Odin class coastal defense ship
Encyclopedia
The Odin class was a pair of coastal defense ship
s built for the German Kaiserliche Marine
in the late 19th century. The class comprised two ships: , named after the Norse god Odin
, and , named after the Norse god of the same name
. The ships were very similar to the preceding s, and are sometimes considered to be one class of ships.
Like the preceding Siegfried class ships, Odin and Ägir were obsolete by the time World War I
had started. Regardless, they were still used in their primary role until 1915, at which point they were withdrawn from active service. The ships performed a variety of secondary duties until the end of the war. On 17 June 1919, both ships were struck from the naval register
and sold to the A. Bernstein Company in Hamburg. The shipping company had the ships rebuilt as freighters; Odin served in this capacity until she was scrapped in 1935, however Ägir accidentally grounded near the Karlsö lighthouse on the island of Gotland
in 1929 and proved to be a total loss.
of 15.2 m (49.9 ft) and a draft
of 5.61 m (18.4 ft) forward and 5.47 m (17.9 ft) aft. Like the preceding Siegfried class, Odin and Ägir were substantially rebuilt between 1901–03 and 1903–04, respectively. The hulls were lengthened somewhat, to 84.8 m (278.2 ft) at the waterline and 86.15 m (282.6 ft) overall. The beam was also slightly increased, to 15.4 m (50.5 ft). Forward draft decreased slightly, to 5.59 m (18.3 ft), while the aft draft increased slightly, to 5.49 m (18 ft). The two ships had a designed displacement of 3550 metric tons (3,493.9 LT) and a maximum weight of 2754 MT (2,710.5 LT). After the reconstruction, displacement was increased to 4100 MT (4,035.2 LT) designed, and a maximum of 4376 MT (4,306.9 LT) for Odin and 4292 MT (4,224.2 LT) for Ägir.
Odin and Ägir used the same transverse and longitudinal steel frame construction as the Siegfried class ships. The ships had eight watertight compartments and a double bottom
for about 60% of the length of the hull. As in the Siegfrieds, a ninth watertight compartment was added when the ships were lengthened. The ships were described as good sea boats; they had gentle motion and were very responsive to commands from the helm. The ships lost significant speed in heavy seas, however. The ships had a crew of 20 officers and 256 enlisted men, with an additional 6 officers and 22 men when serving as a flagship
. The refit increased crew requirements, to an additional 31 sailors normally, and the extra flagship crew increased to 9 officers and 34 men. The ships carried a number of smaller boats, including one picket boat, one pinnace
, two cutters, one yawl
, and one dinghy
.
Odin had three electric generators that provided between 29–26 kilowatts at 67 volts, while Ägir was equipped with six generators that provided between 243–250 kW at 120 V. Because of her increased number of electrical generators, Ägir was nicknamed "Electrische Anna" ("Electric Anna"). The ships stored up to 270 MT (265.7 LT) of coal which enabled a range of 2200 nautical miles (4,074.4 km) at a cruising speed of 10 kn (5.4 m/s). After the refit, fuel bunkerage was increased, to 370 MT (364.2 LT) of coal. This increased the sailing range to 3000 nmi (5,556 km) at 10 knots. After 1909, capacity to store 100 MT (98.4 LT) of fuel oil was added.
forward side-by-side, while the third was mounted in a single turret aft. The guns could train 150 degrees to either side of the centerline, and depress to -4 degrees and elevate to 25 degrees. This enabled a maximum range of 13000 m (42,650.9 ft). The guns had an ammunition storage of 174 rounds, or 58 shells per gun. The guns had a rate of fire of around 2 shells per minute. The 1895 design for the armor piercing shell weighed 140 kg (308.6 lb).
The ships also had a secondary battery of ten 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 guns with 2,500 rounds of ammunition. The 8.8 cm gun fired a 10 kg (22 lb) projectile at a muzzle velocity of 590 m/s (1,936 ft/s). The guns could sustain a rate of fire of approximately 15 rounds per minute. The ships were also equipped with three 45 cm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes. Two were placed laterally in above water swivel mounts and the third was submerged in the bow. The torpedo tubes were supplied with a total of 8 torpedoes.
compound steel and teak armor protection scheme as in the preceding Siegfried class. The upper section of the main armored belt was 220 millimetres (8.7 in) thick in the central portion of the ships, where the ships' vitals were located. Behind this was 180 mm (7.1 in) of teak, which gave a total thickness of 400 mm (15.7 in). The bow and stern were unprotected. The lower section followed a similar pattern of steel armor distribution, although the thickness of the central portion of the belt was decreased to 120 mm (4.7 in). The main armored deck was between 50 mm (2 in) and 70 mm (2.8 in) thick; more important areas of the ships were covered by the thicker armor. The conning tower
roof was 30 mm (1.2 in) thick and the sides were 120 mm (4.7 in). The barbettes for the main battery and cupolas for the secondary guns ranged in thickness between 30 millimetre, backed by 200 mm (7.9 in) of teak.
As the new battleships were intended for offensive operations, the Odin class was still retained for coast defense duties. The ships served in this capacity through the start of World War I
, until they were withdrawn from active service in 1915, along with their half-sisters of the Siegfried class. After she was pulled from combat duties, Odin served as a tender in Wilhelmshaven
. She was struck from the naval register
on 6 December 1919 and sold to A. Bernstein Co., a shipping company based in Hamburg. By 1922, the ship had been rebuilt as a freighter, and she served in this capacity until she was scrapped in 1935.
Ägir was also stationed in Wilhelmshaven after she was withdrawn from her coast defense duties, though she served as a barracks ship
there. She was stricken from the navy list on 17 June 1919, and also sold to A. Bernstein Co. for use as a freighter. On 8 December 1929, the ship grounded off the Karlsö lighthouse on the Swedish island of Gotland
. The situation proved to be unsalveagble. Her bow ornament is now on display at the Laboe Naval Memorial
.
Coastal defence ship
Coastal defence ships were warships built for the purpose of coastal defence, mostly during the period from 1860 to 1920. They were small, often cruiser-sized warships that sacrificed speed and range for armour and armament...
s built for the German Kaiserliche Marine
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 late 19th century. The class comprised two ships: , named after the Norse god Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
, and , named after the Norse god of the same name
Ægir
Ægir is a sea giant, god of the ocean and king of the sea creatures in Norse mythology. He is also known for hosting elaborate parties for the gods.Ægir's servants are Fimafeng and Eldir.- Description :...
. The ships were very similar to the preceding s, and are sometimes considered to be one class of ships.
Like the preceding Siegfried class ships, Odin and Ägir were obsolete by the time 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...
had started. Regardless, they were still used in their primary role until 1915, at which point they were withdrawn from active service. The ships performed a variety of secondary duties until the end of the war. On 17 June 1919, both ships were struck from the naval register
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
and sold to the A. Bernstein Company in Hamburg. The shipping company had the ships rebuilt as freighters; Odin served in this capacity until she was scrapped in 1935, however Ägir accidentally grounded near the Karlsö lighthouse on the island of Gotland
Gotland
Gotland is a county, province, municipality and diocese of Sweden; it is Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. At 3,140 square kilometers in area, the region makes up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area...
in 1929 and proved to be a total loss.
General characteristics
The Odin class ships were 76.4 metres (250.7 ft) long at the waterline and 79 m (259.2 ft) long overall. They had a beamBeam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
of 15.2 m (49.9 ft) and a draft
Draft (hull)
The draft of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull , with the thickness of the hull included; in the case of not being included the draft outline would be obtained...
of 5.61 m (18.4 ft) forward and 5.47 m (17.9 ft) aft. Like the preceding Siegfried class, Odin and Ägir were substantially rebuilt between 1901–03 and 1903–04, respectively. The hulls were lengthened somewhat, to 84.8 m (278.2 ft) at the waterline and 86.15 m (282.6 ft) overall. The beam was also slightly increased, to 15.4 m (50.5 ft). Forward draft decreased slightly, to 5.59 m (18.3 ft), while the aft draft increased slightly, to 5.49 m (18 ft). The two ships had a designed displacement of 3550 metric tons (3,493.9 LT) and a maximum weight of 2754 MT (2,710.5 LT). After the reconstruction, displacement was increased to 4100 MT (4,035.2 LT) designed, and a maximum of 4376 MT (4,306.9 LT) for Odin and 4292 MT (4,224.2 LT) for Ägir.
Odin and Ägir used the same transverse and longitudinal steel frame construction as the Siegfried class ships. The ships had eight watertight compartments and a double bottom
Double bottom
A double bottom is a ship hull design and construction method where the bottom of the ship has two complete layers of watertight hull surface: one outer layer forming the normal hull of the ship, and a second inner hull which is somewhat higher in the ship, perhaps a few feet, which forms a...
for about 60% of the length of the hull. As in the Siegfrieds, a ninth watertight compartment was added when the ships were lengthened. The ships were described as good sea boats; they had gentle motion and were very responsive to commands from the helm. The ships lost significant speed in heavy seas, however. The ships had a crew of 20 officers and 256 enlisted men, with an additional 6 officers and 22 men when serving as a flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
. The refit increased crew requirements, to an additional 31 sailors normally, and the extra flagship crew increased to 9 officers and 34 men. The ships carried a number of smaller boats, including one picket boat, one pinnace
Pinnace (ship's boat)
As a ship's boat the pinnace is a light boat, propelled by sails or oars, formerly used as a "tender" for guiding merchant and war vessels. In modern parlance, pinnace has come to mean a boat associated with some kind of larger vessel, that doesn't fit under the launch or lifeboat definitions...
, two cutters, one yawl
Yawl
A yawl is a two-masted sailing craft similar to a sloop or cutter but with an additional mast located well aft of the main mast, often right on the transom, specifically aft of the rudder post. A yawl (from Dutch Jol) is a two-masted sailing craft similar to a sloop or cutter but with an...
, and one dinghy
Dinghy
A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed for use as a ship's boat by a larger vessel. It is a loanword from either Bengali or Urdu. The term can also refer to small racing yachts or recreational open sailing boats. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor,...
.
Propulsion
Odin and Ägir were equipped with the same propulsion system that was in Siegfried: two sets of 3-cylinder triple expansion engines, each in its own engine room. These engines drove a pair of three-bladed screws that were 3.5 m (11.5 ft) in diameter. Odin had eight marine type boilers, while Ägirs engines were powered by eight Thornycroft boilers. The ships had similar maximum speeds, with Odin, at 14.4 knots (7.8 m/s), somewhat slower than her design speed of 15 kn (8.2 m/s) and Ägir slightly faster at 15.1 kn (8.2 m/s). Their engines were rated at 4800 ihp, though on trials Odin managed only 4650 ihp while Ägir reached 5129 ihp.Odin had three electric generators that provided between 29–26 kilowatts at 67 volts, while Ägir was equipped with six generators that provided between 243–250 kW at 120 V. Because of her increased number of electrical generators, Ägir was nicknamed "Electrische Anna" ("Electric Anna"). The ships stored up to 270 MT (265.7 LT) of coal which enabled a range of 2200 nautical miles (4,074.4 km) at a cruising speed of 10 kn (5.4 m/s). After the refit, fuel bunkerage was increased, to 370 MT (364.2 LT) of coal. This increased the sailing range to 3000 nmi (5,556 km) at 10 knots. After 1909, capacity to store 100 MT (98.4 LT) of fuel oil was added.
Armament
The ships' primary armament consisted of three 24 centimetres (9.4 in) SK L/35 guns. In an arrangement that was very unusual for such large guns, two of the guns were mounted in a pair of MPL C/88 turretsGun turret
A gun turret is a weapon mount that protects the crew or mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon and at the same time lets the weapon be aimed and fired in many directions.The turret is also a rotating weapon platform...
forward side-by-side, while the third was mounted in a single turret aft. The guns could train 150 degrees to either side of the centerline, and depress to -4 degrees and elevate to 25 degrees. This enabled a maximum range of 13000 m (42,650.9 ft). The guns had an ammunition storage of 174 rounds, or 58 shells per gun. The guns had a rate of fire of around 2 shells per minute. The 1895 design for the armor piercing shell weighed 140 kg (308.6 lb).
The ships also had a secondary battery of ten 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 guns with 2,500 rounds of ammunition. The 8.8 cm gun fired a 10 kg (22 lb) projectile at a muzzle velocity of 590 m/s (1,936 ft/s). The guns could sustain a rate of fire of approximately 15 rounds per minute. The ships were also equipped with three 45 cm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes. Two were placed laterally in above water swivel mounts and the third was submerged in the bow. The torpedo tubes were supplied with a total of 8 torpedoes.
Armor
The ships used a similar KruppKrupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
compound steel and teak armor protection scheme as in the preceding Siegfried class. The upper section of the main armored belt was 220 millimetres (8.7 in) thick in the central portion of the ships, where the ships' vitals were located. Behind this was 180 mm (7.1 in) of teak, which gave a total thickness of 400 mm (15.7 in). The bow and stern were unprotected. The lower section followed a similar pattern of steel armor distribution, although the thickness of the central portion of the belt was decreased to 120 mm (4.7 in). The main armored deck was between 50 mm (2 in) and 70 mm (2.8 in) thick; more important areas of the ships were covered by the thicker armor. The conning tower
Conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can con the vessel; i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility....
roof was 30 mm (1.2 in) thick and the sides were 120 mm (4.7 in). The barbettes for the main battery and cupolas for the secondary guns ranged in thickness between 30 millimetre, backed by 200 mm (7.9 in) of teak.
Service history
Odin and Ägir saw only limited service in their intended roles. The revolutions in capital ship building in the first decade of the 20th century rapidly made these ships obsolete. The Second Naval Law, passed on 27 March 1908, reduced the service life of all capital ships from 25 years to 20 years. This meant that the Odin class ships, along with a number of other vessels, were to be replaced as soon as possible. Odin and Ägir were replaced by the s and respectively.As the new battleships were intended for offensive operations, the Odin class was still retained for coast defense duties. The ships served in this capacity through the start of 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...
, until they were withdrawn from active service in 1915, along with their half-sisters of the Siegfried class. After she was pulled from combat duties, Odin served as a tender in Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
. She was struck from the naval register
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
on 6 December 1919 and sold to A. Bernstein Co., a shipping company based in Hamburg. By 1922, the ship had been rebuilt as a freighter, and she served in this capacity until she was scrapped in 1935.
Ägir was also stationed in Wilhelmshaven after she was withdrawn from her coast defense duties, though she served as a barracks ship
Barracks ship
Barracks ship or barracks barge are terms used to indicate a ship or a non-self-propelled barge containing a superstructure of a type suitable for use as a temporary barracks for sailors. A barracks ship may also be used as a "Receiving Unit" for sailors who need temporary residence prior to being...
there. She was stricken from the navy list on 17 June 1919, and also sold to A. Bernstein Co. for use as a freighter. On 8 December 1929, the ship grounded off the Karlsö lighthouse on the Swedish island of Gotland
Gotland
Gotland is a county, province, municipality and diocese of Sweden; it is Sweden's largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. At 3,140 square kilometers in area, the region makes up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area...
. The situation proved to be unsalveagble. Her bow ornament is now on display at the Laboe Naval Memorial
Laboe Naval Memorial
The Laboe Naval Memorial is a memorial located in Laboe, near Kiel, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Started in 1927 and completed in 1936, the monument originally memorialized the World War I war dead of the Kaiserliche Marine, with the Kriegsmarine dead of World War II being added after 1945...
.