SMS Nassau: differenze tra le versioni

Versione delle 09:42, 30 set 2019

Versione delle 16:12, 17 ott 2019

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La '''SMS ''Nassau'''''<ref>"SMS" è l'acronimo di "''[[Seiner Majestät Schiff]]''", "Nave di Sua Maestà" in [[lingua tedesca.]]</ref> fu la prima nave da battaglia tipo [[dreadnought]] costruita per la [[marina imperiale tedesca]], in risposta al varo della {{nave|HMS|Dreadnought|1906|6}}.<ref>{{cita|Hore|p=. 67}}</ref> La ''Nassau'' fu impostata il 22 luglio 1907 presso i cantieri navali [[Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven|Kaiserliche Werft]] di [[Wilhelmshaven]], e varata in meno di un anno 7 marzo 1908, circa 25&nbsp;mesi dopo la ''Dreadnought''. Fu la capoclasse della [[Classe Nassau]], comprendente la {{nave|SMS|Posen||2}}, la {{nave|SMS|Rheinland||2}} ed la {{nave|SMS|Westfalen||2}}.

La ''Nassau'' fu schierata nel [[Mare del Nord]] dall'inizio della [[prima guerra mondiale]], nella II. Division (IIª divisione) del [[I. Geshwader]] (Iª squadra da battaglia) della [[Hochseeflotte]]. Nell'agosto del 1915, partecipò alla [[battaglia del golfo di Riga]] nel [[Mar Baltico]] dove affrontò la nave da battaglia russa {{nave||Slava|nave da battaglia|2}}. Dopo essere ritornata nel Mare del Nord, la ''Nassau'' con la sua squadra, prese parte alla [[battaglia dello Jutland]] il 31 maggio&nbsp;– 1 giugno 1916. Durante la battaglia speronò l'incrociatore britannico {{nave|HMS|Spitfire|1912|6}} danneggiandolo gravemente. Nella battaglia la ''Nassau'' ebbe 11&nbsp;morti e 16&nbsp;feriti.

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{{vedi anche|Classe Nassau}}

[[File:Nassau class main weapon.svg|thumb|left|Schema della disposizione delle batterie principali nella classe Nassau]]

La ''Nassau'' era lunga {{converti|146.1|m|ftin|abbr=on|0}}, larga {{converti|26.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, ed aveva un'altezza di {{converti|8.9|m|ftin|abbr=on|0}}. [[dislocamento|Dislocava]] {{converti|18873|t|LT|abbr=on}}, che potevano aumentare fino a {{converti|20535|t|LT|abbr=on}}. L'equipaggio consisteva in 40&nbsp;ufficiali e 968&nbsp;marinai. La ''Nassau'' manteneva i motori alternativi a vapore a tripla espansione e le caldaie a carbone rispetto alle turbine ed alle caldaie a nafta delle navi più moderne. I tre motori erano progettati per una potenza complessiva di {{converti|16181|kW|ihp|abbr=on}} che gli consentiva una velocità massima di {{converti|20|kn}}. L'autonomia era di {{converti|8300|nmi|lk=in}} a {{converti|12|kn}} di crociera.<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p=. 23}}</ref> L'installazione di una propulsione convenzionale fu richiesta sia dall'ammiraglio [[Alfred von Tirpitz]] che dal dipartimento tecnico della marina tedesca.<ref>{{cita|Herwig|pp=. 59–60}}</ref> Il motivo principale di tale scelta era il costo delle royalities dovute alla [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] che aveva il brevetto delle grandi turbine navali e richiedeva 1&nbsp;milione di [[German gold mark|gold mark]] per ogni nave equipaggiata. Fino al 1910 le imprese tedesche non furono in grado di realizzare turbine in proprio.<ref>{{cita|Staff|pp=. 23, 35}}</ref>

La ''Nassau'' era armata con dodici cannoni [[28 cm SK L/45 gun|{{converti|28|cm|in|abbr=on|0}} SK L/45]]<ref>Nella marina imperiale tedesca, "SK" (''Schnelladekanone'') significa che il cannone è a tiro rapido, mentre "L/45" è la lunghezza espressa in [[calibro#Lunghezza riferita al calibro|calibri]]. Si veda a proposito {{cita libro|autore= Germany. Marine Amt|titolo= Die Schnelllade-Kanonen der Schiffs-Artillerie: (für Einheitspatronen) und ihre Munition, nebst Vorschriften für die Behandlung und Bedienung an Bord in Dienst befindlicher Schiffe|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=cWVGAAAAYAAJ|anno= 1898|editore= E.S. Mittler und Sohn}}</ref> posti in sei torrette binate disposte in un originale schema esagonale. Dodici cannoni [[15 cm SK L/45|{{converti|15|cm|in|abbr=on|0}} SK L/45]] e sedici da [[8,8 cm SK L/45 naval gun|{{converti|8,8|cm|in|abbr=on|0}} SK L/45 guns]] costituivano le batterie secondarie poste in [[casamatta]].<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p=. 23}}</ref> La nave era dotata anche di sei tubi lanciasiluri da {{converti|45|cm|in|abbr=on|0}} posti sotto la linea di galleggiamento. Uno verso a prua, uno a poppa, e due su ogni lato di bordata, all'altezza della fine della [[paratoia parasiluro]].<ref>{{cita|Gardiner & Gray|p=. 140}}</ref> La cintura corazzata aveva uno spessore di {{converti|270|mm|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 22}}</ref> nella parte centrale ed il ponte corazzato era di {{converti|80|mm|abbr=on|0}}. Le torrette erano protette da {{converti|280|mm|abbr=on|0}} di corazza, e la torre di comando da {{converti|400|mm|abbr=on|0}}.<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p=. 23}}</ref>

== Servizio ==

[[File:SMS Nassau NH 46828.jpg|thumb|left|''Nassau'' early in her career, c. 1909–1910]]

La ''Nassau'' fu ordinata con il nome provvisorio ''Ersatz Bayern'', come sostituta della {{nave|SMS|Bayern|1878|2}}. Lo scafo fu impostato in cantiere il 22 luglio 1907 presso i cantieri ''[[Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven|Kaiserliche Werft]]'' di [[Wilhelmshaven]], con il numero di cantiere 30.<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p=. 23}}</ref> La costruzione fu protetta da un'assoluta segretezza; il cantiere era sorvegliato dall'esercito, come anche le ditte che fornivano gli allestimenti, quale la [[Krupp]].<ref>{{cita|Hough|p=. 26}}</ref> Il varo avvenne il 7 marzo 1908; fu battezzata dalla pricipessa [[Hilda di Lussemburgo]], ed il Kaiser [[Wilhelm II]] ed [[Enrico di Meclemburgo-Schwerin]], in rappresentanza della [[Casa d'Orange-Nassau]] della consorte.<ref>{{cita|Hildebrand Röhr & Steinmetz|p=. 135}}</ref>

L'allestimento subì un grave ritardo a causa dell'allagamento dello scafo in allestimento dovuto ad un errore umano, lo scafo non era dotato ancora delle paratie antiallagamento e l'allagamento si estese per gran parte della nave che si inclinò su di un lato e affondò di {{convert|1.6|m|abbr=on}} adagiandosi sul fondo del bacino di carenaggio. Il lavoro di eusarimento e pulizia si rivelò lungo e laborioso.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 23}}</ref> I lavori di allestimento si conclusero nel settembre del 1909. Entrò in servizio nella Hochseeflotte il primo ottobre del 1909,<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p=. 23}}</ref> iniziando subito le prove in mare.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 23}}</ref> La {{nave|HMS|Dreadnought|1906|6}}, la nave che aveva ispirato la costruzione della ''Nassau'', era stata varata 25&nbsp; prima, il 2 febbraio del 1906.<ref>{{cita|Gardiner & Gray|p=. 21}}</ref> La nave costò alla marina imperiale tedesca {{formatnum:37399000}}&nbsp;marchi oro.<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p=. 23}}</ref>

[[File:First and second battleship squadrons and small cruiser of the - NARA - 533188-2 restored.jpg|thumb|La ''Nassau'' in linea con il resto della sua squadra il [[I. Geschwader]], 2. Division a [[Kiel]] prima della guerra]]

Il 16 ottobre 1909, la ''Nassau'' e la sua pariclasse {{nave|SMS|Westfalen||2}} parteciparono ad una cerimonia per l'apertura del terzo canale di accesso ai cantieri navali di Wilhelmshaven.<ref>{{cita|Staff|pp=. 23–24}}</ref> Presero parte alle manovre annuali, ancora nella fase di addestramento, della [[Hochseeflotte]] del febbraio 1910. La ''Nassau'' completò l'addestramento il 3 maggio e si unì al [[I. Geschwader]] appena formato. Per i successivi quattro anni, la nave partecipò alle periodiche crociere di addestramento a livello di squadra e di flotta. L'unica eccezione fu la crociera estiva di adedestramento del 1912 quando, a causa della [[crisi di Agadir]], la crociera fu limitata al Mar Baltico.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 24}}</ref> Il 14 luglio 1914, iniziò l'annuale crociera della flotta tedesca verso la Norvegia. La crisi internazionale spinse il Kaiser ad interropere la crociera dopo due settimane, e riportare la flotta nei porti per la fine di luglio.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 11}}</ref> La guerra fra l'[[impero austro-ungarico]] ed il [[regno di Serbia]] iniziò il 28 luglio, ed in una settimana le maggiori potenze europee entrarono nel conflitto.<ref>{{cita|Heyman|p=. xix}}</ref>

La ''Nassau'', durante la guerra, partecipò a tutte le sortite della Hochseeflotte nel Mare del Nord.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 26}}</ref> TheLa firstprima operationmissione wasfu conductedcondotta primarilyprincipalmente bydagli Rear[[incrociatori da battaglia]] al comando del Admiralcontrammiraglio [[Franz von Hipper]]'s [[battlecruiser]]s;che theeffetuarono shipsun bombardedbombardamento thedelle Englishcittà coastalcostiere townsinglesi ofdi [[RaidBombardamento ondi Scarborough, Hartlepool ande Whitby|Scarborough, Hartlepool, ande Whitby]] onil 15–16 Decemberdicembre 1914.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 31}}</ref> ALa Germansortita battlefleetera ofscortata a distanza da una flotta di 12 dreadnoughts—includingnavi da battaglia che comprendeva la ''Nassau''—and eighte otto [[pre-dreadnought battleship|pre-dreadnoughtsdreadnought]] sailed in support of the battlecruisers. OnLa thesera evening ofdel 15 Decemberdicembre, theysi cameavvicinarono tofino withina sole {{convert|10|nmi|abbr=on}}</ref> ofda anuna isolatedsquadra squadronisolata ofdi sixsei Britishnavi battleshipsda battaglia britanniche. SkirmishesGli iningaggi, thenel darknessbuio betweendella thesera, rivalfra [[destroyer]]le screensrispettive convincedflottiglie thedi Germancacciatorpediniere fleetportarono commander, Admirall'ammiraglio [[Friedrich von Ingenohl]], thatcomandante thedella entireflotta, a ritenere di essere di fronte all'intera [[Grand Fleet]]. wasAvendo deployedl'ordine beforediretto him.del UnderKaiser ordersdi fromnon themettere Kaisera torischio notla risksua the fleetflotta, von Ingenohl brokediede offl'ordine thedi engagementritirarsi, andevitando turnedlo the battlefleet back towards Germanyscontro.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|pp=. 31–33}}</ref>

=== Battaglia del Golfo di Riga ===

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In August 1915, the German fleet attempted to clear the [[Gulf of Riga]] to facilitate the capture of [[Riga]] by the [[German Army (German Empire)|German Army]]. To do so, the German planners intended to drive off or destroy the Russian naval forces in the area, which included the pre-dreadnought battleship {{nave|Russian battleship|Slava||2}} and a number of gunboats and destroyers. The German naval force would also lay a series of [[naval mine|minefields]] in the northern entrance to the gulf to prevent Russian naval reinforcements from being able to enter the area. The fleet that assembled for the assault included ''Nassau'' and her three sister ships, the four {{nave|Classe Helgoland|2}}s, and the battlecruisers {{nave|SMS|Von der Tann||2}}, {{nave|SMS|Moltke||2}}, and {{nave|SMS|Seydlitz||2}}. The force would operate under the command of Vice Admiral Franz von Hipper. The eight battleships were to provide cover for the forces engaging the Russian flotilla. The first attempt on 8 August was unsuccessful, as it had taken too long to clear the Russian minefields to allow the minelayer {{nave|SMS|Deutschland|1914|2}} to lay a minefield of her own.<ref>{{cita|Halpern|pp=. 196–197}}</ref>

On 16 August 1915, a second attempt was made to enter the gulf: ''Nassau'' and ''Posen'', four light cruisers, and 31&nbsp;torpedo boats managed to breach the Russian defenses.<ref>{{cita|Halpern|p=. 197}}</ref> On the first day of the assault, the German [[minesweeper]] ''T 46'' was sunk, as was the destroyer ''V 99''. The following day, ''Nassau'' and ''Posen'' engaged in an artillery duel with ''Slava'', resulting in three hits on the Russian ship that forced her to retreat. By 19 August, the Russian minefields had been cleared, and the flotilla entered the gulf. Reports of Allied [[submarine]]s in the area prompted the Germans to call off of the operation the following day.<ref>{{cita|Halpern|pp=. 197–198}}</ref> ''Nassau'' and ''Posen'' remained in the Gulf until 21 August, and while there assisted in the destruction of the [[gunboat]]s {{nave|Russian gunboat|Sivuch|1907|2}} and {{nave|Russian gunboat|Korietz||2}}.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 24}}</ref> Admiral Hipper later remarked that,

<blockquote>

"To keep valuable ships for a considerable time in a limited area in which enemy submarines were increasingly active, with the corresponding risk of damage and loss, was to indulge in a gamble out of all proportion to the advantage to be derived from the occupation of the Gulf ''before'' the capture of Riga from the land side."<ref>{{cita|Halpern|p=. 198}}</ref>

</blockquote>

Riga 85:

[[File:Map of the Battle of Jutland, 1916.svg|thumb|350px|Maps showing the maneuvers of the British (blue) and German (red) fleets on 31 May&nbsp;– 1 June 1916]]

{{Main|Battle of Jutland}}

''Nassau'' took part in the inconclusive Battle of Jutland on 31 May&nbsp;– 1 June 1916, in the II Division of the I&nbsp;Battle Squadron. For the majority of the battle, the I&nbsp;Battle Squadron formed the center of the [[line of battle]], behind Rear Admiral Behncke's III&nbsp;Battle Squadron, and followed by Rear Admiral Mauve's elderly pre-dreadnoughts of the II&nbsp;Battle Squadron. ''Nassau'' was the third ship in the group of four, behind ''Rheinland'' and ahead of ''Westfalen''; ''Posen'' was the squadron's flagship.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 286}}</ref> When the German fleet reorganized into a nighttime cruising formation, the order of the ships was inadvertently reversed, and so ''Nassau'' was the second ship in the line, astern of ''Westfalen''.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 203}}</ref>

Between 17:48 and 17:52, eleven German dreadnoughts, including ''Nassau'', engaged and opened fire on the British 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron; ''Nassau''{{'}}s target was the cruiser {{nave|HMS|Southampton|1912|2}}. ''Nassau'' is believed to have scored one hit on ''Southampton'', at approximately 17:50 at a range of {{convert|20100|yd|m|abbr=on}}, shortly after she began firing. The shell struck ''Southampton'' obliquely on her port side, and did not cause significant damage.<ref>{{cita|Campbell|p=. 54}}</ref> ''Nassau'' then shifted her guns to the cruiser {{nave|HMS|Dublin|1912|2}}; firing ceased by 18:10.<ref>{{cita|Campbell|p=. 99}}</ref> At 19:33, ''Nassau'' came into range of the British battleship {{nave|HMS|Warspite|03|2}}; her main guns fired briefly, but after the 180&nbsp;degree turn by the German fleet, the British ship was no longer within reach.<ref>{{cita|Campbell|p=. 154}}</ref>

''Nassau'' and the rest of the I&nbsp;Squadron were again engaged by British light forces shortly after 22:00, including the light cruisers {{nave|HMS|Caroline|1914|2}}, {{nave|HMS|Comus|1914|2}}, and {{nave|HMS|Royalist|1915|2}}. ''Nassau'' followed her sister ''Westfalen'' in a 68° turn to starboard in order to evade any [[torpedo]]es that might have been fired. The two ships fired on ''Caroline'' and ''Royalist'' at a range of around {{convert|8000|yd|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cita|Campbell|p=. 257}}</ref> The British ships turned away briefly, before turning about to launch torpedoes.<ref>{{cita|Campbell|pp=. 257–258}}</ref> ''Caroline'' fired two at ''Nassau''; the first passed close to her bows and the second passed under the ship without exploding.<ref>{{cita|Campbell|p=. 258}}</ref>

[[File:HMSSpitfireJutlanddamage.jpg|thumb|left|Damage to HMS ''Spitfire'' after being rammed by ''Nassau'']]

At around midnight on 1 June, the German fleet was attempting to pass behind the British Grand Fleet when it encountered a line of British destroyers. ''Nassau'' came upon the destroyer {{nave|HMS|Spitfire|1912|2}}, and in the confusion, attempted to ram her. ''Spitfire'' tried to evade, but could not maneuver away fast enough, and the two ships collided. ''Nassau'' fired her forward 11-inch guns at the destroyer. They could not depress low enough for ''Nassau'' to be able to score a hit; nonetheless, the blast from the guns destroyed ''Spitfire''{{'}}s [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]]. At that point, ''Spitfire'' was able to disengage from ''Nassau'', and took with her a 6&nbsp;m (20&nbsp;ft) portion of ''Nassau''{{'}}s side plating. The collision disabled one of ''Nassau''{{'}}s 15&nbsp;cm (5.9&nbsp;in) guns, and left a 3.5&nbsp;m (11.5&nbsp;ft) gash above the waterline; this slowed the ship to {{convert|15|kn}} until it could be repaired.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 220}}</ref> During the confused action, ''Nassau'' was hit by two {{convert|4|in|cm|abbr=on}} shells from the British destroyers, which damaged her searchlights and inflicted minor casualties.<ref>{{cita|Campbell|p=. 287}}</ref>

Shortly after 01:00, ''Nassau'' and {{nave|SMS|Thüringen||2}} encountered the British armored cruiser {{nave|HMS|Black Prince|1904|2}}. ''Thüringen'' opened fire first, and pummeled ''Black Prince'' with a total of 27&nbsp;heavy-caliber shells and 24&nbsp;shells from her secondary battery. ''Nassau'' and {{nave|SMS|Ostfriesland||2}} joined in, followed by {{nave|SMS|Friedrich der Grosse|1911|2}}. The heavy fire quickly disabled the British cruiser and set her alight; following a tremendous explosion, she sank, taking her entire crew with her.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 225}}</ref> The sinking ''Black Prince'' was directly in the path of ''Nassau''; to avoid the wreck, the ship had to steer sharply towards the III&nbsp;Battle Squadron. It was necessary for ''Nassau'' to reverse her engines to full speed astern to avoid a collision with {{nave|SMS|Kaiserin||2}}. ''Nassau'' then fell back into a position between the pre-dreadnoughts {{nave|SMS|Hessen||2}} and {{nave|SMS|Hannover||2}}.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 225}}</ref> At around 03:00, several British destroyers attempted another torpedo attack on the German line. At approximately 03:10, three or four destroyers appeared in the darkness to port of ''Nassau''; at a range of between {{convert|5500|yd|m|abbr=on}} to {{convert|4400|yd|m|abbr=on}}, ''Nassau'' briefly fired on the ships before turning away 90° to avoid torpedoes.<ref>{{cita|Campbell|p=. 300}}</ref>

Following her return to German waters, ''Nassau'', her sisters ''Posen'' and ''Westfalen'', and the ''Helgoland''-class battleships {{nave|SMS|Helgoland||2}} and ''Thüringen'', took up defensive positions in the [[Jadebusen|Jade]] [[roadstead]] for the night.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 263}}</ref> In the course of the battle, ''Nassau'' was hit twice by secondary shells, though these hits caused no significant damage.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 296}}</ref> Her casualties amounted to 11&nbsp;men killed and 16&nbsp;men wounded.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 298}}</ref> During the course of the battle, she fired 106&nbsp;main battery shells and 75&nbsp;rounds from her secondary guns.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 292}}</ref> Repairs were completed quickly, and ''Nassau'' was back with the fleet by 10 July 1916.<ref>{{cita|Campbell|p=. 336}}</ref>

=== Later operations ===

[[File:SMS Nassau illustration.jpg|thumb|left|A recognition drawing prepared by the Royal Navy, with ''Nassau''{{'}}s main battery turned to starboard]]

[[Action of 19 August 1916|Another fleet advance]] followed on 18–22&nbsp;August, during which the I&nbsp;Scouting Group battlecruisers were to bombard the coastal town of [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]] in an attempt to draw out and destroy Beatty's battlecruisers. As only two of the four German battlecruisers were still in fighting condition, three dreadnoughts were assigned to the Scouting Group for the operation: {{nave|SMS|Markgraf||2}}, {{nave|SMS|Grosser Kurfürst|1913|2}}, and the newly commissioned {{nave|SMS|Bayern||2}}. The High Seas Fleet, including ''Nassau'',<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 24}}</ref> would trail behind and provide cover.<ref>{{cita|Massie|p=. 682}}</ref> At 06:00 on 19 August, ''Westfalen'' was torpedoed by the British submarine {{nave|HMS|E23}} {{convert|55|nmi}} north of [[Terschelling]]; the ship remained afloat and was detached to return to port.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 26}}</ref> The British were aware of the German plans and [[sortie]]d the Grand Fleet to meet them. By 14:35, Admiral Scheer had been warned of the Grand Fleet's approach and, unwilling to engage the whole of the Grand Fleet just 11&nbsp;weeks after the close call at Jutland, turned his forces around and retreated to German ports.<ref>{{cita|Massie|p=. 683}}</ref>

Another sortie into the North Sea followed on 19–20 October. On 21 December, ''Nassau'' ran aground in the mouth of the [[Elbe]]. She was able to free herself, and repairs were effected in [[Hamburg]] at the Reihersteig Dockyard until 1 February 1917.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 24}}</ref> The ship was part of the force that steamed to Norway to intercept a heavily escorted British convoy on 23–25 April, though the operation was canceled when the battlecruiser ''Moltke'' suffered mechanical damage and had to be towed back to port.<ref>{{cita|Massie|p=. 748}}</ref> ''Nassau'', ''Ostfriesland'', and ''Thüringen'' were formed into a special unit for Operation ''Schlußstein'', a planned occupation of [[Saint Petersburg]].<ref>{{cita|Staff|pp=. 43–44}}</ref> On 8 August, ''Nassau'' took on 250 soldiers in Wilhelmshaven and then departed for the Baltic.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=. 24}}</ref> The three ships reached the Baltic on 10 August, but the operation was postponed and eventually canceled.<ref>{{cita|Staff|pp=. 43–44}}</ref> The special unit was dissolved on 21 August, and the battleships were back in Wilhelmshaven on the 23rd.<ref>{{cita|Staff|pp=. 44, 46}}</ref>

''Nassau'' and her three sisters were to have taken part in a [[Naval order of 24 October 1918|final fleet action]] at the end of October 1918, days before the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|Armistice]] was to take effect. The bulk of the High Seas Fleet was to have sortied from their base in Wilhelmshaven to engage the British Grand Fleet; Scheer—by now the [[Grand Admiral]] (''Großadmiral'') of the fleet—intended to inflict as much damage as possible on the British navy, to improve Germany's bargaining position, despite the expected casualties. Many of the war-weary sailors felt that the operation would disrupt the peace process and prolong the war.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|pp=. 280–281}}</ref> On the morning of 29 October 1918, the order was given to sail from Wilhelmshaven the following day. Starting on the night of 29 October, sailors on ''Thüringen'' and then on several other battleships [[Wilhelmshaven mutiny|mutinied]].<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|pp=. 281–282}}</ref> The unrest ultimately forced Hipper and Scheer to cancel the operation.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=. 282}}</ref>

=== Fate ===

Following the German collapse in November 1918, a significant portion of the High Seas Fleet was interned in [[Scapa Flow]]. ''Nassau'' and her three sisters were not among the ships listed for internment, so they remained at German ports.<ref>{{cita|Hore|p=. 67}}</ref> During this period, from November to December, [[Hermann Bauer]] served as the ship's commander.<ref>{{cita|Hildebrand Röhr & Steinmetz|p=. 133}}</ref> On 21 June 1919, Rear Admiral [[Ludwig von Reuter]], under the mistaken impression that the Armistice would expire at noon that day, [[Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow|ordered his ships be scuttled]] to prevent their seizure by the British.<ref>{{cita|Herwig|p=. 256}}</ref> As a result, the four ''Nassau''-class ships were ceded to the various Allied powers as replacements for the ships that had been sunk.<ref>{{cita|Hore|p=. 67}}</ref> ''Nassau'' was awarded to Japan on 7 April 1920, though the Japanese had no need for the ship. They, therefore, sold her in June 1920 to British shipbreakers, who scrapped the ship in [[Dordrecht]].<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p=. 23}}</ref>

==Note==