Großes Torpedoboot 1913 class torpedo boat
Encyclopedia
The Großes Torpedoboot 1913 class torpedo boat
was a class of torpedo boat built for the Deutschen Kaiserliche Marine
. It was the largest class ever built for the High Seas Fleet
, consisting of 71 ships. Of the class, 32 were sunk during World War I
, 29 were scuttled
at Scapa Flow
, one was destroyed by a mine on the way there, four were given to Britain and were not scuttled while one was given to Italy and France.
and 72.5 metres (237.9 ft) length overall to 83.7 metres (274.6 ft) at the waterline and 84.65 metres (277.7 ft) length overall. The ships of the class were the first German torpedo boats to be powered purely by oil (whereas earlier ships used a mixture of oil and coal), which resulted in greatly increased performance. The ships also were modified with an additional 8.8 centimetres (3.5 in) gun, along with double the number of torpedo tubes. Some were modified to carry floatplanes. The 8.8 centimetres (3.5 in) guns on the class could be depressed to -10° and raised to 25°. At maximum elevation, the gun could fire 9 kilograms (19.8 lb) high explosive shells a distance of 10964 metres (11,990.4 yd) at a muzzle velocity of 650 metres per second (2,132.5 ft/s) and at a rate of 15 rounds per minute. The ships each carried about 150 rounds per gun. The ships also carried six 50 centimetres (19.7 in) torpedo tubes and 12-24 mines.
The ships were manned by 83 to 87 crewmen. Each ship displaced 975 tonnes (959.6 LT) had a beam
of 8.33 metres (27.3 ft) and a draught
of 3.4 metres (11.2 ft) to 3.96 metres (13 ft).
.
V-43 was scuttled at Scapa Flow but raised and taken over by the US Navy and commissioned for a brief period in 1920, then sunk as target on 15 July 1921.
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
was a class of torpedo boat built for the Deutschen Kaiserliche Marine
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
. It was the largest class ever built for the High Seas Fleet
High Seas Fleet
The High Seas Fleet was the battle fleet of the German Empire and saw action during World War I. The formation was created in February 1907, when the Home Fleet was renamed as the High Seas Fleet. Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz was the architect of the fleet; he envisioned a force powerful enough to...
, consisting of 71 ships. Of the class, 32 were sunk during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, 29 were scuttled
Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow
The scuttling of the German fleet took place at the Royal Navy's base at Scapa Flow, in Scotland, after the end of the First World War. The High Seas Fleet had been interned there under the terms of the Armistice whilst negotiations took place over the fate of the ships...
at Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
, one was destroyed by a mine on the way there, four were given to Britain and were not scuttled while one was given to Italy and France.
Design
The Großes Torpedoboot 1913 class was different from its predecessors, the Großes Torpedoboot 1911 class, in a number of ways. Firstly, the size of it was enlarged from 71.5 metres (234.6 ft) at the waterlineWaterline
The term "waterline" generally refers to the line where the hull of a ship meets the water surface. It is also the name of a special marking, also known as the national Load Line or Plimsoll Line, to be positioned amidships, that indicates the draft of the ship and the legal limit to which a ship...
and 72.5 metres (237.9 ft) length overall to 83.7 metres (274.6 ft) at the waterline and 84.65 metres (277.7 ft) length overall. The ships of the class were the first German torpedo boats to be powered purely by oil (whereas earlier ships used a mixture of oil and coal), which resulted in greatly increased performance. The ships also were modified with an additional 8.8 centimetres (3.5 in) gun, along with double the number of torpedo tubes. Some were modified to carry floatplanes. The 8.8 centimetres (3.5 in) guns on the class could be depressed to -10° and raised to 25°. At maximum elevation, the gun could fire 9 kilograms (19.8 lb) high explosive shells a distance of 10964 metres (11,990.4 yd) at a muzzle velocity of 650 metres per second (2,132.5 ft/s) and at a rate of 15 rounds per minute. The ships each carried about 150 rounds per gun. The ships also carried six 50 centimetres (19.7 in) torpedo tubes and 12-24 mines.
The ships were manned by 83 to 87 crewmen. Each ship displaced 975 tonnes (959.6 LT) had a beam
Beam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
of 8.33 metres (27.3 ft) and a draught
Draft (hull)
The draft of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull , with the thickness of the hull included; in the case of not being included the draft outline would be obtained...
of 3.4 metres (11.2 ft) to 3.96 metres (13 ft).
Ships
The ships were numbered according to the yard which built them. There were minor differences between each yard series, so some references list each such series as a separate type. Strictly speaking, the 1913 series consisted only of V25 to V30 and S31 to S36 ships, but the later ones listed here were quite similar, though increasing in displacement. The German practice in peacetime was to build one flotilla of similar ships per fiscal year, hence the name 1913 series. Later ships belonged to 1914 series and so on. During the war the armament of most of these ships was upgraded, with 8.8 cm guns replaced with 10.5 cm guns.- V25 to V30, V43 to V48, V67 to V84, built by Vulkan Stettin
- G37 to G42, G85 to G95, built by Germaniawerft KielFriedrich Krupp GermaniawerftFriedrich Krupp Germaniawerft was a German shipbuilding company, located in the harbour at Kiel, and one of the largest and most important builders of U-boats for the Kaiserliche Marine in World War I and the Kriegsmarine in World War II.-History:The company was founded in 1867 by Lloyd Foster, as...
, - S31 to S36, S49 to S66, built by Schichau ElbingSchichau-WerkeThe Schichau-Werke was a German engineering works and shipyard based in Elbing, formerly part of the German Empire, and which is today the town of Elbląg in northern Poland. It also had a subsidiary shipyard in Danzig .-Early years:...
Service history
Because of the British naval blockade, most of the ships did not see any service, although some participated in the Battle of JutlandBattle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
.
V-43 was scuttled at Scapa Flow but raised and taken over by the US Navy and commissioned for a brief period in 1920, then sunk as target on 15 July 1921.