In 1933, Germany set out to design ships that would exceed the limits stipulated by the Versailles Treaty. To counter French ships with 330 mm guns, the design received reinforced armor and a third turret. The new battleship, Gneisenau, participated in Operations Weserübung and Berlin and in the breakthrough across the English Channel. In 1942, Gneisenau was hit by a bomb dropped by British bombers. The guns demounted from the battleship were repurposed for coastal defense needs in Norway. On March 27, 1945, Gneisenau was scuttled due to the Red Army offensive.