The lead ship in a series of two battleships designed for raiding operations entered service a few months before the outbreak of World War II. Scharnhorst conducted her first battle raid in November 1939. It was followed by support for troop landings in Norway, a raid into the Atlantic Ocean, and a breakthrough across the English Channel. In 1943, the battleship was transferred to Norway to attack enemy Arctic convoys. On December 26, 1943, Scharnhorst, flying Rear Admiral Erich Bey's flag, was sunk in battle by an Allied squadron off North Cape.