Large cruisers built for the German Navy to be called battlecruisers began in 1908 with the German armoured cruiser Blucher which had the size of a battleship but with smaller calibre armament.  With the lessons learned from the battlecruiser Blucher, the Von Der Tann was built and was a great success.  This was followed by the Moltke Class of Moltke and Goeben, the Seydlitz, the Hindenburg, the Derfflinger Class of Derfflinger and Lutzow, and the Mackensen Class of Mackensen and the incomplete Ersatz Freya, Graf Spee, and Ersatz A.

       BATTLECRUISERS

SMS Bl?her

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  ? Walker Archive. Order Code  PGB029

SMS Blucher used as a gunnery experiment ship before the outbreak of World War One, was sunk at the battle of Dogger Bank by a 13.5 inch shell from HMS Princess Royal at 20,000 yards which pierced the armour deck and ignited charges on the ammunition rails causing a huge fire.  She was hard to sink, probably hit by over 50 heavy shells and two 21 inch torpedos on the 24th January 1915.

Blucher, 1910.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price ?25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP5477

Original republished ? MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price ?5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP5477

SMS Blucher engaging the British Fleet.  German propaganda postcard published 1916

Blucher.

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  ? Walker Archive. Order Code PGB112