km/h; 36.0 mph) on speed trials. Her standard crew numbered 56 officers and 1,613 enlisted men, though during the war this was augmented up to 60 officers and 1,780 men. While serving as a squadron flagship, Gneisenau carried an additional ten officers and 61 enlisted men.
Armament:
9 × 28 cm/54.5 (11 inch) SK C/34
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12 × 15 cm/55 (5.9 in) SK C/28
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14 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/33
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16 x 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30
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10 (later 16) x 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 or C/38
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