 |
Kolberg Class. The first German light cruiser class all to be turbine driven but with each ship in the class having a different type in order to evaluate the different types. SMS Cöln was originally to have had Zoelly turbines but these were replaced by Germania turbines before completion. |
SMS Kolberg
Built Schichau, Danzig, laid down January 1908 , completed June 1910, cost 8,118,000 Marks.
SMS Mainz
Built Vulcan, Stettin, laid down December 1907, completed October 1909, cost 8,777,000 Marks.
SMS Cöln
Built Germaniawerft, Kiel, laid down May 1908, completed June 1911, cost 8,356,000 Marks.
SMS Augsburg
Built Kiel Navy Yard, laid down August 1908, completed November 1910, cost 7,593,000 Marks.
Size:
Length 130 m waterline 130.5 m overall, beam 14 m, draught 5.48 m, displacement 4,362 tonnes load 4,915 tonnes full load.
Propulsion:
Kolberg 4 shaft Melms & Pfenniger turbines, 19,000 shp, 25.5 knots
Mainz 2 shaft AEG-Curtiss turbines, 20,200 shp, 26 knots
Cöln 2 shaft Germania turbines, 19,000 shp, 25.5 knots
Augsburg 4 shaft Parsons turbines, 19,000 shp, 25.5 knots
Trials:
Kolberg 30,400 shp = 26.3 knots
Mainz 22,040 shp = 26.8 knots
Cöln 29,036 shp = 26.8 knots
Augsburg 31,033 shp = 26.7 knots
Armour:
1-0.5in decks, 2in gun shields
Armament:
12 x 105mm (4.1in) SKL/ 45cal (8 x 1), 4 x 52mm (2in), 2 x 450mm (17.7in) TT.
Comments:
Significantly larger continuation of the light cruiser designs with 2 extra main guns and more speed. Crew 367.
World War 1 Service:
Kolberg
Assigned to defence of the Bight area.
28 August 1914 Took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight.
24 January 1915 took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank.
August 1915 Temporarily in the Baltic and bombarded Russian positions.
January 1916 became flagship of VI Scouting Group.
1918 Baltic.
Ceded to France and scrapped in 1929.
Mainz
Assigned to defence of the Bight area.
28 August 1914 Sunk at the Battle of Heligoland Bight.
Cöln
Assigned to defence of the Bight area.
28 August 1914 Sunk at the Battle of Heligoland Bight.
Augsburg
1914 Assigned to coast defences and served in Baltic.
September 1914 Operates in Baltic and involved in skirmishes with Russian forces.
25 January 1915 Damaged by mine - under repair until April.
1918 U-Boat then minesweeper support ship.
Ceded to Japan and scrapped in 1922.
| SMS Augsburg, along with SMS Kolberg, were fitted with a pair of 88mm anti-aircraft guns and provision to carry 100 mines in 1918. The other two ships of the class were both sunk in August 1914 at the Battle of Heligoland Bight. |
|
Copyright ©1998-2024