German battleship SMS (ex-Ersatz Hildebrand) Kaiser 1909-1919 (1930)

Helgoland-class

Kaiser-class

König-class

Of the Kaiser-class consisting of the Kaiser, Friedrich der Grosse, Kaiserin, Prinzregent Luitpold and König Albert. Succeeded by the Helgoland-class and succeeded by the König-class. Building ordered as the Ersatz Hildebrand, laid down at the Imperial Dockyard at Kiel, Germany with yard number 35 in September 1909, launched on 22 March 1911, completed end July 1912, commissioned on 1 August 1912, sea trials 1 August-7 December 1912 and scuttled by her own crew at Scapa Flow, Orkney Isles, Scotland on 21 June 1919. Salvaged in 1929 and her breaking up at Rosyth started in a year later. Building costs 44.997.000 Mark.

Displacement 24.724 (design)-27.000 (maximum) tons and as dimensions 172,40 x 29 x 9.10 metres or 565.7 x 95.2 x 29.10 feet. The 3 sets Parsons turbines and 16 coal-fuelled boilers supplied 27.617 ihp allowing a speed of 23,4 knots. With a speed of 12 knots and a coal bunker capacity of 3.600 ton was her range 7.900 nautical miles. Her crew numbered 1.084 men (included 41 officers). The armour consisted of a 35cm/14” thick belt, with the conning tower and turrets protected by respectively 40cm/16” and 30cm/12”. The armament consisted of 5x2-30,5cm/12” guns, 14-15cm/5.9” guns, 12-8,8cm/3.5” L/45 quick firing guns (of which 4 anti aircraft) and 5-50cm/20” torpedo tubes.