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SMS Karlsruhe (1915)
Encyclopedia
SMS Karlsruhe was a light cruiser
of the Königsberg class
, built for the German Imperial Navy
during World War I
. She was named after the earlier Karlsruhe
, which had sunk in November 1914, from an accidental explosion.
in Kiel
in 1915. She was launched on 31 January 1916, after which fitting-out
work commenced. She was commissioned into the High Seas Fleet
on 15 November 1916. The ship was 151.4 metres (496.7 ft) long overall and had a beam
of 14.2 m (46.6 ft) and a draft
of 5.96 m (19.6 ft) forward. She displaced 7125 MT (7,012.5 LT) at full combat load. Her propulsion system consisted of two sets of steam turbine
s powered by ten coal-fired and two oil-fired Marine-type boilers. These provided a top speed of 27.5 kn (15 m/s) and a range of 4850 nautical miles (8,982.2 km) at 12 kn (6.5 m/s).
The ship was armed with eight 15 cm SK L/45 guns in single pedestal mounts. Two were placed side by side forward on the forecastle
, four were located amidships, two on either side, and two were arranged in a super firing pair
aft. They were supplied with 1,040 rounds of ammunition, for 130 shells per gun. Karlsruhe also carried two 8.8 cm (3.5 in) L/45 anti-aircraft guns mounted on the centerline astern of the funnels. She was also equipped with a pair of 60 cm (23.6 in) torpedo tube
s with eight torpedoes in deck-mounted swivel launchers amidships. She also carried 200 mines
. The ship was protected by a waterline armored belt that was 60 mm (2.4 in) thick amidships. The conning tower
had 100 mm (3.9 in) thick sides, and the deck was covered with 60 mm thick armor plate.
at the end of the war. The ship was the only one of the class that managed to scuttle along with the rest of the High Seas Fleet
. Nürnberg and Emden were both beached by British sailors before they sank; Königsberg had been ceded to France, and wasn't present at Scapa Flow. The ship is now a popular dive site,and lies on her side in 24m of water in the middle of Scapa Flow,the shallowest part of the wreck being just 12m down.
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
of the Königsberg class
Königsberg class light cruiser (1915)
The Königsberg class of light cruisers was a group of four ships commissioned into Germany's Imperial Navy shortly before the end of World War I. The class comprised , , , and , all of which were named after light cruisers lost earlier in the war...
, built for the German Imperial Navy
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...
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...
. She was named after the earlier Karlsruhe
SMS Karlsruhe (1912)
SMS Karlsruhe was a light cruiser of the built by the German Kaiserliche Marine . She had one sister ship, ; the ships were very similar to the previous s. The ship was laid down in 1911, launched in November 1912, and completed by January 1914...
, which had sunk in November 1914, from an accidental explosion.
Construction
Karlsruhe was ordered under the contract name "Ersatz " and was laid down at the Imperial DockyardKaiserliche Werft Kiel
Kaiserliche Werft Kiel was a German shipbuilding company founded in 1867, first as Königliche Werft Kiel but renamed in 1871 with the proclamation of the German Empire...
in Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
in 1915. She was launched on 31 January 1916, after which fitting-out
Fitting-out
Fitting-out, or "outfitting”, is the process in modern shipbuilding that follows the float-out of a vessel and precedes sea trials. It is the period when all the remaining construction of the ship is completed and readied for delivery to her owners...
work commenced. She was commissioned into 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...
on 15 November 1916. The ship was 151.4 metres (496.7 ft) long overall and 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 14.2 m (46.6 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 5.96 m (19.6 ft) forward. She displaced 7125 MT (7,012.5 LT) at full combat load. Her propulsion system consisted of two sets of steam turbine
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
s powered by ten coal-fired and two oil-fired Marine-type boilers. These provided a top speed of 27.5 kn (15 m/s) and a range of 4850 nautical miles (8,982.2 km) at 12 kn (6.5 m/s).
The ship was armed with eight 15 cm SK L/45 guns in single pedestal mounts. Two were placed side by side forward on the forecastle
Forecastle
Forecastle refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters...
, four were located amidships, two on either side, and two were arranged in a super firing pair
Superfire
The idea of superfire is to locate two turrets in a row, one behind the other, but with the second turret located above the one in front so that the second turret could fire over the first...
aft. They were supplied with 1,040 rounds of ammunition, for 130 shells per gun. Karlsruhe also carried two 8.8 cm (3.5 in) L/45 anti-aircraft guns mounted on the centerline astern of the funnels. She was also equipped with a pair of 60 cm (23.6 in) torpedo tube
Torpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units installed aboard surface vessels...
s with eight torpedoes in deck-mounted swivel launchers amidships. She also carried 200 mines
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
. The ship was protected by a waterline armored belt that was 60 mm (2.4 in) thick amidships. The conning tower
Conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can con the vessel; i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility....
had 100 mm (3.9 in) thick sides, and the deck was covered with 60 mm thick armor plate.
Service history
Upon commissioning, Karlsruhe served in the II Scouting Group alongside her sisters Königsberg and Nürnberg. The ship was interned at Scapa FlowScapa 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...
at the end of the war. The ship was the only one of the class that managed to scuttle along with the rest of 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...
. Nürnberg and Emden were both beached by British sailors before they sank; Königsberg had been ceded to France, and wasn't present at Scapa Flow. The ship is now a popular dive site,and lies on her side in 24m of water in the middle of Scapa Flow,the shallowest part of the wreck being just 12m down.