S.M.S. Karlsruhe
1914
(Navis 46N)
- Class: Karlsruhe - 2 light cruisers of 1910
- Displacement: 4,900 tons
- Dimensions: 456 x 45 x 19 ft.
- Machinery: Turbines, 2 screws. S.H.P. 26,000-30,000 = 28 knots
- Armor: Belt 2.75 in., deck 0.5 in.
- Armament: 12-4.1 in. (12x1); 2-19.7 in. T.T.; 120 mines
- Complement: 370
- Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
- Laid Down: 1911
- Launched: 11 Nov 1912
- Completed: 15 Jan 1914
- Service: When war was declared, the Karlsruhe was in the Caribbean, under Capt Erich Köhler. On 6 Aug 1914 she rendezvoused with the German liner SS Kronprinz Wilhelm, a passenger ship which was ordered to also convert into a commerce raider. The Karlsruhe transferred guns to the Kronprinz Wilhelm, and received coal in return, though the transfer needed to be cut short when the British cruiser HMS Suffolk arrived. The German ships separated, and the Suffolk chose to chase the Karlsruhe, at one point coming close enough (7000 yards) to open fire, but missed, and the Karlsruhe successfully escaped and fled to Puerto Rico for resupplying, and then to patrol off the coast of Brazil. Between Aug and Nov 1914, Karlsruhe sank sixteen merchant ships. In November the Karlsruhe set course for Barbados for a raiding mission, but on 4 Nov there was a major explosion which blew the bow off the ship, and within half an hour the ship had sunk. 129 survivors were picked up by the supply ships Rio Negro and Indrani-Hoffnung. The cause of the explosion was unknown, though common speculation is that it was an ammunition accident.
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