Kriegsmarine Ship ID.

[Martin W]

Hi everyone,

i was wondering if anyone could identify the ship on this postcard?Is it a Scharnhorst Class Vessel?Unfortunately the name was erased on the reverse.

Thanks,Martin.

[Martin W]

The reverse.

[Mark McShane]

Martin,

You are correct, it is indeed a Scharnhorst class ship. I think it might be the Gneisenau at the fleet parade, august 1938.

regards,

Mark

[Martin W]

Mark,

thanks for the info.I figured it might be that particular ship as it came with another postcard that was titled "Schlachtschiff Gneisenau".

Glad to see you made it over here too.

Regards,Martin.

[Gordon Williamson]

Mark is correct. It is definitely Gneisenau. As originally completed, both ships were well nigh identical. Later, after the 1939 refit, Scharnhorst had her mainmast resited from the back of the funnel to a position further astern, abaft the aircraft hangar. Gneisenau retained the original mainmast position even after refit.

So, on the face of it just looking at the ship details, it could be either vessel pre-refit.

The main clue here is the Admirals flag flying from the masthead. On completion, Gneisenau was the largest warship in the navy.

Photos taken in August just before the fleet review show the Reichskriegsflagge on the mast atop the rangefinder, but during the review itself, which took place on 22 August 1938 to celebrate the launching of Prinz Eugen she became the fleet flagship and flew the Admirals flag from this mast. During the ceremonies themselves, she flew the Hungarian national flag from the mainmast to acknowledge the presence of Admiral Horthy the Hungarian regent.

[Martin W]

Excellent information.Thanks,Gordon.

Regards,Martin.