SMS Scharnhorst was an armored cruiser of the Kaiserliche Marine launched on 23 March 1906 and commissioned on 24 October 1907.

Following a brief period of service with the High Seas Fleet, Scharnhorst was assigned to serve as the flagship of the East Asia Squadron in 1909.  During her 5 years of service in this role, she would travel throughout Germany’s Pacific colonies showing the flag and serving as a representative of the German government at various state functions in foreign ports. 

At the ourbreak of war in 1914, she led the Squadorn in its victory at the Battle of Coronel on 1 Novemebr 1914, before being sunk with all hands at the Battle of the Falkland Islands on 8 December 1914.