The Ironclad Turret Ship SMS Grosser Kurfurst, or “Great Elector" was commissioned on May 6, 1878, just in time to participate in the Imperial German Navy’s summer training cruise. That cruise would prove disastrous for both the ship and the Navy.
There was an entire class of Navy ships- some thirty vessels- named after Army Generals. The largely forgotten General G.O. Squier class transports did yeomans' work in an unsung role, and have an interesting history that deserves to be remembered.