The lead ship in a series of two battleships designed for raiding operations entered service a few months before the outbreak of World War II. Scharnhorst conducted her first battle raid in November 1939. It was followed by support for troop landings in Norway, a raid into the Atlantic Ocean, and a breakthrough across the English Channel. In 1943, the battleship was transferred to Norway to attack enemy Arctic convoys. On December 26, 1943, Scharnhorst, flying Rear Admiral Er...