SMS Babenburg
Encyclopedia
SMS Babenburg was a pre-dreadnought battleship built by the Austro-Hungarian Navy in 1899. She was launched on 4 October 1902 as the last of three battleships. Along with her sisterships, she participated at the bombardment of Ancona
during World War I
. At the end of the war, she was ceded to Great Britain as a war prize. She was scrapped in Italy
in 1921.
shipyard in Trieste
. Following about a year and a half of construction, she was launched on 4 October 1902. After final fitting-out work was completed, the ship was commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian fleet on 15 April 1904. The teak
used on Babenbergs deck was the only available material that Austria-Hungary was able to purchase abroad to build the ship.
Like all ships of her class, the Babenberg was 113.11 m (371 ft) long at the waterline and was 114.55 m (375 ft 10 in) in overall length. She had a beam
of 19.8 m (65 ft) and a draft
of 7.5 m (24 ft 6 in). Freeboard
was approximately 5.8 m (19 ft) forward and about 5.5 m (18 ft) aft. The ship also displaced 8,364 metric tons (8,232 long ton
s). Once construction was finished, she was commissioned into the Navy with a crew of 638 officers and enlisted men.
The Babenberg was powered by 2-shaft, 4-cylinder vertical triple expansion engines, which were supplied with steam by 16 Belleville boiler
s. Babenbergs power output was rated at 16,000 indicated horsepower (ihp), which produced a top speed of 19.85 knots (10.8 m/s).
The hull for the ship was constructed from longitudinal and transverse steel frames, over which the outer hull plates were rivet
ed into place. The hull incorporated a double bottom
that ran for 63% of the ship's length. A series of watertight bulkheads also extended from the keel
to the gun deck. All in all, there was a total of 174 watertight compartments in the ship. Babenberg had a metacentric height
of between 0.82 m (2.7 ft) and 1.02 m (3.3 ft). Bilge keel
s were mounted on either side of the hull to reduce rolling and prevent her from capsizing. Babenberg had a flush main deck that was planked with wood, while the upper decks were covered with linoleum
or corticine.
The Babenberg had three 24 cm (9.4 in) L/40 guns, two mounted in a twin turret
forward and one mounted in a single turret aft of the main superstructure. The C 97-type guns were manufactured by Krupp
in Germany. The main guns fired at a rate
of between three to four 215 kg (474 lb) armor-piercing
(AP) shells per minute. Her secondary armament consisted of twelve 15 cm (5.9 inch) SK L/40 guns in casemate
s. These guns could fire at 4–5 shells per minute. Babenberg was built with face-hardened
chrome-nickel steel. The main armored belt
was 220 mm (8.7 in) in the central portion of the ship, where the ammunition magazines, machinery spaces, and other critical areas were located. The belt tapered slightly to 180 mm (7.1 in) on either end of the central section.
and the SMS Habsburg
. Following a series of simulated wargames against the three s, the Babenberg and the other two Habsburg-class ships becamse the I Battleship Division. With the commissioning of the s in 1906 and 1907, the Habsburg-class battleships were transferred from the I to the II Battleship Division, and the three Monarch-class battleships were moved from the II to the III Battleship Division.
, Babenberg served with the IV Division of the Austro-Hungarian Navy's battleship
s and along with her sisterships Habsburg and Árpád and the remainder of the Austro-Hungarian Navy. Babenberg was mobilized on the eve of World War I to support the flight of and . The two German ships were stationed in the Mediterranean and were attempting to break out of the strait of Messina, which was surrounded by British troops and vessels and make their way to Turkey. After the Germans successfully broke out of Messina, the navy was recalled. The fleet had by that time advanced as far south as Brindisi
in southeastern Italy. Babenberg and her sisterships also participated in the bombardment of Ancona after the Italian declaration of war on the Central Powers. Towards the end of the war, the ship was decommissioned and was retained as a harbor defense ship. Following the end of the war, the ship was awarded to Great Britain as a war prize, but was instead sold and broken up for scrapping in Italy in 1921.
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
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...
. At the end of the war, she was ceded to Great Britain as a war prize. She was scrapped in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1921.
Construction and layout
Babenberg was the last of three battleships of her class. Her hull was laid down on 19 January 1901 at the Stabilimento Tecnico TriestinoStabilimento Tecnico Triestino
Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino was a private shipbuilding company based in Trieste from the mid-19th to early 20th century, and the most important naval shipbuilding firm of the Austro-Hungarian Empire....
shipyard in Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
. Following about a year and a half of construction, she was launched on 4 October 1902. After final fitting-out work was completed, the ship was commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian fleet on 15 April 1904. The teak
Teak
Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...
used on Babenbergs deck was the only available material that Austria-Hungary was able to purchase abroad to build the ship.
Like all ships of her class, the Babenberg was 113.11 m (371 ft) long at the waterline and was 114.55 m (375 ft 10 in) in overall length. She 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 19.8 m (65 ft) and a draft
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 7.5 m (24 ft 6 in). Freeboard
Freeboard (nautical)
In sailing and boating, freeboardmeans the distance from the waterline to the upper deck level, measured at the lowest point of sheer where water can enter the boat or ship...
was approximately 5.8 m (19 ft) forward and about 5.5 m (18 ft) aft. The ship also displaced 8,364 metric tons (8,232 long ton
Long ton
Long ton is the name for the unit called the "ton" in the avoirdupois or Imperial system of measurements, as used in the United Kingdom and several other Commonwealth countries. It has been mostly replaced by the tonne, and in the United States by the short ton...
s). Once construction was finished, she was commissioned into the Navy with a crew of 638 officers and enlisted men.
The Babenberg was powered by 2-shaft, 4-cylinder vertical triple expansion engines, which were supplied with steam by 16 Belleville boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
s. Babenbergs power output was rated at 16,000 indicated horsepower (ihp), which produced a top speed of 19.85 knots (10.8 m/s).
The hull for the ship was constructed from longitudinal and transverse steel frames, over which the outer hull plates were rivet
Rivet
A rivet is a permanent mechanical fastener. Before being installed a rivet consists of a smooth cylindrical shaft with a head on one end. The end opposite the head is called the buck-tail. On installation the rivet is placed in a punched or pre-drilled hole, and the tail is upset, or bucked A rivet...
ed into place. The hull incorporated a double bottom
Double bottom
A double bottom is a ship hull design and construction method where the bottom of the ship has two complete layers of watertight hull surface: one outer layer forming the normal hull of the ship, and a second inner hull which is somewhat higher in the ship, perhaps a few feet, which forms a...
that ran for 63% of the ship's length. A series of watertight bulkheads also extended from the keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
to the gun deck. All in all, there was a total of 174 watertight compartments in the ship. Babenberg had a metacentric height
Metacentric height
The metacentric height is a measurement of the static stability of a floating body. It is calculated as the distance between the centre of gravity of a ship and its metacentre . A larger metacentric height implies greater stability against overturning...
of between 0.82 m (2.7 ft) and 1.02 m (3.3 ft). Bilge keel
Bilge keel
A bilge keel is used to reduce the hull's tendency to roll. Bilge keels are employed in pairs . A ship may have more than one bilge keel per side, but this is rare. Bilge keels increase hydrodynamic resistance to rolling, making the ship roll less...
s were mounted on either side of the hull to reduce rolling and prevent her from capsizing. Babenberg had a flush main deck that was planked with wood, while the upper decks were covered with linoleum
Linoleum
Linoleum is a floor covering made from renewable materials such as solidified linseed oil , pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on a burlap or canvas backing; pigments are often added to the materials.The finest linoleum floors,...
or corticine.
The Babenberg had three 24 cm (9.4 in) L/40 guns, two mounted in a twin turret
Gun turret
A gun turret is a weapon mount that protects the crew or mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon and at the same time lets the weapon be aimed and fired in many directions.The turret is also a rotating weapon platform...
forward and one mounted in a single turret aft of the main superstructure. The C 97-type guns were manufactured by Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
in Germany. The main guns fired at a rate
Rate of fire
Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. It is usually measured in rounds per minute , or per second .-Overview:...
of between three to four 215 kg (474 lb) armor-piercing
Armor-piercing shot and shell
An armor-piercing shell is a type of ammunition designed to penetrate armor. From the 1860s to 1950s, a major application of armor-piercing projectiles was to defeat the thick armor carried on many warships. From the 1920s onwards, armor-piercing weapons were required for anti-tank missions...
(AP) shells per minute. Her secondary armament consisted of twelve 15 cm (5.9 inch) SK L/40 guns in casemate
Casemate
A casemate, sometimes rendered casement, is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which guns are fired. originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress.-Origin of the term:...
s. These guns could fire at 4–5 shells per minute. Babenberg was built with face-hardened
Case hardening
Case hardening or surface hardening is the process of hardening the surface of a metal, often a low carbon steel, by infusing elements into the material's surface, forming a thin layer of a harder alloy...
chrome-nickel steel. The main armored belt
Belt armor
Belt armor is a layer of heavy metal armor plated on to or within outer hulls of warships, typically on battleships, battlecruisers and cruisers, and on aircraft carriers converted from those types of ships....
was 220 mm (8.7 in) in the central portion of the ship, where the ammunition magazines, machinery spaces, and other critical areas were located. The belt tapered slightly to 180 mm (7.1 in) on either end of the central section.
Peacetime
When Babenberg was commissioned in 1904, she began participation in fleet drills with her sisterships the SMS ÁrpádSMS Árpád
SMS Árpád was a pre-dreadnought battleship built by the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the early 20th century. She was launched on 11 September 1901 as the second of three battleships. Along with her sisterships, she participated at the bombardment of Ancona during World War I...
and the SMS Habsburg
SMS Habsburg
SMS Habsburg was a pre-dreadnought battleship built by the Austro-Hungarian navy in 1899. The lead ship of the , she was launched on 9 September 1900. In 1903 and 1904, Habsburg and her sister ship Árpád conducted training exercises in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1906 and 1907, Habsburg was...
. Following a series of simulated wargames against the three s, the Babenberg and the other two Habsburg-class ships becamse the I Battleship Division. With the commissioning of the s in 1906 and 1907, the Habsburg-class battleships were transferred from the I to the II Battleship Division, and the three Monarch-class battleships were moved from the II to the III Battleship Division.
World War I
During World War IWorld 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...
, Babenberg served with the IV Division of the Austro-Hungarian Navy's battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
s and along with her sisterships Habsburg and Árpád and the remainder of the Austro-Hungarian Navy. Babenberg was mobilized on the eve of World War I to support the flight of and . The two German ships were stationed in the Mediterranean and were attempting to break out of the strait of Messina, which was surrounded by British troops and vessels and make their way to Turkey. After the Germans successfully broke out of Messina, the navy was recalled. The fleet had by that time advanced as far south as Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
in southeastern Italy. Babenberg and her sisterships also participated in the bombardment of Ancona after the Italian declaration of war on the Central Powers. Towards the end of the war, the ship was decommissioned and was retained as a harbor defense ship. Following the end of the war, the ship was awarded to Great Britain as a war prize, but was instead sold and broken up for scrapping in Italy in 1921.