Niels Juel combined coastal-defence and training duties in a ship of roughly 4,000 tons. Laid down in 1914 and launched in 1918, it did not enter service until 1923. Its armament included ten 150 mm guns, 57 mm anti-aircraft guns and 450 mm torpedo tubes. A maximum speed of about 14.5 knots and a layout resembling an older cruiser left Denmark with a vessel whose design predated the conditions of its attempted escape.
Notable Point · 1:13:46-1:15:07
Niels Juel's old design limits its escape options
The coastal-defence ship's construction history, armament and modest speed explain the limitations of the vessel Denmark had available.