The former German battleship Hessen (13,208/14,394 ts) seen here converted into a target ship for the Kriegsmarine.
She was launched on Sept. 18th, 1903 and was permitted to retain at Germany under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
On Nov. 12th, 1934 the vessel was withdrawn from the service and placed in reserve. On March 31st, 1935 stricken and conversion into a target ship began. Her armament was removed, the hull lengthened and a new machinery installed. Nearly the complete superstructure was cut down, retaining only one funnel (out of 3), the foremast and the barbettes for the main battery turrets.
Hessen could be operated entirely by remote control, steered by the ex-torpedo boats T 185 (now Blitz) and T 151 (now Komet). Hessen was recommissioned on April 1st, 1937 and served in the KM throughout WW 2. During winter 1939/40 acted also as an auxiliary icebreaker.
In 1945 seized by the Soviet Union, Hessen was taken to Liepaja and renamed T'sel. The Red-Banner Baltic Fleet operated the T'sel also as a target ship until about 1959. Scrapped after 1960.
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