SMS Gneisenau was a German battlecruiser launched in 1909, part of the Imperial German Navy. Designed for speed and firepower, she played a significant role in naval operations during World War I. The ship was named after the Prussian general Gerhard von Gneisenau and was equipped with powerful artillery. After the war, SMS Gneisenau was scuttled in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles, which mandated the surrender of German naval forces.