Wikipedia:Today's featured article/February 18, 2015

SMS Bayern was the lead ship of her class of battleships in the German Imperial Navy. The vessel was launched in February 1915 and entered service in July 1916, too late to take part in the Battle of Jutland. Her main armament consisted of eight 38 cm (15 in) guns in four turrets, which was a significant improvement over the preceding König's ten 30.5 cm (12 inch) guns. The ship was to have led a battle squadron of four ships in the High Seas Fleet, but only Baden was completed; the other two ships were cancelled when wartime production requirements shifted to U-boat construction. Bayern's first assignment was on an abortive fleet advance into the North Sea, a month after she had been commissioned. The ship also participated in Operation Albion in the Gulf of Riga, but shortly after the German attack began in October 1917, Bayern was mined and had to be withdrawn for repairs. She was interned with the majority of the High Seas Fleet in Scapa Flow, Scotland, in November 1918 following the end of World War I. On 21 June 1919, Admiral Ludwig von Reuter ordered the fleet to be scuttled, and Bayern was sunk. In September 1934, the ship was raised, towed to Rosyth, and scrapped. (Full article...)

Part of the Battleships of Germany featured topic.

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