German Battleship Bayern Country: Germany Type: Battleship Service: 1915 - 1919 Ships in class: 2

The Bayern class of battleships were the last and best German Kaiserliche Marine battleships of World War I. The class had a displacement of 32,000 tons and mounted eight 38 cm (15 in) guns in four twin turrets. The secondary guns were placed in casemates just below the deckline. They were comparable to British battleships developed at the same time also using 15-inch guns. However the guns for the Bayern class used a lighter shell which gave higher velocity but poorer accuracy at long range. Also they were slower because Germany had no secure wartime supply of oil and therefore continued using coal. Of the four Bayern class battleships planned only two were completed before the end of World War I.

Bayern class battleships: Bayern; Baden.