German Battleships 1914-18 (2): Kaiser, Konig and Bayern Classes

As World War I loomed ever closer, the German Imperial Navy continued their ambitious and extensive policy of naval manufacture. Following on from the Deutschland, Nassau and Helgoland classes, Germany commissioned a further three classes of battleship, each one better-armed, more heavily-armoured and more powerful than the last. The ships of the Kaiser, König and Bayern classes that were commissioned between 1909 and 1914 continued the arms race that had started with the introduction of the Royal Navy's HMS Dreadnought, and represented the pinnacle of German naval development. They formed the backbone of the German fleet during World War I, and served with great distinction at such battles as Jutland and Moon Sound. With detailed technical specifications and operational accounts for every ship in each of the three classes, and specially-commissioned artwork, this title provides an in-depth study of these large dreadnought classes, and the technological revolution that made them possible.

Supported by official documents, personal accounts, official drawings and specially commissioned artwork, this volume is an enlightening history of the key classes of Kaiser, K_nig and Bayern that formed the backbone of the German Imperial Navy throughout World War I. It details the technological revolution that had taken place to ensure the building of these largest dreadnought classes, in particular the developments in size and armament as well as the steps taken to prevent battle damage as Germany readied herself for war.

This account of design and technology is supplemented by individual ship histories detailing combat experience complete with first-hand accounts. The specially commissioned artwork also brings this history to life with a cutaway recreation of the fleet's flagship and the Battle of Moon Sound in the Baltic in 1917 where the battleship Konig caused the destruction of the Russian battleship Slava.

Gary Staff has had a life-long passion for the history of the German Imperial Navy and has translated many contemporary and original documents on the subject. He contibuted to a Channel 4 documentary on Jutland, exploring the Imperial Navy's experience of the battle. He grew up in Australia and currently lives on the island of Palau.