SMS G42
Encyclopedia
SMS G42 was a Großes Torpedoboot 1913 class torpedo boat
of the German
Kaiserliche Marine
during World War I
, and the 18th ship of her class.
, Germany
, she was laid down in February 1915. The "G" in G42 refers to the shipyard at which she was constructed.
, G42 was assigned to the Third Torpedo Boat Flotilla, Sixth Half-Flotilla of the High Seas Fleet
of the Kaiserliche Marine.
G42 commanded by Bernd von Arnim
, was sunk in the Battle of Dover Strait
on 21 April 1917 by HMS Broke
. In this action, two groups of German destroyers set out to bombard Allied positions ashore at Dover, England and Calais, France. However, HMS Broke intercepted and rammed G42. While the ships were entangled, close-quarters battle broke out between the two crews until Broke disengaged. G42 sank with 36 sailors killed in action.
SMS G85
was also sunk in this action.
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...
of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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...
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...
, and the 18th ship of her class.
Construction
Built by Germaniawerft in KielKiel
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...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, she was laid down in February 1915. The "G" in G42 refers to the shipyard at which she was constructed.
Service
When she participated in the Battle of JutlandBattle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
, G42 was assigned to the Third Torpedo Boat Flotilla, Sixth Half-Flotilla of the High Seas Fleet
High Seas Fleet
The High Seas Fleet was the battle fleet of the German Empire and saw action during World War I. The formation was created in February 1907, when the Home Fleet was renamed as the High Seas Fleet. Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz was the architect of the fleet; he envisioned a force powerful enough to...
of the Kaiserliche Marine.
G42 commanded by Bernd von Arnim
Bernd von Arnim
Kapitänleutnant Bernd von Arnim was a German naval officer killed during World War I. He was killed in action with Royal Navy forces aboard torpedo boat SMS G42 during the Battle of Dover Strait. The World War II German destroyer Z11 was named Bernd von Arnim in his honour.-External links:* at...
, was sunk in the Battle of Dover Strait
Battle of Dover Strait
The Second Battle of Dover Strait was a naval battle of the First World War, fought in the Dover Strait in April 1917 and should not be confused with the major Battle of Dover Strait in 1916...
on 21 April 1917 by HMS Broke
HMS Broke (1914)
HMS Broke was a Faulknor-class destroyer leader of the Royal Navy, initially built for the Chilean Navy as the Almirante Lynch-class destroyer Almirante Goni. The outbreak of the First World War led to her being purchased by the Admiralty in August 1914 shortly after her launching, and renamed HMS...
. In this action, two groups of German destroyers set out to bombard Allied positions ashore at Dover, England and Calais, France. However, HMS Broke intercepted and rammed G42. While the ships were entangled, close-quarters battle broke out between the two crews until Broke disengaged. G42 sank with 36 sailors killed in action.
SMS G85
SMS G85
SMS G85 was a Großes Torpedoboot 1913 class torpedo boat of the German Kaiserliche Marine during World War I, and the 40th ship of her class.-Construction:Built by Germaniawerft in Kiel, Germany, she was launched in December 1915...
was also sunk in this action.