In their original form each ship carried eighteen 5·9-in. guns, but all, excepting the Kaiser Karl der Grosse, underwent complete reconstruction six or seven years ago, when four 5·9-in. guns and much of the clumsy top-hamper were removed. This reduction in weight brought the lower edge of the armour belt dangerously near the surface, with the result that when the ships are rolling the belt comes out of the water, and the lower hull is thus exposed to the smallest projectile. Owing to this grave defect the ships were withdrawn from active service, and have been in reserve ever since they were reconstructed. Maximum coal capacity is 1,000 tons. The complement numbers 622 officers and men. BRANDENBURG CLASS. (Completed 1893-94.) BRANDENBURG. WÖRTH. These vessels are the two oldest battleships in the German navy. The class consisted originally of four ships, but two of them (Kurfürst Friedrich Wilhelm and Weissenburg) were sold to Turkey in 1910, and are now included in the Turkish fleet as the Haireddin Barbarossa and Torgut Reis. The displacement is 9,870 tons, the present speed about 16 knots. Six 11-in. guns of obsolete type form the main armament, which is mounted in three double turrets on the centre line. This disposition enables all six heavy guns to fire on either beam. There are also eight 4·1-in. and eight 21-pounder guns, with two submerged and one above-water torpedo tubes. On the water-line amidships is a 16-in. belt of compound armour, and the big gun positions are protected by 12-in. plating. About 1,050 tons of coal can be stored. The complement is 585 officers and men. The fighting value of this class under modern conditions is practically nil. COAST DEFENCE SHIPS. (Completed 1890-7.) AEGIR. HAGEN. HILDEBRAND. BEOWULF. ODIN. HEIMDALL. FRITHJOF. SIEGFRIED. These vessels comprise the very oldest class of German armoured ships, and are used only for the local defence of harbours and coasts. The displacement is 4,000 tons. The speed originally was 15 knots, but is now considerably less. The armament consists of three old 9·4-in. and ten 21-pounder guns, with four torpedo tubes. A narrow belt of 9-in. armour protects the waterline, but elsewhere the hull has very little protection. The complement numbers 307 officers and men. GERMAN ARMOURED CRUISERS. BLÜCHER. (Completed 1909.) The “Blücher” is the most modern of Germany’s armoured cruisers, as distinct from the battle-cruiser class. She was laid down in 1906, at Kiel, as a “reply” to the British “Invincibles,” then building. At that date the details of the new British ships were carefully guarded, with the result that the Germans, acting on incorrect information, designed a cruiser which was far behind the “Invincible” in every respect. The Blücher displaces 15,550 tons, and is 527-ft. in length. She has reciprocating engines of 32,000 h.p., for a designed speed of 24 knots, which was increased to 25·8 knots on trial.