German protected cruiser SMS (ex-Ersatz Ariadne) Prinzess Wilhelm 1886-1922

Irene-class

Kaiserin Augusta

Of the Irene-class protected cruisers consisting of the Irene and Prinzess Wilhelm, succeeded by the SMS Kaiserin Augusta. Building ordered with as contract name Ersatz Ariadne, laid down at the Germaniawerft, Kiel, Germany in 1886, launched on 22 September 1887, commissioned on 13 November 1889, modernized by Imperial Dockyard, Wilhelmshaven, Germany between 1899-1902, stricken on 17 February 1914. mine hulk in 1914, sold for 909.000 Marks to be broken up in 1922 and which was executed at Wilhelmshaven 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 armament consisted of 14x1-15cm/5.9” guns, 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). The machinery consisted of 2 horizontal AG Germanua 2-cylinder double expansions steam engines and 4 coal-fuelled cylindrical double-boilers supplying 8.000 ihp allowing a speed of 18 knots and with a speed of 9 knots was the range 2.490 nautical miles.