Gneisenau - Gallery - The Launch

The Launch (8 December 1936)

The new construction "E" (later named Gneisenau) on slipway 1 at the Deutsche Werke in Kiel. The hull to the left is that of the heavy cruiser Blücher, launched on 8 June 1937.	The launching ceremony is completed and the ship is ready to be launched.

The hull of the Gneisenau starts to move towards the water.	The launching is almost complete on this photograph.

Due to a failure in the braking measures, the hull continues towards the opposite side of the launching bassin and collides with the Hindenburg Embankment.

After the striking, the hull was taken in tow and moved to the equipping pier.