Despite being overshadowed by the larger Bismarck and Tirpitz, the battleships of the Scharnhorst-class, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, occupy a unique place in naval and military history. The most successful battleships of the German Kriegsmarine, they took part in some of the most noteworthy campaigns and battles of the Second World War, including the invasion of Norway, which saw the sinking of the aircraft carrier Glorious, Operation Berlin (a successful raid against merchant shipping in the Atlantic), the Channel Dash, and the battle of North Cape. The Scharnhorst holds the distinction of fighting the last engagement between British and German battleships in history.In this book, historian Daniel Knowles explores the developments that led to the construction of the ships of the Scharnhorst-class and provides an in-depth overview and analysis of the characteristics, systems and equipment which combined to make them Germany’s most successful battleships. Packed with illustrations, this is a unique and authoritative work on an iconic class of ships.