Irene-class
Kaiserin Augusta
Of the Irene-class protected cruisers consisting of the Irene and Prinzess Wilhelm, succeeded by the SMS Kaiserin Augusta. Contracted name Ersatz Elisabeth .Laid down at the AG Vulcan shipyard, Stettin, Germany in 1886, launched on 23 July 1887, commissioned on 25 May 1898, modernized at Wilhelmshaven, Germany between 1903-1905, stricken on 17 February 1914, reclassified as submarine depot ship at Kiel, Germany in 1914, transferred to Wilhelmshaven in 1916 and sold for 909.000 Marks to be broken up in 1922 which was executed in 1923.
General technical characteristics. Displacement 5.027 tons and as dimensions 98,90(waterline)-103,70 (over all) x 14,20 x 6,74 metres or 324.6”-340.3 x 46.7 x 22.1 feet. With a double bottom and with a hull divided in compartments with the used of 10 watertight compartments. Composite built consisting of steel made transverse and longitudinal frames and with a wood made coppered outer hull Crew numbered 365 (including 28 officers)-374 (including 17 officers) men.
The compound steel armour consisted of an armoured deck, 12cm/4.7” thick coaming backed by 20cm/7.9” teak with the conning tower protected by 2cm/0.79”(roof)-4cm/2” (sides).
The original armament consisted of 14x1-15cm/5.9” guns (4 cal L/30 and 10 cal) L/22, 8-10,5cm/4.1” L/35 quick firing guns, 6-3,7cm/1.5” revolving cannon and 3x1-35cm/14” torpedo tubes (2 on deck,1 submerged in bow). Later were the 15cm L/30 guns replaced by L/35 quick firing gins and the 15cm L/22 guns by 8-10,5cm/4.1” L/35 quick firing guns and increased with 6-5cm L/40 quick firing guns. The machinery consisted of 2 horizontal Wolfsche 2-cylinder double manufactured expansion steam engines and 4 coal-fuelled double boilers. Horsepower 18.000hp and a speed of 18knots. With a speed of 9 knots was the range around 2.490 nautical miles.
