Germany (1898-1901) S90-S107, S-114-S131 Schichau (1898-1901), G108-G113, G-132-G-136 Germaniawerft (1900-1902): 48 ships. The S90 class were in effect the largest torpedo boats of the Kaiserliches Marine, which never really used the term of “Zerstörer” (destroyer) and rather classed its larger types here of Großes Torpedoboote (“large torpedo boats”). The German Imperial Navy then called their … Read more
German Pre-dreadnoughts (1890-94) – Brandenburg, Kurfürst Friedrich Wilhelm, Weissenburg, Wörth Germany’s first pre-dreadnoughts Certainly the oldest battleships of the German Navy in 1914, two were left (two others sold, see later) in active service. Originally the class was composed of Brandenburg, Kurfürst Friedrich Wilhelm, Weissenburg, and Wörth. They were approved in 1889, laid down at … Read more
Germany (1892) – Protected Cruiser 1892-1918 The second German protected cruiser: The design of this wooden-headed protected cruiser started in 1887 based on the Irene class, but with an emphasis on speed, swapping on three shafts. A first time for a German warship and a configuration that was found convenient and repeated on further vessels. … Read more
Germany, Aviso-Cruiser, 1895-1914 SMS Hela was a cruiser of the Imperial German Navy, initially classed as an “aviso” (despatch vessel). She was commissioned by the Weser Shipyards in Bremen (AG Weser) and launched in Kiel on March 28, 1895. She was named after the Hel Peninsula near Danzig and commissioned on May 3, 1896. As … Read more
Germany: SM U3, U4 (1908-1909) Development SM U-3 was the third German U-boat, at a time the head of staff of the Kaiserliches Marine still wanted nothing to do with “these experimental vessels” that he saw of little use. The German Empire previously had three more, Forelle, the private venture prototype for Russia, U1, the … Read more
Germany (1913-1919) U-31 to U-41, launched/commissioned 1914-15 The U31 class were a continuation of previous diesel boats, a serie started with U19 and continued with the U23 and U27 classes, made by either Germaniawerft or Kaiserliche Werft Danzig. This was the same basic design, incrementally improved, increased in size and tonnage and becoming the standard … Read more
Germany (1912) Helgoland, Ostfriesland, Thüringen, Oldenburg The Helgoland class Battleships were very similar to the previous Nassau, first generation of Imperial German dreadnoughts. But they were a bite more: They were a breakthrough in German battleships design, the main artillery was scaled up to 12 inches (305 mm). When these ships were completed in 1911-1912 … Read more
German Empire (1906-1919, preserved 1921) Experimental U-Boat The first U-Boat The path towards 1914 U-Boats started somewhat later than other nations, which is odd for a country which at some point relied so much of this new weapon to win both world wars (and gained a long-lasting reputation a credibility for this type). As shown … Read more
German Empire (1896) Victoria Luise, Freya, Vineta, Herta, Hansa The first Class of German Protected cruisers: The second class of proper German “Kreuzer” appeared after SMS Kaiserin Augusta, later used as a training ship. These were more compact and more agile than the latter but heavier, rolling and rocking more while specs varied among shipyards. … Read more
German Empire – 200 submarines, 96 comp. UB-48 to UB-155 The UB-III became the mainstay of the the German submarine force in WWI. They were also arguably the best of the whole lineage, albeit not coming from 1st class boats from from a coastal type lineage. If the UB-I and UB-II had been successful on … Read more
