Dresden class light cruiser
Encyclopedia
The Dresden class of light cruiser
s was a class of two ships built for the German Imperial Navy
in the early part of the 20th century. The class was composed of Dresden and Emden. Dresden and Emden both participated in well known battles during World War I
. Dresden was the only ship to escape destruction at the Battle of the Falkland Islands
, and Emden raided merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean
, until she was forced to beach by the Australian cruiser Sydney
.
shipyard in Hamburg
, at a cost of 7,460,000 Marks
. Emden was built at the Imperial Dockyard
in Danzig, at a cost of 5,960,000 Marks.
, which delivered 15000 shp and a top speed of 24 knots (47 km/h). In trials, Dresden's turbines were pushed to 18880 shp, and a top speed of 25.2 knots (49.4 km/h).
s mounted fore and aft, and the remaining six in casemate
s. The ships were also armed with eight 52 mm (2 inch) guns, and two 450 mm (17.7 inch) torpedo tubes. The deck was protected by a half inch to 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) of armor, and the 105 mm guns had 2 inches (50.8 mm) thick gun shields.
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s was a class of two ships built for the German Imperial Navy
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
in the early part of the 20th century. The class was composed of Dresden and Emden. Dresden and Emden both participated in well known battles during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Dresden was the only ship to escape destruction at the Battle of the Falkland Islands
Battle of the Falkland Islands
The Battle of the Falkland Islands was a British naval victory over the Imperial German Navy on 8 December 1914 during the First World War in the South Atlantic...
, and Emden raided merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, until she was forced to beach by the Australian cruiser Sydney
HMAS Sydney (1912)
HMAS Sydney was a Chatham class light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy . Laid down in 1911 and launched in 1912, the cruiser was commissioned into the RAN in 1913....
.
Construction
The two ships were laid down in 1907 and 1906, and finished in 1908 and 1909, respectively. Dresden was built at the Blohm & VossBlohm + Voss
Blohm + Voss , is a German shipbuilding and engineering works. It is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; there were plans to sell 80% of Blohm + Voss to Abu Dhabi Mar Group, but talks collapsed in July 2011.-History:It was founded on April 5, 1877, by Hermann Blohm and Ernst Voss as a...
shipyard in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, at a cost of 7,460,000 Marks
German gold mark
The Goldmark was the currency used in the German Empire from 1873 to 1914.-History:Before unification, the different German states issued a variety of different currencies, though most were linked to the Vereinsthaler, a silver coin containing 16⅔ grams of pure silver...
. Emden was built at the Imperial Dockyard
Kaiserliche Werft Danzig
Kaiserliche Werft Danzig was a German shipbuilding company founded in 1852, first as Königliche Werft Danzig but renamed in 1871 with the proclamation of the German Empire. Together with Kaiserliche Werft Kiel and Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven it was one of three shipyards which produced...
in Danzig, at a cost of 5,960,000 Marks.
Design
Dimensions and machinery
The Dresden class was 117.9 m at the waterline, and 118.3 m overall. They had a beam of 13.5 m, draught of 5.54 m, and displaced 3,664 tonnes with a standard load, and 4,268 tons full load. Emden was powered by two shaft triple expansion engines that produced 13500 shp, and a rated top speed of 23.5 knots (46.1 km/h), although in trials reached 24 knots (47 km/h). Dresden was powered by two shaft Parson turbinesParsons Marine Steam Turbine Company
Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company was a British engineering company based in Wallsend, North England, on the River Tyne.-History:The company was founded by Charles Algernon Parsons in 1897 with £500,000 of capital, and specialised in building the steam turbine engines that he had invented for...
, which delivered 15000 shp and a top speed of 24 knots (47 km/h). In trials, Dresden's turbines were pushed to 18880 shp, and a top speed of 25.2 knots (49.4 km/h).
Armament and armor
The ships of the Dresden class were armed with ten 105 mm (4.1 inch) guns, four in single barbetteBarbette
A barbette is a protective circular armour feature around a cannon or heavy artillery gun. The name comes from the French phrase en barbette referring to the practice of firing a field gun over a parapet rather than through an opening . The former gives better angles of fire but less protection...
s mounted fore and aft, and the remaining six in casemate
Casemate
A casemate, sometimes rendered casement, is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which guns are fired. originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress.-Origin of the term:...
s. The ships were also armed with eight 52 mm (2 inch) guns, and two 450 mm (17.7 inch) torpedo tubes. The deck was protected by a half inch to 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) of armor, and the 105 mm guns had 2 inches (50.8 mm) thick gun shields.