Protected Cruisers: SMS Kaiserin Augusta

[Brian James]

The unique Protected Cruiser SMS Kaiserin Augusta pictured off New York City in 1893.
She was laid down in 1890 at Germaniawerft, Kiel and launched in January 1892, and completed in November of that year. Owing to budgetary restrictions, Kaiserin Augusta was designed to fill both Fleet Scout and Colonial Cruiser roles.She was initially armed with a main battery of four 5.9 in and eight 4.1 in guns, which by 1896 was replaced with twelve new model 15 cm guns. She was the first ship in the German Navy to feature a three-shaft propeller arrangement.
Kaiserin Augusta served abroad between 1897 and 1902, primarily in the East Asia Squadron under the command of Admiral Otto von Diederichs. During this time, the ship's crew assisted in the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. In 1902, she returned to Germany for an extensive overhaul that lasted until 1907, after which she went into reserve. Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Kaiserin Augusta was mobilized to serve as a Gunnery Training Ship. She served in this role throughout the war; she was ultimately sold for scrapping in October 1919 and broken up the following year.

[Brian James]

The unique Protected Cruiser SMS Kaiserin Augusta pictured with Unprotected Cruiser SMS Seeadler at the New York Columbian Celebrations in the Hudson River in 1893.

[Brian James]

The unique Protected Cruiser SMS Kaiserin Augusta seen in 1893.