Victoria Louise-class cruiser
| File:SMS Victoria Louise.jpg SMS Victoria Louise, prior to modernization in 1905.
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Victoria Louise |
| Preceded by | Kaiserin Augusta class unique protected cruiser |
| Succeeded by | Fürst Bismarck class unique armored cruiser |
| Completed | Five ordered and commissioned |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | protected cruiser |
| Displacement | list error: <br /> list (help) 5,660t standard; 6,491t full load |
| Length | 363.16 ft (110.69 m) |
| Beam | 57.16 ft (17.42 m) |
| Draught | 22.66 ft (6.91 m) |
| Propulsion | 10,000 hp, three shafts |
| Speed | 19.5 knots (22 mph; 36 km/h) |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) Two 9.4 in (24 cm) (2 × 1) eight 5.9 in (15 cm) (8 × 1) ten3.45 in (8.8 cm) (10 × 1) three17.7 in (45 cm) torpedo tubes |
| Armour | 4 in (10 cm) in deck |
The Victoria Louise class of protected cruisers was Germany's last class of ships of that type. They were designed for overseas cruiser duties. The class design introduced the clipper bow and blocky sides that typified later German armored cruisers. There were five ships of the class, Victoria Louise, Hertha, Freya, Vineta, and Hansa. They were laid down between 1895 and 1898, and completed between 1898 and 1900.
Design
Dimensions and machinery
The ships of the Victoria Louise class were 358 feet 3 inches (109.19 m) long at the waterline, and had an overall length of 363 feet 2 inches (110.69 m) They had a beam of 57 feet 2 inches (17.42 m) and a draught of 22 feet 9 inches (6.93 m) They displaced 5,660 tons on a standard load, and 6,491 tons fully loaded. The ships were powered by three shaft triple expansion engines, that produced 10,000 ihp (7,500 kW) and delivered a top speed of 19.5 knots (22.4 mph; 36.1 km/h).
Between 1905 and 1911, the ships of the Victoria Louise class were modernized. The ships had their boilers replaced, and had their original three funnels reduced to two stacks.
Armor and armament
The ships were protected by 4-inch (100 mm) thick armor plate on the decks. The Victoria Louise ships were armed with a wide mix of armaments. The main armament consisted of two 8.2-inch (208 mm) guns mounted in single turrets fore and aft. The secondary armament comprised eight 5.9-inch (150 mm) guns in casemates along the length of the ship, along with ten 3.4-inch (86 mm) guns, also casemated. The ships were also armed with three 17.7-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes.
Service history
The ships had very limited careers during World War I. They started the war as coastal defense ships, but by November 1914, they were converted into barracks ships, and with the exception of Freya, which became a training ship in April 1915, served in this capacity until the end of war. The ships of the class were scrapped between 1920 and 1923.
See also
Media related to Victoria Louise class cruiser at Wikimedia Commons