These are popular ships in the German navy, owing to their handiness, good speed, and sea-keeping qualities. The armament is not so formidable as it looks, owing to the slow rate of fire from the secondary battery. The 6·7-in. projectile weighs 154 lbs., and is thus too heavy to be handled by manual power, a fact which takes this gun out of the quick-firing category. In fighting value the ships compare with our Formidables. The coal supply is limited to 1,750 tons. The complement is 743 officers and men. The “Deutschland” was for some years flagship of the High Sea Fleet. BRAUNSCHWEIG CLASS. (Completed 1904-06.) BRAUNSCHWEIG. ELSASS. PREUSSEN. HESSEN. LOTHRINGEN. The same in every respect as the “Deutschland” class, except that the armour belt is only 9-in. thick. WITTELSBACH CLASS. (Completed 1902-03.) WITTELSBACH. WETTIN. ZÄHRINGEN. SCHWABEN. MECKLENBURG. The “Wittelsbach” class, to which these vessels belong, has the following characteristics: Displacement, 11,643 tons; speed 18 knots; armament, four 9·4-in., eighteen 5·9-in., twelve 21-pounders, and six submerged torpedo tubes. Amidships there is a belt of 9-in. armour, with 10-in. plating on the big-gun turrets. Although the heavy guns are too weak for modern tactics, the exceptionally powerful secondary battery was considered to compensate for this defect. To older ships of the pre-Dreadnought period the “Wittelsbach” class might still prove formidable opponents. In service they have been found defective in sea-keeping qualities, and the high freeboard and lofty superstructure offer an inviting target to hostile guns. Normally these ships form part of the reserve fleet. Proposals to reconstruct and modernise them two years ago were rejected, on the ground of their insignificant fighting value. The coal supply is 1,800 tons. A complement of 683 officers and men is borne. KAISER FRIEDRICH CLASS. (Completed 1898-1901.) KAISER FRIEDRICH III. KAISER WILHELM II. KAISER WILHELM DER GROSSE. KAISER KARL DER GROSSE. KAISER BARBAROSSA. Particulars of the Kaiser Friedrich class, of which these ships are representatives, are as follows: Displacement, 10,600 tons; speed, 17 knots; armament, four 9·4-in., fourteen 5·9-in., fourteen 21-pounder guns and five submerged torpedo tubes. Protection is afforded by a narrow belt 12-in. thick amidships, which tapers to 4-in. at the bows. The stern has no side armour. [Illustration] =KAISER CLASS.= KAISER, FRIEDRICH DER GROSSE, KAISERIN, PRINZREG-LUITPOLD, KÖNIG ALBERT. Displacement: 24,200 tons. Speed: 21 knots; Guns: 10 12·2in., 14 6in., 12 24pdrs.; Torpedo tubes: 5. [Illustration] Astern fire: Broadside: Ahead fire: 8 12·2in. 10 12·2in. 6 12·2in. 4 6in. 7 6in. 4 6in.