SMS Freya
Encyclopedia
Seiner Majestät Schiff Freya was a protected cruiser
of the Victoria Louise class
, built for the Kaiserliche Marine
before the turn of the 20th Century. Freya was built at the Imperial Dockyard
in Danzig. She was laid down in January 1896, and completed in October 1900 at a cost of 11,094,000 Marks
.
Between 1905 and 1911, the ships of the Victoria Louise class were modernized. The ships had their boilers replaced, and had their original three funnels reduced to two stacks.
, Freya was assigned to coastal defense duties. By November 1914, however, she was removed from front line service and turned into a barracks ship. In April 1915, she became a training ship, and served in this capacity until the end of the war. In 1921, Freya was sold for scrap.
Protected cruiser
The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above...
of the Victoria Louise class
Victoria Louise class protected cruiser
The Victoria Louise class of protected cruisers was Germany's last class of ships of that type. They were designed for overseas cruiser duties. The class design introduced the clipper bow and blocky sides that typified later German armored cruisers....
, built for 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...
before the turn of the 20th Century. Freya 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. She was laid down in January 1896, and completed in October 1900 at a cost of 11,094,000 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...
.
Dimensions and machinery
Freya was 358 in 3 in (109.19 m) long at the waterline, and had an overall length of 363 in 2 in (110.69 m) She had a beam of 57 in 2 in (17.42 m) and a draught of 22 in 9 in (6.93 m) Freya displaced 5,660 tons on a standard load, and 6,491 tons fully loaded. The ship was powered by three shaft triple expansion engines, that produced 10000 ihp and delivered a top speed of 19.5 knots (38.2 km/h).Between 1905 and 1911, the ships of the Victoria Louise class were modernized. The ships had their boilers replaced, and had their original three funnels reduced to two stacks.
Armor and armament
Freya was protected by 4 inches (101.6 mm) thick armor plating on the decks. The ship was armed with a wide mix of armaments. The main armament consisted of two 8.2 inches (208 mm) guns mounted in single turrets fore and aft. The secondary armament comprised eight 5.9 inches (150 mm) guns in casemates along the length of the ship, along with ten 3.4 inches (86 mm) guns, also casemated. The ships were also armed with three 17.7 inches (450 mm) torpedo tubes.Service history
At the start of World War IWorld 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...
, Freya was assigned to coastal defense duties. By November 1914, however, she was removed from front line service and turned into a barracks ship. In April 1915, she became a training ship, and served in this capacity until the end of the war. In 1921, Freya was sold for scrap.