Danish Coastal defence ship Niels Juel, launched in 1918, serving from 1923 to 1943. Photographed in 1939 (with effects of Refit 1935-36)
Niels Juel was a Danish armoured warship, originally known as "warship" and from 1932 as "artillery ship". The name is also spelled Niels Juel. The ship had a long construction period, influenced by conditions during and after the 1st World War, and the finished vessel was markedly different from that originally planned.
Niels Juel was the last Danish armoured ship, and it was named after naval hero Niels Juel. Niels Juel hoisted command in May 1923 and was extensively used, amongst other things, for royal ship on trips to Finland, Faroe Islands and Iceland.
In 1931 it was in the role of cadet ship, the first Danish warship in the Black Sea, which harbours Odessa.
In the early 1930s emanated Herluf Trolle and Olfert Fischer of active service, and it soon became clear that there would not be allocated any money for new large ships. Instead, Niels Juel modernized in 1935-36, including the new fire control and extra anti-aircraft guns.
World War II broke out in 1939 it was only up to Niels Juel and Peter Skram providing artillery support for the Danish mining blocks of neutrality defense. When Denmark was occupied 9th April 1940, Niels Juel was inactive in Holmen with reduced crews due to ice conditions. Steensen writes that 3-4 of its guns could actually have shot at the German ships moored at Langelinie During the occupation was referred to the ship sailing in inland waters, including Isefjord.
When the Danish military were disarmed 29th August 1943, the ship tried to come to Sweden, but was bombed by German planes and was instead placed on the ground with the open sea inlet valve.
The German Kriegsmarine took over the ship and put it into service in 1944 under the name North Country. In German service it operated as a school ship until it was sunk in Eckernförde Fjord after an air attack 3rd May 1945
The wreck is still there, in about 30 feet of water.
When North Country came into service, the guns were taken off, and eight of the 10 15 cm guns ended up in German fortifications in Denmark, four of Faarupklint south of Løkken and four in Frederikshavn, three of which can still be seen in the current museum area Bangsbo Fort.
# Larsen, Kay (1932). Our warships from the nineties to now. Nyt Nordisk Forlag. Nyt Nordisk Forlag.
# Steensen, RS (1968). Vore Panserskibe . Steensen, RS (1968). Our Ironclad. Marinehistorisk Selskab. Marine Historical Society.
Denmark 2010 SG?