Siegfried-class
SMS Siegfried
The Siegfried was part of the Siegfried class of coast defence battleships destined to protect the German ports. Her sisterships were the Beowulf, Frithjof, Heimdall, Hagen, Hildebrand, Odin and Agir, names coming from the German/Scandinavian mythology. She was laid down in 1888 at the Germaniawerft at Kiel, launched 10 August 1889, completed 19 April 1890, stricken 17 June 1919 and sold to be broken up, which was done a year later. Her original displacement was 3.691 tons, after being rebuilt between 1900-1904 like most of her sister ships her tonnage was increased to 4.158 tons. Dimensions 259'2"(over all)/250'8" (waterline) x 49'0"x 19'. Her engines provided 5.000 ihp which provide a speed of 14,5 knots. Armoured with a belt of 7-9,5", a deck of 1,24"and barbettes and turrets with 8". Her crew numbered 276 men (including 20 officers). Armed with 3-240mm guns, 8-88 mm guns and 4-350mm torpedo tubes. The two forward placed turrets with the heaviest guns were placed side by side. During the rebuilding she was fitted out with new boilers and a second funnel, also she was cut in half and lengthened to 282'6"(over all)/275'6" (waterline). In 1915 all ships were called coastal defence ships, but after being a short period in service, all ships were disarmed in 1916. According to Conways 1906-1921 they were commissioned in 1914 as the so-called 6th Squadron and decommissioned 31 August 1915. Since then they served as accommodation ships with an decreased crew. Plans to rebuilt the Siegfried as a salvage ship were disabandoned. Her sister ship Hildebrand sold toe be broken up in the Netherlands, stranded at Scheveningen and the remaing parts were not earlier than in 1933 broken up. Tactical diameter 432 yards by a speed of 12 knots. According to Jane's 1906-1907 rebuilt in 1899-1903. Fitted out with 2 screws and 8 Schulz-Thornycroft boilers. Three of the torpedo tubes were submerged (bow and broadside) and the fourth was placed on deck at the stern. This class was the major new building project while Lieutenant-General Von Caprivi was chief of the admiralty. Between 1890 and 1897 all ships were fitted out with crinolines.
Sources
Conway's All the world's Fightings ships 1860-1905.
Conway's All the world's Fightings ships 1906-1921
Jane's Fighting Ships 1906-1917
H.J. Hansen. The ships of the German fleets 1848-1945.
