SMS Emden (1915)

SMS "Emden" was a German light cruiser belonging to the "Königsberg class", built during the First World War. "Emden" served in the German Imperial Navy until the end of the war, at which point she was ceded to France. The ship was named after the previous "Emden", which had been destroyed at the Battle of Cocos earlier in the war.

Design

Dimensions and machinery

"Emden" was 145.8 m at the waterline and 151.4 m overall. She had a beam of 14.2 m, a draught of 6.14 m, and displaced 5,440 tons with a normal load, and 7,125 tons carrying a full load. The ship was propelled by 2 shaft Navy turbines that produced 31,000 shp and a top speed of 27.5 knots

Armor

"Emden" had the same armor layout as the preceding "Wiesbaden" class cruisers, comprised of an armored belt that was 2.5 inches thick at its strongest point, and tapered to .5 inches towards the bow and stern. The deck had between 1 and 2.5 inches of armor protection.

Armament

"Emden" also had the same armament scheme as the previous class. The primary armament consisted of eight 150mm (5.9 inch) guns in single turrets, along with two 88mm (3.4 inch) guns also in single mounts.cite web|title=WWI Naval Combat|url=http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/cruisers/sms-konigsberg-ii.html|accessdate=February 19|accessyear=2008] The ship was also armed with four 500mm (19.7 inch) torpedo tubes, as well as 200 mines.

ervice history

"Emden" was commissioned into the High Seas Fleet in late 1916. She participated in operations in the Baltic Sea. After the end of the war, "Emden" was interned at Scapa Flow, along with her sisterships "Karlsruhe" and "Nürnberg". "Emden" was scuttled by her crew along with the rest of the German fleet in captivity, but British sailors on watch were able to beach the ship to avoid sinking. The ship was taken as a war prize by France, and later scrapped in 1926.

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