Grosser Kurfürst

The experience gained from battleships at the beginning of World War II prompted a revision of the ships under construction. It was necessary to improve the horizontal armor while maintaining the draft at 11.5 m for operations in the shallow waters of the North Sea. The new design incorporated a triple bottom and an increased quantity of watertight compartments to enhance protection against underwater explosions. The main armament was upgraded to feature twelve 420 mm guns. It was planned to lay down ships with the new design in 1942, but the construction needs of the Navy reoriented toward submarines, and new battleships were no longer laid down.