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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the GERMAN NAVY --

Scharnhorst (Battleship, 1939-1943) --
Overall Views of the Ship


This page features all the overall views we have of the German battleship Scharnhorst.

For further pictorial coverage of Scharnhorst, see:

  • Scharnhorst (Battleship, 1939-1943).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 59670

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939-1943)

    In port when first completed, circa early 1939.
    Note ship's badge mounted on her bow, and snowy conditions at right.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 555 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97536

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939-1943)

    Ceremony on the ship's after deck, with the Nazi-era naval ensign flying at the stern, circa early 1939.
    This may be the ship's commissioning ceremony on 7 January 1939.
    Note snow on shore in the distance, stern anchor and decoration on the ship.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 109KB; 570 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97537

    German battleships Scharnhorst (left) and Gneisenau


    In a German port, circa spring or early summer 1939, after Gneisenau had been refitted with a "clipper" bow, but before Scharnhorst had been similarly fitted.
    Two rowing shells (one with four oarsmen and a coxwain, the other with two oarsmen only) are in the foreground.
    Fine screen halftone reproduction, published in the contemporary German booklet "Deutsche Seemacht".

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 102537

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939)

    Tied to a mooring bouy in Wilhelmshaven Harbor, circa 1939, as men in a boat push off from her bow.
    Note anchors, ship's badges on her bow and on the boat, and paired cables running down from her starboard bow chock.
    In mid-1939, Scharnhorst's bow was greatly modified from the configuration seen here.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 15.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 101559

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939)

    Photographed in the fall of 1939, after completion of her July-August 1939 refit.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 3.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 420 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 101558

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939)

    Photographed by A. Klein, Kiel, in the fall of 1939, after completion of her July-August 1939 refit.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 1.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 490 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97503

    U-47
    (German Submarine, 1938-1941)

    Arrives at Kiel, Germany, on 23 October 1939, with her crew at quarters. The battleship Scharnhorst is in the background.
    U-47 was returning from the mission in which she sank the British battleship Royal Oak inside Scapa Flow on 14 October.
    This is a halftone image, copied from a contemporary publication.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 445 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97504

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939-1943)

    In a German port with her crew manning the rail, circa late 1939, after she had been fitted with a "clipper" bow.
    This is a halftone image, clipped by the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence from the contemporary German booklet "Deutsche Seemacht". The picture was published on two pages, and has been pieced together at right.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 390 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97538

    Gneisenau
    (German Battleship, 1938)

    View of the ship's forward two triple 283mm (11") gun turrets, with forecastle and capstans in the foreground, circa later 1939 or 1940.
    The battleship Scharnhorst is in the left distance. She has been refitted with a "clipper" bow.
    Fine screen halftone reproduction, published in the contemporary German booklet "Deutsche Seemacht".

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 425 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42203

    German battleships Scharnhorst
    (left) and Gneisenau

    In a German port, circa 1939-41.

    The photograph was received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation with their letter of 2 October 1941.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42204

    Scharnhorst
    (German battleship, 1939-1943)

    Recognition drawing, prepared for intelligence purposes, depicting the ship as refitted in 1939.

    This image was received from Lt. Matthews, Navy office OP 16 F-28 in November 1942.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 38KB; 740 x 310 pixels

     

    For further pictorial coverage of Scharnhorst, see:

  • Scharnhorst (Battleship, 1939-1943).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 14 March 2001