Pre-Dreadnought Battleships: Kaiser Friedrich III Class

[Brian James]

Kaiser Friedrich III Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Kaiser Karl der Grosse pictured in the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal in 1908.

[designeraccd]

A couple of views of the old pre-dreadnought!

I wonder how HEAVY that old bolt action rifle the sailor is guarding her with weighed in at?? I'd guess my M-14 was almost light in comparison..... DFO

[Brian James]

Kaiser Friedrich III Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Kaiser Karl der Grosse pictured in 1902..She was built in Hamburg, at Blohm & Voss Shipyards. Laid down in September 1898 and launched in October 1899. A shipyard strike and an accidental grounding delayed her completion until February 1902; she was therefore the last member of her Class to enter service. She was armed with four 9.4 inch guns in two twin gun turrets and had a top speed of 17.5 knots...Kaiser Karl der Grosse served with the active fleet until 1908, participating in the normal peacetime routine of training cruises and fleet maneuvers. By 1908, the new 'all-big-gun' Dreadnought Battleships were entering service. As these rendered her obsolete, Kaiser Karl der Grosse was withdrawn from active service and placed in the Reserve Division. At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the ship was placed back in active duty as a Coastal Defense Ship in V Battle Squadron, though by February 1915 she was again placed in reserve. Kaiser Karl der Grosse was briefly used as a Training Ship and ended her career as a Prison Ship for prisoners of war in Wilhelmshaven. After the German defeat in November 1918, she was sold to ship-breakers and scrapped in 1920.

[Brian James]

Original Schichau-Werke blueprint for Kaiser Friedrich III Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Kaiser Barbarossa dated 1901.

[Brian James]

Kaiser Friedrich III Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Kaiser Barbarossa pictured during Kiel Week Regatta celebrations in June 1902.

[Brian James]

The figurehead on Lead Ship, Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Kaiser Friedrich III.

[Brian James]

Launch day pictured for Lead Ship, Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Kaiser Friedrich III at Kaiserliche Werft, Shipyards, Wilhelmshaven on July 1st 1896.

[Brian James]

Kaiser Friedrich Class, Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Kaiser Wilhelm II pictured during construction at Kaiserliche Werft, Shipyards, Wilhelmshaven in 1897.