High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Sachsen class of armored frigates was a class of four ships commissioned into the German Kaiserliche Marine in the late 1870s to early 1880s. The development of the class was begun in 1861. The ships were designed to operate in the Baltic Sea area.Sachsen's armor was made of wrought steel, and ranged from 203mm to 254mm on the armored citadel, and between 51mm to 64mm thick on the deck. The ship was manned by a crew which ranged from 317 to 436 officers and sailors.