The Kriegsmarine's was a German capital ship, described either as a battleship or battlecruiser, and the lead ship of her class, which included one other ship, . She was launched on 3 October 1936 and completed in January 1939, armed with nine 28cm C/34 guns in three triple turrets. She operated with for much of the early portion of World War II, including sorties into the Atlantic to raid British merchant shipping. They took part in Operation (April–June 1940), the German invasion of Norway during which they sank the aircraft carrier HMS and her escort destroyers and . also sank HMS in November 1939. In early 1943, joined the in Norway to intercept Allied convoys to the Soviet Union. On a sortie from Norway to attack a convoy, the German force was intercepted by British ships and during the Battle of the North Cape (26 December 1943), HMS and her escorts sank and most of her crew was lost. This is the most comprehensive examination of ever published, drawing on new research and technology to tell the full story of the ship. It includes a complete set of detailed line drawings with fully descriptive keys and full-color artwork, supported by technical details, photographs, and text on the building of the ship, as well as a record of her service history.