Gneisenau - German Battleship

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Gneisenau was a German capital ship, alternatively described as a battleship or battlecruiser, of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. She was the second vessel in her class, which included Scharnhorst, her only sister ship. Gneisenau was built at the Deutsche Werke dockyard in Kiel, where she was laid down on May 6, 1935, and launched on December 8, 1936. Completed in May 1938, this massive warship was armed with nine powerful 28 cm (11 inch) C/34 guns mounted in three triple turrets. Initially, the ship's main armament consisted of these nine heavy guns, but plans were made to replace them with six 38 cm (15 inch) SK C/34 guns in twin turrets. Gneisenau and Scharnhorst sailed together for much of World War II's early phase, embarking on daring sorties into the Atlantic to attack British merchant shipping vessels.