Köln class light cruiser
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.GIF/300px-SMS_Coln_(1916).GIF) SMS Köln |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Blohm und Voss and Howaldtswerke |
| Operators: | German Empire |
| Preceded by: | Königsberg class |
| Succeeded by: | "K" class (Reichsmarine) |
| Planned: | Ten |
| Completed: | Two |
| Cancelled: | Eight |
| Lost: | Two |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Light cruiser |
| Displacement: | 6195t standard; 8252t full load |
| Length: | 491 ft (150 m) |
| Beam: | 46.58 ft (14.20 m) |
| Draught: | 20.41 ft (6.22 m) |
| Propulsion: | 10,000 hp, three shafts |
| Speed: | 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h) |
| Complement: | 559 |
| Armament: | Eight 5.9 in (15 cm) (8 x 1) three 3.45 in (8.8 cm) (3 x 1) four 23.6 in (60 cm) torpedo tubes 200 mines |
| Armor: | 2.5 in (6.4 cm) - .5 in (1.3 cm) in armored belt 2.5 in (6.4 cm) - 1 in (2.5 cm) in deck |
The Köln class of light cruisers was Germany's last class commissioned before her defeat in World War I. Originally planned to contain ten ships, only two were completed; Köln and Dresden. Five were launched, but not completed: Wiesbaden, Magdeburg, Leipzig, Rostock and Frauenlob, while another three were laid down but not launched: Ersatz Köln, Ersatz Emden and Ersatz Karlsruhe.
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[edit] Construction
Köln was built at Blohm und Voss, while Dresden was constructed at Howaldtswerke in Kiel. The ships were laid down between mid 1915 to early 1916. Köln and Dresden were completed by early 1918, while the other ships of the class, in varying degrees of completion, were put on hold and eventually scrapped.
[edit] Design
[edit] Dimensions and machinery
The class design was 149.8m at the waterline, and 155.5m overall. The ships had a beam of 14.2m, and a draught of 6.22m, and displaced 6,195 tons at standard load, and 8252 tons at full load. The ships were propelled by two shaft Navy turbines, which produced 31,000shp, and a top speed of 27.5 knots, although in trials, Köln achieved 48,708shp on her turbines, and a top speed of 29.3 knots, while Dresden pushed her turbines to 49,428shp, but a top speed of only 27.8 knots.
[edit] Armor
The Köln class was protected by an armored belt, 2.5 inches thick at its strongest point, and .5 inches at its thinnest. The ships' deck was protected by 1 inch to 2.5 inches of armor plate.
[edit] Armament
The ships were armed with eight 5.9 inch (150mm) guns in single turrets, three 3.4 inch (88mm) guns in single turrets, and four 23.6 inch (600mm) torpedo tubes. The ships also carried 200 mines.
[edit] Service history
The two completed ships of the Köln class, Köln and Dresden, were assigned to the II Scouting Group in 1918, but their careers were cut short by the German surrender on 11 November 1918. They were interned after the war at Scapa Flow, but were successfully scuttled by their crews on 21 June 1919. The other incomplete ships were later sold for scrap.
[edit] External links
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