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Prussian Feldmarschall
Ernst II. was also commander of the German forces in the sea battle of Eckernförde in 1849. In this battle a Danish squadron appeared to bomb the town. The coastal batteries however, built up by Werner von Siemens, the later famous businessman, was able to hit the ship of the line Christian VIII. and the frigate Gefion so that they were immobile. As the other Danish ships were unable to get the ships free, they had to retreat. In the end the two ships had to stricken the flag and were surrendered. The ship of the line blew up when the fire on board hit the ammo chamber and was sunk. The Gefion however was captured and introduced into the small German fleet as Eckernförde. Later, after the fleet was disbanded, Prussia bought the ship and introduced her as SMS Gefion into her fleet. In 1870 the ship was outdated to fight the French and laid as floating battery and barracks ship at Kiel like other survivors of the age of sail (SMS Renown). In 1880 her service ended and she was broken up in 1891 when she was no longer useable as hulk, 51 years after being laid down.
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