SMS Ostfriesland (Helgoland-class - Billy Mitchell Legend!)
BILLY MITCHELL LEGEND - 1911 Airpower Revolution! - Helgoland-class (commissioned August 1, 1911). 22,808 tons, 20.5 kts, 12× 30.5cm (12") guns (FIRST German 12-inch!). Hexagonal layout (inefficient!). Fought Jutland (May 31-June 1, 1916), hit once, survived! NOT SCUTTLED Scapa Flow! Ceded to USA as war prize (April 1920)! Billy Mitchell bombing tests (July 21, 1921)! Mitchell (US Army Air Service) vs Navy (airpower vs battleships!). July 21, 1921: 2000-lb bombs! 12:18 PM - FIRST HIT! 12:40 PM - SANK! (21.5 minutes!). PROVED AIRCRAFT COULD SINK BATTLESHIPS! Navy disputed (stationary, unmanned!). Mitchell VINDICATED! Public sensation! Navy forced to adapt! Accelerated carrier development! Mitchell COURT-MARTIALED 1925 (criticized leadership!). Died 1936, posthumously promoted 1946! WWII PROVED HIM RIGHT! (Pearl Harbor, Taranto!). FATHER OF MODERN AIRPOWER! PARADIGM SHIFT! Battleship age → Carrier age!
Specifications
- Displacement (std)
- 22808 t
- Displacement (full)
- 24700 t
- Length
- 548.6 ft
- Beam
- 93.5 ft
- Crew
- 1113 (officers + men)
- Ships built
- 1 (second Helgoland-class ship)
- Commissioned
- 1911 (August 1, 1911)
- Decommissioned
- 1921 (sunk July 21, 1921 - Billy Mitchell tests!)
Performance
- Top speed
- 21.2 kn
- Range
- 5500 nm at 10 knots
Armament
- Main guns
- "12× 30.5cm SK L/50 guns" (6× twin turrets - 12-INCH!)
- Secondary guns
- "14× 15cm SK L/45 guns" (casemate mounts)
- Torpedoes
- 6× 50cm torpedo tubes
Armor & Systems
- Belt
- 300mm (11.8 inches - Krupp cemented armor)
- Deck
- 63mm (2.5 inches)
- Fire control
- Improved optical rangefinders, centralized fire control
In-Game
- Tier
- T2
- Game power
- 21.7
- Research cost
- 1,910
- Credit cost
- 15,190
Notable
- **BILLY MITCHELL LEGEND!** (Proved airpower could sink battleships!)
- Second Helgoland-class (commissioned August 1, 1911)
- First German dreadnought with 12-inch (30.5cm) guns!
- **22,808 tons standard**, **20.5 kts**, **12× 30.5cm guns**
- Hexagonal turret layout (inefficient - only 8-gun broadside!)
- Triple expansion engines (28,000 ihp)
- Krupp cemented armor (300mm belt)
- WWI service: Battle of Jutland (May 31-June 1, 1916)
- Hit by 1 large-caliber shell at Jutland, survived!
- **NOT SCUTTLED** at Scapa Flow (June 21, 1919)
- **Ceded to USA** as war prize (April 7, 1920)
- US Navy studied design, armor, construction
- **Billy Mitchell bombing tests** (July 21, 1921!)
- Brigadier General Billy Mitchell (US Army Air Service)
- Mitchell vs Navy controversy (airpower vs battleships!)
- **July 21, 1921 - FINAL TEST!** (2000-lb bombs!)
- **12:18 PM - First 2000-lb bomb hit!**
- **12:40 PM - CAPSIZED & SANK!** (21.5 minutes later!)
- **PROVED AIRCRAFT COULD SINK BATTLESHIPS!** (Revolutionary!)
- Navy disputed (stationary, unmanned, no countermeasures!)
- Mitchell VINDICATED! (National hero, public sensation!)
- Navy forced to acknowledge vulnerability!
- Accelerated carrier development (Lexington, Saratoga!)
- Improved horizontal armor on new battleships!
- **Mitchell COURT-MARTIALED 1925** (criticized military leadership!)
- Mitchell died 1936, **posthumously promoted** Major General 1946!
- **WWII PROVED MITCHELL 100% CORRECT!** (Pearl Harbor, Taranto!)
- **FATHER OF MODERN AIRPOWER!**
- Wreck remains 26 miles east of Cape Henry (180 ft depth)
- **PARADIGM SHIFT** - battleship age → carrier age!