German cruiser Karlsruhe
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 The off-centerline positioning of the aft turrets of the Karlsruhe can be seen in this photograph (1934) |
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| Career |   |
|---|---|
| Built By: | Deutsche Werke, Kiel |
| Laid down: | 27 July 1926 |
| Launched: | 20 August 1927 |
| Commissioned: | 6 November 1929 |
| Fate: | Disabled then sunk 9 April 1940 |
| Penant: | |
| General Characteristics | |
| Type: | light cruiser |
| Displacement: | 6650 tons (8130 tons deep load) |
| Length: | 174 metres (overall) |
| Beam: | 15.2 metres |
| Draught: | 6.28 metres |
| Propulsion: | 3 shafts driven by 4 MAN 10-cylinder diesels (cruising) or 2 geared turbines;68000 shp |
| Speed: | 30 knots |
| Range: | 5,200 miles at 19 knots |
| Complement: | 820 - 850 |
| Armament: | 9 5.9 inch (150 mm) guns (3 × 3) 6 3.5 inch (88 mm) 8 37 mm anti-aircraft (4 × 2) 21 inch torpedo tubes (4 × 3) 120 mines |
| Armour: | command tower: 100 mm deck: 40 mm,
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| Aircraft: | 2 |
Karlsruhe was a light cruiser of the German K class in World War II, the other ships in class being Königsberg and Köln. The K class were the first cruisers of the German navy to employ electric welding techniques and a newly designed triple 5.9 inch (150 mm) gun turrets were installed.
Launched on 20 August 1927 and commissioned on 6 November 1929, Karlsruhe became a training ship and made a world cruise but weakness in her hull plating meant obliged her to be refitted and structural repairs undertaken at San Diego during the cruise. During the 1930s, the ship undertook a number of further overseas training voyages and also saw fleet service. In January and February 1937, she patrolled the coasts of Spain and Portugal during the Spanish Civil War.
In early April 1940, Karlruhe took part in the invasion of Norway (Operation "Weserübung") as part of Task Force 4, carrying troops and, together with the torpedo boats Seeadler, Greif and Luchs, forcing her way into Kristiansand. During her return to Germany, on 9 April, the British submarine Truant attacked Karlsruhe off Kristiansand, hitting her with one torpedo that disabled both engines and power stations. Her crew was picked up by the torpedo boat Greif which then sank the crippled cruiser with two torpedoes at 22.50 in the evening.
[edit] Commanding Officers
Construction Indoctrination - FK Eugen Lindau - 10 October 1929 - 6 November 1929
FK / KzS Eugen Lindau - 6 November 1929 - 25 September 1931 (Promoted KzS on 1 February 1930.)
FK / KzS Erwin Wassner - 25 September 1931 - 8 December 1932 (Promoted KzS on 1 October 1932.)
FK / KzS Harsdorf von Enderndorf - 8 December 1932 - 16 September 1934 (Promoted KzS during tenure of command; exact date unknown.)
KzS Gunther Lutjens - 16 September 1934 - 23 September 1935
FK / KzS Leopold Siemens - 23 September 1935 - 29 September 1937 (Promoted KzS on 1 April 1936.)
KzS Erich Forste - 29 September 1937 - 21 May 1938
REFIT - 21 May 1938 - 13 November 1939
KzS Friedrich Rieve - 13 November 1939 - 10 April 1940
[edit] External links
| K-class cruiser |
|
Königsberg | Karlsruhe | Köln |
| List of Kriegsmarine ships |
