S.M.S. Berlin
1914
(Albatros ALK-110A)
- Class: Berlin - 1 auxiliary cruiser of 1914
- Displacement: 16,786 tons
- Dimensions: 613' x 69'8"
- Machinery: steam quadruple expansion, twin screw, 16,000ihp = 19 knots
- Armament: 8-4.1in, 200 mines
- Complement: 410
- Builder: A/G Weser Shipbuilders, Bremen, Germany
- Launched: 7 Nov 1908
- Completed: 25 Apr 1909
- Commissioned: Oct 1914
- Notes: Built for Norddeutscher Lloyd with capacity for 3212 passengers (266 first class, 246 second class, 2700 third class). Bremerhaven - New York and Mediterranean - New York services. Served with German Navy as an auxiliary minelayer 1914. (Shown here camouflaged in Allan Line colors.) Laid minefield 23 Oct off northern coast of Ireland that sank British battleship HMS Audacious four days later. Attempting to return to Germany, she put in at Trondheim, Norway, due to storm damage. Having outstayed her 24-hour grace period and unfit to leave port, she was interned by the Norwegians 18 Nov 1914. Postwar surrendered to Britain and used as troopship, 1919-20. Sold to the White Star Line and refitted at Portsmouth Dockyard. Renamed Arabic and used for further transatlantic service with room for 500 cabin class and 1200 third class. Chartered to Red Star Line, 1926-30. Reverted to White Star Line, but then broken up at Genoa, 1931.
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