Steinhuder Hecht

The engineer and officer Jakob Chrysostomus Praetorius drafted a construction made of oak wood, in the shape of a fish with sails and mobile rear.

After an initial rejection it was built in 1772 at the island fortress Wilhelmstein in a reduced version.

While the range of the Steinhude pike must have been limited, Count Wilhelm, according to a local legend, wanted to sail to Portugal with it.

However, its military purpose was to connect the fortification with the allies of Schaumburg-Lippe, especially Britain, Braunschweig-Lüneburg and Prussia in the event of a siege.

Today a model and construction plans are exhibited in the military museum Wilhelmstein.