Ostfriesland, one of the Helgoland-class ships laid down in 1908, became a target in Billy Mitchell's 1921 air-power demonstration. She was then a 13-year-old veteran of World War I. The test ship had no crew and did not move, conditions far removed from a fighting fleet. Sinking her therefore offered weak evidence that air power had become dominant over sea power. The dramatic result did not show how aircraft would perform against an active warship.
Notable Point · 8:52-10:20
Ostfriesland shows the limits of Billy Mitchell's air-power trial
Ostfriesland's 1921 sinking is presented as a poor test of whether aircraft could defeat an active, crewed warship.