German submarine salvage vessel Vulkan or Vulcan according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad 1907-1908 no. 7

An item referred to the magazine Mitteilungen a.d. G.d.S. reporting that at the shipyard Howaldtswerken at Kiel a special submarine salvage ship was built.(1) It consisted of two vessels [hulks] in such a manner connected to each other that it could be used as lighter or dock. The cranes had a minimum lift capacity of 500 tons and were to left a sunken boat to the surface between the two hulls of the salvage ship. The edition no 9 reported that on 1 October the salvage ship was launched and called Oberelbe. Her length was 70 metres. She could also serve as a dry dock for submarines. Her speed was 11-12 miles. The edition no. 11 reported that she was not named Oberelbe but Vulcan. The Oberelbe was a salvage ship of the Nordischen Bergungsverein kept available at Eckernförde during the trials with the ‘U’ for possible accidents. Another item referred to the magazine Marine Rundschau dated (2) February 1908 reporting that the Vulcan was launched on 28 September 1907. She was designed by engineer V. Klitzing in Kiel, slight improved by the shipyard and the Reichs Marine-Ambt.

Notes
1. See for comparable ships as the Russian Kommuna, the Italian Anteo, the Spanish Kangeru and the Brazilian Ceara the following links:
 http://warshipsresearch.blogspot.nl/2011/09/italian-submarine-salvage-ship-anteo.html

 http://warshipsresearch.blogspot.nl/2012/08/russian-submarine-salvage-ship-kommuna.html

http://warshipsresearch.blogspot.nl/2011/09/spanish-salvage-vessel-kangeru-built-by_10.html

http://warshipsresearch.blogspot.nl/2011/09/brazilian-submarine-depot-ship-and.html

http://warshipsresearch.blogspot.nl/2011/09/first-dutch-navy-salvage-vessel-built.html

2. The edition of the magazine Marineblad dated 1908-1909 no. 6 reported in France plans were developed for a salvage vessel comparable with the Oberelbe although much larger. The Vulkan or Vulcan was laid down in 1907 with building number 473 , launched on 28 September and commissioned on 4 March 1908. Decommissioned on 11 November 1918 and together with the SMS Cyclops fallen into British hands. Underway to Harwich sunk on 6 April a year later. With a displacement of 1.595 gross register tons were her dimensions 85,30 x 5,00 x 3,85 metres. Maximum speed was 12 knots. Her crew numbered 105-108 men.