Monday, 7 November 2016

Austrian light cruiser SMS Admiral Spaun 1908-1920


Laid down at Pola [Pula, Croatia] on 30 May 1908, launched on 30 October 1909, commissioned on 15 November 1910, taken to Venice, Italy on 25 March 1919, handed over after The First World to England in January 1920, sold to an Italian navy and broken up in 1920. Designed by naval engineer Siegfried Popper from Prague. .

Displacement 3.383 (design)-3.943 (full load) tons and as dimensions 130,64 x 12,79 x 5 metres or 428’6” x 42.0’x 16’.  The machinery consisted of 6 Parsons steam turbines (2 high pressure, 2 low pressure and 2 cruising) and 16 coal fuelled Yarrow boilers supplying 25.130 shp allowing with 4 screws a speed of 27 knots. Her crew numbered 327 men. The armour consisted of a 6cm/2.4” thick belt, a 2cm/0.79” thick deck with the conning tower and guns protected by 5cm/2”  respectively 4cm thick armour. The armament consisted of 7-10cm/3.9” L/50 R 10 Skoda guns, 1-7cm/2.8” /50 anti aircraft gun (since 1917) and 2-45cm surfaced or 6-53,3cm/21”torpedo tubes (since 1918 4x2 tubes). Could also take 50 mines with her. In 1917 were plans to change the armament into 2-15cm L/50 guns and 4-10cm L/40 guns or 6-12cm L/45 guns.