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[[File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-61-23, Linienschiff "SMS Rheinland".jpg|thumb|La SMS ''Rheinland'', c. 1910]]
La ''Rheinland'' fu ordinata con il nome provvisorio ''Ersatz Württemberg'', come sostituta della [[SMS Württemberg]], appartente alla [[Classe Sachsen (fregata corazzata)|Classe Sachsen]].<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p=23}}</ref> Impostata l' 11 giugno 1907 presso i cantieri navali [[AG Vulcan]] di [[Stettino]].<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=27}}</ref> Come la per sua pariclasse, la {{nave|SMS|Nassau||2}}, la costruzione fu condotta nella totale segretezza; il cantiere era sorvegliato da squadre di soldati, come lo erano i fornitori esterni, quali l'impresa di armamenti [[Krupp]].<ref>{{cita|Hough|p. 26}}.</ref> La nave fu varata il 26 settembre 1908;<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=27}}</ref> battezzata dalla [[Elisabetta di Wied|regina di Romania]] e da [[Clemens Freiherr von Schorlemer-Lieser]], il presidente della [[Renania]], fece il discorso augurale.<ref>{{cita|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=72}}</ref> L'allestimento fu completato il febbraio del 1910. Le prime prove in mare furono condotte da un equipaggio civile, tra il 23 febbraio fino al 4 marzo 1910 a largo di [[Swinemünde]]. Quindi fu condotta a [[Kiel]], dove prese servizio nella [[Hochseeflotte]] il 30 aprile 1910. Ulteriori prove in mare furono condotte nel Mar Baltico.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=30}}</ref>
AtConcluse thele conclusionprove ofin trialsmare onil 30 Augustagosto 1910, la ''Rheinland'' wassi takendiresse a to [[Wilhelmshaven]], wherequi auna significantgrande portionparte ofdell'equipaggio thefu crewtrasferito wassu transferredil tonuovo theincrociatore newda [[battlecruiser]]battaglia ''Von der Tann''. FollowingIn thesettembre, autumnin fleetseguito maneuversalle inmanovre Septemberautunnali della flotta, thel'equipaggio della ''Rheinland'' crew wasfu replenishedcompletato withcon crewmembersquello fromdella thevecchia old [[pre-dreadnought]] {{[[SMS| Zähringen||2}}]], whichappena was decommissioned at the same timeradiata. La ''Rheinland'' wasfu thenassegnata assignedal to [[I. Battle''Geschwader'' Squadron]] of(1ª thesquadra Highda Seasbattaglia) Fleetdella ''Hochseeflotte''. In Octoberottobre, theseguì fleetla wentflotta onnella thecrociera annualinvernale, winter cruise,seguita followeddalle byesercitazioni fleetdi exercisessquadra in Novembernovembre. TheLa ship''Rheinland'' took partprese parte alle crociere estive della flotta in theNorvegia, summerche cruisessi totennero Norwaynel eachmese Augustdi inagosto del 1911, 1913, ande del 1914.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=30}}</ref>
.== World War I ===
''Rheinland'' participated in nearly all of the fleet advances throughout the war.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=30}}</ref> The first such operation was conducted primarily by the battlecruisers; the ships [[Raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby|bombarded Scarborough, Hartlepool, and Whitby]] on 15–16 December 1914.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=31}}</ref> During the operation, the German battle fleet of some 12 dreadnoughts and 8 pre-dreadnoughts, which was serving as distant support for the battlecruisers, came to within {{convert|10|nmi|abbr=on}} of an isolated squadron of six British battleships. However, skirmishes between the rival [[destroyer]] screens convinced the German commander, Admiral [[Friedrich von Ingenohl]], that he was confronted with the entire [[Grand Fleet]]. He broke off the engagement and turned for home.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|pp=31–33}}</ref> A fleet sortie to the [[Dogger Bank]] took place on 24 April 1915. During the operation, the high-pressure cylinder of ''Rheinland''{{'}}s starboard engine failed. Repair work lasted until 23 May.<ref>{{cita|Staff|pp=30–31}}</ref> ▼=== Prima guerra mondiale ===
▲'' La Rheinland'' participatedpartecipò a quasi intutte nearlyle allazioni ofdella theflotta fleettedesca advancesnel throughoutMare thedel warNord.<ref>{{cita|Staff|p=30}}</ref> The first such operation was conducted primarily by the battlecruisers; the ships [[Raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby|bombarded Scarborough, Hartlepool, and Whitby]] on 15–16 December 1914.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p=31}}</ref> During the operation, the German battle fleet of some 12 dreadnoughts and 8 pre-dreadnoughts, which was serving as distant support for the battlecruisers, came to within {{convert|10|nmi|abbr=on}} of an isolated squadron of six British battleships. However, skirmishes between the rival [[destroyer]] screens convinced the German commander, Admiral [[Friedrich von Ingenohl]], that he was confronted with the entire [[Grand Fleet]]. He broke off the engagement and turned for home.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|pp=31–33}}</ref> A fleet sortie to the [[Dogger Bank]] took place on 24 April 1915. During the operation, the high-pressure cylinder of ''Rheinland''{{'}}s starboard engine failed. Repair work lasted until 23 May.<ref>{{cita|Staff|pp=30–31}}</ref>
==== Battle of the Gulf of Riga ====
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