SMS Danzig (1905)
Encyclopedia
The SMS Danzig was a light cruiser
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...
of the 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...
. She was the last ship of the Bremen class
Bremen class cruiser
The Bremen class also referred to as the Hamburg class was a group of seven light cruisers built for the German Imperial Navy and used during the First World War.-Ships in class:*SMS Bremen *SMS Berlin *SMS Lübeck...
. The ship saw extensive service during World War I. She was named after Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
, a city which at the time was part of Imperial Germany.
Pre-War operations
Danzig was laid down in 1904 at the Imperial Shipyard in GdańskKaiserliche 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...
, at a cost of 4,828,000 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...
. The ship was launched on 23 September 1905 - after being christened by the Mayor of Gdańsk, Dr. Heinrich Otto Ehlers - and entered service with the 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...
on 1 February 1907. After sea trials and crew training, the ship assumed normal fleet service, primarily in the reconnaissance role. From 5 June 1910, Danzig served as a training ship for naval gunnery. During these exercises, Danzig was the victim of several collisions with other naval vessels. The most notable of these collisions occurred on 16 October 1910, when she rammed the torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
SMS S 76. Danzig fulfilled the role of training ship until July 1914, whereupon she was sent to secure the German port of Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
in preparation for the outbreak of war.
World War I
When World War I broke out at the end of July, Danzig was immediately assigned to the Second Reconnaissance Division, which at the time was operating in the North SeaNorth Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. At the end of August, she was reassigned to the Fourth Reconnaissance Division. Danzig arrived just in time to participate in the first naval engagement between British
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and German ships of the war, the Battle of Heligoland Bight. Although she did not fire her guns, Danzig did assist in the rescue of 170 sailors of the SMS Ariadne
SMS Ariadne
SMS Ariadne was a light cruiser of the Gazelle class in the Imperial German Navy, with 2,700 tons displacement and 10 × 10.5 cm guns...
, which had been sunk by British battlecruisers.
Following the battle, Danzig operated in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. In May 1915 she again was sent to the North Sea. On 18 May Danzig struck a mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
and was severely damaged. She was laid up for repairs until November 1915. After the repairs were complete, Danzig resumed her duties in the Baltic Sea, operating out of Libau
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
. Her return to duty was brief, however. On 25 November 1915, Danzig again struck a mine, this time to the south 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...
, severely damaging the rudder and the propeller shaft. For the second time, she was towed to port by her sister ship, SMS Berlin
SMS Berlin
SMS Berlin was a of the Kaiserliche Marine, named after the city of Berlin. She was laid down at Kaiserliche Werft Danzig in August 1902, launched on 22 September 1903 and commissioned on 4 April 1905....
. The damage was so extensive that she spent six months undergoing repairs at the Imperial Shipyard in Gdańsk
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 July 1916, Danzig returned to port, this time in Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, for an overhaul. In August, Danzig left Bremen and assumed outpost duties in the German Bight
German Bight
German Bight is the southeastern bight of the North Sea bounded by the Netherlands and Germany to the south, and Denmark and Germany to the east . To the north and west it is limited by the Dogger Bank. The Bight contains the Frisian and Danish Islands. The Wadden Sea is approximately ten to...
. From there she was once again assigned to the Second Reconnaissance Division in the North Sea, where for several months she participated in various mining operations. In June 1917, Danzig again sailed for the Baltic Sea, where she served as a target and training ship while simultaneously serving occupational duties at Osel
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
. Her last assignment was as a submarine target before being decommissioned in March 1918, after eleven years of service.
Fate
Danzig was struck from the German naval list in November 1919. She was subsequently transferred to Great Britain as part of war reparations. Danzig was scrapped at WhitbyWhitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
between 1922/1923.
Commanders
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Kkpt. Otto Philipp | February 1907 - April 1907 |
| Kkpt./Fkpt. Herwarth Schmidt von Schwindt | April 1907 - October 1908 |
| Fkpt./Kpt.z.S. Woldemar Hermann | October 1908 - September 1909 |
| Fkpt./Kpt.z.S. Wilhelm Timme | September 1909 - June 1910 |
| Kkpt./Fkpt./Kpt.z.S. Hans Pfundheller | June 1910 - April 1912 |
| Kkpt./Fkpt. Ernst Evers | April 1912 - April 1914 |
| Fkpt. Fritz Reisse | April 1914 - May 1915 |
| Kptlt. Wiegandt | June 1915 - August 1915 |
| Kptlt.d.R. Johannes Wagner | August 1915 - October 1915 |
| Fkpt. Georg Hoffmann | November 1915 - December 1915 |
| Kptlt.d.R. Johannes Wagner | December 1915 - July 1916 |
| Fkpt. Otto Feldmann | July 1916 - April 1917 |
| Kkpt. Prince Adalbert of Prussia Prince Adalbert of Prussia Prince Adalbert of Prussia was a son of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany by his first wife, Princess Augusta Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein.-Marriage:He married Princess Adelheid "Adi" of Saxe-Meiningen on 3 August 1914 in... |
May 1917 - April 1918 |