Wiesbaden class light cruiser

The "Wiesbaden" class of light cruisers was a class of ships built for the German Imperial Navy. Construction on the two ships of the class began in early 1913, before the start of World War I, but were not finished until August 1915. The ships were the first German light cruisers designed to carry the 150mm (5.9 inch) gun, although the "Pillau" class was the first completed class of cruisers with these guns.

The class of ships was comprised of "Wiesbaden" and "Frankfurt". "Wiesbaden" was built in Stettin by the AG Vulcan shipyard and was sunk in the Battle of Jutland, while "Frankfurt" was constructed by the Kiel Navy dockyard and met its demise after the war in a US Army air bombing trial off the Virginia Capes.

Design

Dimensions and machinery

The "Wiesbaden" class was 141.7m at the waterline, and 145.3m long overall. They had a beam of 13.9m, a draught of 5.8m, and displaced 5,180 tonnes standard, and 6,601t with a full load. The ships were propelled by two-shaft Navy turbines, which produced 31,000shp, and delivered a top speed of 27.5 knots.

Armament

The ships of the class were armed with eight 150mm (5.9in) guns, singly mounted. Two guns were mounted in a pair forward, one on either side of the forward superstructure, one on either side of the aft superstructure, and two mounted aft, in a superfiring configuration. The ships were also armed with two 88mm guns, four 500mm (19.7in) torpedo tubes, and 120 naval mines.

External links

* [http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/cruisers/sms-wiesbaden.html Specs]
* [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_wiesbaden_class_cruisers.html General Info]