German coastal defence ship SMS (ex-“R”) Hildebrand 1890-1919

SMS Oldenburg

Siegfried-class

SMS Hildebrand

SMS Hildebrand

Ordered as “R”, laid down at the Kaiserliche Werft, Kiel, Germany in 1890, launched in 6 August 1892, commissioned on 28 October 1893, de mobilized, crew transferred within the navy and barracks ship at Windau, since 1915, stricken on 17 June 1919, run aground off Scheveningen, Netherlands on 21 December 1919 and broken up en situ.

Of the Siegfried-class consisting of the Siegfried, Beowulf, Frithjof, Heimdall, Hildebrand and Hagen, named after Norse mythological figures. Preceded by the Oldenburg-class and succeeded by the Odin-class. Within short time due the rapid technical evolution was this class outdated and were the Siegfried, Beowulf and Frithjof to be replaced by the Helgoland-class battleships Helgoland, Thüringen and Oldenburg and the Heimdall, Hildebrand and Hagen by the Kaiser, Friederich der Grosse and Kaiserin of the Kaiser-class battleships.

Displacement 3.500 tons and as dimensions 76,40 (waterline)-79 over all) x 14,90 x 5,70 metres or 250.8-259.2 x 48.11 x 18.8 feet. Two triple expansion steam engines and 8 Marine type boilers supplied via 2 shafts 4.800 ihp allowing a speed if 14 knots and with 15 knots a range of 4.800 nautical miles. Their crew numbered 276 men. The armour consisted of a 18-24cm/7.1-9.4” thick belt. 3cm/1.2” thick deck with the gun turrets, barbettes and conning tower protected by respectively 20cm/7.9”, 20cm/7.9” and 18cm/7.1” thick armour. The armament consisted of 3x1-24cm/9.4” guns, 8x1-8,8cm/3.5” guns and 4-35cm/13.8” torpedo tubes. Rebuilt at Kaiserliche Werft at Danzig in 1901-1902, lengthened to 86,13 metres/282.6 feet, displacement 4.236 tons, second funnel added, 2-8,8cm guns, 35cm torpedo tubes replaced by 45cm ones and original 4 Locomotive boilers replaced by 8 new Marine type boilers.