General information

The painting instructions for Imperial German ships can be found here: LINK. This page contains only basic information about the models and ships, along with the painting scheme that should be applied (the instructions on the linked page show what the specific scheme looks like).

The guide on how to prepare models for painting is available here:
http://www.gmboardgames.com/blog/en/how-to-prepare-3d-printed-models-for-painting/

The unification of Germany in 1871 dramatically changed the political landscape of Europe. However, for nearly the first three decades following this event, the new Imperial Navy remained relatively weak compared to the nation’s power. By the late 1890s, thanks to the combined organisational talents of Admiral Tirpitz and the political determination of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the German Imperial Navy experienced rapid development, posing a challenge to the world’s most powerful fleets.

6th Era – predrednoughts

GMT-ST-015 One Player Starter Set: Kaiserliche Marine

This starter set includes ships from the German Kaiserliche Marine, which were part of this fleet at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, along with various accessories needed to embark on a naval wargaming adventure within Gods of War: Togo.

It’s the perfect set for starting your journey with the German fleet. It contains the following elements:

1x Captains Rulebook (English version)
1x Quick Reference sheet with the most important modifiers and tables (English version)
11x ship models (3D printed) including:

• 1x Deutschland-class
• 1x Brandenburg-class
• 1x Roon-class
• 1x Victoria Louise-class
• 1x Gazelle / Nymphe-class
• 2x Wespe-class
• 4x S90-class / G135-class

10x Ship cards in protective sleeves
9x HDF bases
9x Set of order dials
1x Speed and turn measures
1x LoS template
1x Set of resin markers (fires, flooding, mines, etc.)
20x d6 dice

GMT-GER-001 German squadron

To idealny zestaw na rozbudowę niemieckiej floty, lub rozpoczęcie z nią przygody, gdy posiadamy już akcesoria potrzebne do grania, jak miarki ruchu i skrętów, podręcznik, znaczniki itd.

Zawiera on następujące elementy:

8x 3D printed ship models:

• 1x Deutschland-class (Battleship)
• 1x Roon-class (Armoured cruiser)
• 1x Gazelle / Nymphe-class (Light cruiser)
• 1x Wespe-class (Flat-iron gunboat)
• 4x S90/G135-class (Large torpedo boat – 2 ships per one base),

7x Ship cards in protective sleeves
6x HDF ship bases
6x Ship order sets (A+B)

IMPORTANT! The set does not include the game rulebook, movement and turning rulers/templates, mine and damage / status markers. These items must be purchased separately.

GMT-GER-002 Deutschland class battleship

Class: 1
Base length: 14 cm.
Each set includes bases for the models.
Colour scheme: Colour Scheme No. 9.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 1.
Each card comes with a protective sleeve.

The Deutschland-class ships were the last pre-dreadnought battleships built by Germany. Their design incorporated lessons learned from the construction and operation of earlier German battleships. As a result, these ships were highly durable, with good seaworthiness, excellent armour protection, and decent armament. However, just as the Deutschland-class ships were entering service, the British launched the Dreadnought, which revolutionised battleship design and rendered earlier pre-dreadnoughts like the Deutschlands obsolete.

Fate, however, allowed some of these ships to enjoy remarkably long service lives, despite becoming outdated early in their careers. The most famous ship of this class was the battleship Schleswig-Holstein, which famously shelled the Polish military outpost on Westerplatte in September 1939, marking one of the first actions of World War II. After being sunk at the end of the war, the ship was raised by the Soviets and used as a target practice ship until the 1960s—a long life for a ship of its class.

The Deutschland class ships also saw active service during World War I, although mainly in auxiliary roles. While they were formidable opponents for pre-dreadnoughts of the early 20th century, they stood little chance against the more advanced super-dreadnoughts.In the era depicted by the game, the Deutschland-class ships will be the most formidable battleships available to the Imperial German Navy. Although their main armament may not be as powerful as that of battleships in other fleets, their strong secondary artillery, excellent armour, and speed advantage make the Deutschland class a formidable adversary for any other battleship.

GMT-GER-003 Brandenburg class battleship

Class: 1
Base length: 12 cm.
Each set includes bases for the models.
Colour scheme: Colour Scheme No. 9.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 1.
Each card comes with a protective sleeve.

The Brandenburg-class battleships were the first ocean-going vessels of this class built for the Imperial German Navy. Their construction benefited from the experience gained from building the Siegfried and Odin-class coastal defence battleships.

During this period, the Imperial German Navy still considered the French fleet as its primary adversary, while the British fleet was beyond any realistic reach. Decision-makers and designers of these vessels deliberated on what type of battleships would be most effective. Ultimately, they decided to follow the doctrine of delivering a knockout blow. These ships were armed with six 280 mm guns, while most contemporary vessels carried only four, albeit often of a higher calibre. The powerful main armament resulted in these battleships having only symbolic secondary and light armament. Unfortunately, the outdated gun design, which required returning to a “neutral” position for reloading (not to mention the use of brown powder), resulted in a poor rate of fire, hampering their effectiveness in sustained combat.

The ships had a very thick but relatively narrow armoured belt, supplemented by horizontal armour (without sloping armour). Due to their relatively low freeboard in the middle and aft sections, these vessels were considered rather “wet,” and thus they did not excel in seaworthiness.Despite these limitations, the Brandenburg-class battleships played a significant role in the development of German naval technology. The experience gained from their construction and service greatly influenced the design of subsequent German battleship classes.

GMT-GER-004 Roon class armoured cruiser

Class: 2
Base length: 14 cm.
Each set includes bases for the models.
Colour scheme: Colour Scheme No. 9. Asiatic squadron white hull, ochre supestructures and funnels.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 1.
Each card comes with a protective sleeve.

The Roon-class armoured cruisers were based on the preceding Prinz Adalbert class, though they incorporated certain improvements. However, not all of these enhancements were successful; for instance, the ships failed to achieve their initially projected speed, casting doubt on their effectiveness as the fleet’s fast wing.

These cruisers were intended not to attack enemy shipping but to operate alongside the main fleet, similar to the Japanese “L” tactic. Unfortunately, the Roon-class ships were too lightly armoured and too slow for this role. Despite these less-than-ideal characteristics, they could still be effectively employed in other capacities, particularly in destroying enemy protected cruisers and smaller vessels, for which their armament and armour would be more than adequate.

GMT-GER-005 Victoria Louise protected cruiser

Class: 2
Base length: 12 cm.
Each set includes bases for the models.
Colour scheme: Colour Scheme No. 9. Asiatic squadron white hull, ochre supestructures and funnels.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 1.
Each card comes with a protective sleeve.

Built at the end of the 19th century, the Victoria Louise-class ships were the last protected cruisers constructed for the Kaiserliche Marine. Their development was the result of a lengthy program, initiated in the 1880s, aimed at designing new cruiser types. The lack of consensus among the Empire’s authorities regarding the goals and missions of the fleet led to uncertainty about the role these new ships should fulfil. Should they be raiders, colonial service ships, or perhaps scout vessels for the main fleet? Kaiser Wilhelm II played a significant role in the final decision about their purpose. The result was a class of fairly large, heavily armed ships that emphasised the value of medium-calibre, rapid-firing artillery, a lesson learned from the Sino-Japanese War. Many design elements of these cruisers later served as a foundation for the development of subsequent German armoured cruisers.

Although these ships were well-armed and well-protected for their class, they were not particularly fast, achieving speeds of around 19 knots. This limited speed meant that there was little difference between them and contemporary battleships, reducing their effectiveness as fleet scouts or raiders. After their construction, they primarily served in the colonies and were later converted into auxiliary and training ships. Despite their relatively low speed, the strong armament and good armour of the Victoria Louise-class cruisers make them a valuable addition to any player’s fleet.

GMT-GER-006 Gazelle / Nymphe class protected cruiser

Class: 3
Base length: 12 cm.
Each set includes bases for the models.
Colour scheme: Colour Scheme No. 9. Asiatic squadron white hull, ochre supestructures and funnels.
Models in a set: 1.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 2.
Each card comes with a protective sleeve.

The Gazelle-class cruisers hold a legendary status in the Imperial German Navy, becoming the prototype for many similar ships in the fleet. When Germany began building its new fleet of cruisers in the 1880s, there was considerable debate over the types of ships that would be needed. Large ships like the Bussard and later the Victoria Louise were developed, but they were relatively slow. The fleet urgently required smaller, faster vessels to serve as scouts, supporting battleships. However, Admiral Tirpitz also wanted these new ships to retain the capability for raiding operations, which meant they needed long-range capabilities. At the same time, the costs of individual ships and their tonnage were severely limited.

As a result, the first ship in the series, Gazelle, could reach around 20 knots, which was not fast enough, given that even German battleships at the time could nearly match this speed. Additionally, the ship’s relatively weak armament was a major compromise, a result of the many trade-offs required during its design. Subsequent ships of this type had their speed increased to around 22 knots, which was considered sufficient for the intended tasks, though their armament was not strengthened.

The Gazelle and her sister ships became the blueprint for many subsequent German cruiser series, which generally followed a similar armament pattern.Despite certain shortcomings, the Gazelle will still be a very useful cruiser in a player’s fleet. It poses a significant threat to smaller vessels, and her speed and size make her well-suited for a variety of secondary missions.

GMT-GER-007 Wespe class gunboat

Class: 4
Base length: 6 cm.
Each set includes bases for the models.
Colour scheme: Colour Scheme No. 9. Early version – “victorian” painting (black hull, white superstruture, ochre funnel).
Models in a set: 2.
Models on one base: 1.
Cards in a set: 2.
Each card comes with a protective sleeve.

Built in the 1870s and early 1880s, the Wespe-class ships were fascinating examples of flatiron gunboats. These flat-bottomed vessels were designed primarily for the defence of Germany’s North Sea coastline, especially the approaches to key ports. To fulfil this role, they were armed with a powerful 30.5 cm gun, which was quite formidable given the ships’ relatively small size. Due to their flat bottoms, these gunboats were not suitable for open-sea navigation. However, a unique tactic was devised to enhance their stability and facilitate firing such a heavy gun: the plan was to ground them on sandbanks, taking advantage of their flat bottom.

Gunboats of this type never had the chance to test this tactic in actual combat, as they were primarily used for training purposes or kept in reserve. Nevertheless, in the game, they can be a very interesting and valuable choice. Although they might struggle in rough seas due to their flat-bottomed design, their heavy gun can pose a significant threat even to the largest enemy ships.

GMT-GER-008 S90 / G135 class torpedo boat

Class: 4
Base length: 8 cm.
Each set includes bases for the models.
Colour scheme: Hull, superstructures and funnels – black.
Models in a set: 4.
Models on one base: 2.
Cards in a set: 2.
Each card comes with a protective sleeve.

Although the Germans classified them as torpedo boats, the S90 class ships, displacing around 400 tons, were more akin to contemporary destroyers than torpedo boats. Their design and development were closely tied to one of the primary tactical doctrines of the German Imperial Navy. Due to the Royal Navy’s superiority in the number of battleships and cruisers, the Germans planned their fast torpedo vessels to work closely with the main fleet forces and, at the opportune moment, launch a torpedo attack on enemy battleships or other large vessels. Therefore, their primary role was not reconnaissance or engaging other torpedo boats, but executing torpedo attacks against larger ships during battle. The S90 class was designed with this philosophy in mind. Their artillery armament was relatively weak (for ships of their size), but they were equipped with very powerful torpedo armament.

These ships were mainly built by the Schichau shipyard in Elbląg (36 vessels) and Germaniawerft in Kiel (12 vessels). They were designated with the letters of the shipyards where they were built (S or G). As the shipyards constructed additional ships, they introduced numerous changes, including variations in the size of the ships themselves. For example, the G135 series had slightly stronger artillery armament.

The first ship of this class, S90, participated in the defence of Tsingtao in 1914, where it sank the Japanese cruiser Takachiho with its torpedoes.

These highly successful ships will be very useful for any player commanding the German fleet. Thanks to their speed, manoeuvrability, and, above all, their torpedo armament, they will be a formidable opponent for any enemy vessel.