The German battleship (according to some battle cruiser) Gneisenau was the second ship of its class and "brother" of Scharnhorst. They were the first two German battleships built after World War I. The so-called "pocket battleships" were essentially large cruisers.
Gneisenau had a full displacement of 38,000 tons, a length of 229.8 m, a beam of 30 m and a draft of 9.9 m. She was propelled by three Germania steam turbines with a total power of 163,660 HP giving her a maximum speed of 31 knots. It had a range of 11,500 km at a speed of 19 knots. It had a crew of 1,669 men.
The vessel carried 9 guns of 11in. (280 mm), 12 150 mm guns, 14 105 mm guns, 16 37 mm guns and 10 20 mm guns. It also carried 6 533mm torpedo tubes. The ship was well armored with the battleship belt having a maximum thickness of 350mm. and the armored deck to be protected by armor of a maximum thickness of 105 mm. The main gun turrets carried armor of a maximum thickness of 360 mm. and the armored combat control center maximum armor of 350 mm. The vessel carried a catapult serving 3 Arado Ar-196 seaplanes.
Gneisenau participated in the operations in Norway along with her sister Scharnhorst. The Blucher also participated in the same operation, which sank shortly after the said video. Gneisenau was badly hit by the 15in gun-armed British Renown in operations in Norway. He was later hit by a landmine. He did, however, sink, along with his brother, the British aircraft carrier Glorius, but was hit by a torpedo from the British escort destroyers. In June 1940 Gneisenau was hit by a torpedo from the British submarine Clyde.
He later took part in operations against British convoys in the Atlantic and in the famous Operation Cerberus, crossing the English Channel under the noses of the British. The boat hit a mine and was damaged. During the repairs, however, it was bombed by British aircraft and was almost rendered useless. So it was decided to completely rebuild the boat and re-equip it with six 15in guns. in three twin towers. However, the progress of the war did not allow the implementation of the plan and the carcass of the battleship was sunk in Gotenhafen, East Prussia, with the purpose of blocking the port. This was the end of the proud "giant".
For the cruiser Blucher SEE HERE