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Study of the former German battleship 'Baden', listing and under fire as a gunnery target in 1921, 1921 (Watercolour)
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Study of the former German battleship 'Baden', listing and under fire as a gunnery target in 1921, 1921 (Watercolour)
7341752 Study of the former German battleship 'Baden', listing and under fire as a gunnery target in 1921, 1921 (Watercolour) by Wyllie, William Lionel (1851-1931); 29.1x45.4 cm; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Creator: William Lionel Wyllie
Inscribed 'Baden' by the artist, lower right. This is the former German battleship 'Baden', launched on 30 October 1915 and completed in October 1916. Following the Armistice in November 1918, she was interned at Scapa Flow on 14 December, being the last German ship to arrive there. Her crew attempted to scuttle her, with the rest of the interned fleet, on 21 June 1919 but the British intervened and managed to tow her to shallow water and beach her, and she was the only German battleship temporarily saved that way. After being refloated in July 1919 she was towed to Portsmouth for full examination and then designated for use as a gunnery target. On 2 February 1921 she was sunk in shallow water by 17 hits from the monitor 'Terror' (1916) but again refloated and, on 10 August, badly damaged by 14 hits from the monitor 'Erebus' (1916) off the Isle of Wight. She was then towed away and scuttled in deep water off the Casquet Rocks in the Channel Islands on 16 August 1921. This shows her from broad on the starboard quarter, with a list to starboard and a shell exploding towards the bow during one of the target days. The smoke coming from her second funnel is probably artistic licence, since her boilers were not lit. The ship implied in the right distance is presumably the monitor firing at her. Note that all Wyllie's studies of her in her target days show her main armament trained to starboard, which no doubt contributed to the list shown in them. See also PAE2736, PAE3133, PAF1873, PAF1876 and PAF1877.); © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Media ID 38409026
© © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London / Bridgeman Images
1914 1918 Wwi Ww One) Battleship Brazier Braziers Combatant Ship Explode Explosion Explosions Fires First War 1914 1918 Flame Naval Battle Paddle Wheel Steamer Paddlesteamers Royal Academician Royal Academicians See Battle Steamship War Ship Warship Warships Water Color Water Colour Watercolors Watercolour Paint William Lionel Wyllie William Lionel Wyllie (ra) World War (1914 1918) World War (1914 19180 Ww I Wyllie Wyllie William Lionel (1851 1931)
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This watercolor print by William Lionel Wyllie depicts the former German battleship 'Baden' listing and under fire as a gunnery target in 1921. The detailed artwork showcases the dramatic moment when the ship was being bombarded, with a shell exploding towards the bow and smoke billowing from her second funnel.
The history behind this scene is equally fascinating - launched in 1915 and completed in 1916, 'Baden' was interned at Scapa Flow after World War I. Despite attempts to scuttle her, she was saved from sinking by British intervention and later designated for use as a gunnery target.
On February 2, 1921, she was sunk in shallow water by hits from the monitor 'Terror', only to be refloated and damaged again by another monitor off the Isle of Wight. Eventually towed away and scuttled in deep water off the Channel Islands, 'Baden's fate serves as a poignant reminder of wartime destruction.
Wyllie's skillful portrayal captures both the power of naval warfare and the resilience of these mighty vessels. The intensity of the battle is palpable in every brushstroke, making this print a striking testament to an era marked by conflict and sacrifice.
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