Text by Ron van Maanen
Laid down at the Kaiserliche Werft at Kiel 9 December 1890 with building number 20, launched 6 August 1892, commissioned 28 October 1893, 1899-1902 intensive rebuilt, barrack and distilling plant at Windau in 1916, stricken from the list 17 June 1919, sold to be broken up and stranded 21 December 1919. Part of the Siegfried-class with as sister ships Siegfried, Beowulf, Frithjof, Heimdall, Hagen, Odin and Agir. Her building costs amounted 5,895,000 German marks.
The original dimensions were 79,0 (over all)-74,4 (waterline) x 14,0 x 5,51 (forward)- 5,74 (aft) metres a displacement of 3,500 tons standard and 3,741 tons maximum. After 1902 were the dimensions 86,13 (over all)-84,8 (waterline) x 14,9 x5,49m (maximum) and a displacement of 4,000 tons standard and 4,236 tons maximum. In 1902 were the boilers replaced. The 2 3 cylinder vertical compound engines and 8 boilers supplied 5,338 hp driving two screw allowing a maximum speed of 15,3 knots. The original armament consisted of 3-24 cm guns, 8-8,8cm guns, 6-3,7cm machineguns and 4-35cm torpedo tubes (at the stern one, each side one which 3 were surfaced and one in the bow submerged). In 1902 were except for the bow torpedo tube the other three replaced by 45cm ones, two 8,8cm guns added and the 3,7cm guns removed. Her armour consisted at the waterline of 100-240mm, a 30mm deck, 30mm gun turrets, 200mm barbettes while the conning tower was protected by 30-80mm.
In the Dutch newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad evening edition dated 9 November 1933 was a small item published dealing with the breaking up of the wreck which was lying on the so-called Stille Strand at Scheveningen. Mr. Esbois of Scheveningen was quite busy with cutting the former warship into small pieces. The armour plates were about 20cm thick and some times 6 metres large with a weight of about 17 tons. With oxygen equipment were the plates cut into pieces with a weight of about 1,200 kilo. With so-called shell trolleys were the pieces transported to the Refreshment channel [Verversingskanaal] but this could hardly be done so Mr. Esbois decided that a narrow track along the dunes was the best solution. The full or empty oxygen with a weight of 70-80 kilo could also in this manner better be transport while with a trolley just could transport 8. Some times were in one week 250 oxygen used. In the wreck was at the landside a big hole in the hull made and parts of the decks and bulwarks already removed. Between the decks was a large amount of cork found which was used to isolate the ship. The surface of the steam boilers was in the meantime also removed. The hull of the ship sunk in the last months all ready four metres in the sand and it was unknown how this buried part could be removed. Esbois was just contracted to remove the part above the surface. In the hull was a pump placed to pump out the seawater after it had been high tide. Thirty men were daily busy with breaking up her and it was believed that they had to work for another year. Totally was all ready 1,000 ton iron transported to the channel. From there it was brought to the Laakhaven and with a large scow brought to Utrecht. A part of the iron was sold to Czechoslovakia. The same newspaper published in her evening edition dated 14 July 1922 all ready a item dealing with her breaking up. Georges Esbois used acetylene burners. She was described as a small cruiser.
