Defeat in 1918 had brought about the forfeiture of all modern capital ships, and---except for a minimal force for coast defense---whatever else Germany was left with had had to be surrendered or scrapped. Possibilities considered as test-beds were the two remote-controlled target ships, Hessen and Zähringen, found to be unavailable for experimental purposes, and also the old coal hulk Falk and the midships section of the scrapped pre-dreadnought Preussen (the last available only for underwater explosives testing).