The Floating AA Batteries - "Schwimmende Flakbatterien" - were a desperate attempt to oppose the threats of American and British strategic bombardments. Old warships - withdrawn from service or captured in the Netherlands or Norway were anchored in the main flight paths of allied bomber streams to attack them before they cross the German or German occupied coastline.

The selected ships could not be compared to antiaircraft cruisers build by the British or Americans, although some had a quite similar armament. In most ships, the engines were removed so that they had bo be pulled to their position. Their armament consisted in 10,5 cm, 4 cm, 3,7cm  and 2 cm anti-aircraft guns which was manned by soldiers of  the naval artillery units. They were also equipped with the most modern radar and communications equipment available at this time.