sms class light cruiser german kaiserliche_marine world war sister ships sms built vulcan shipyard stettin hull laid launched january commissioned high_seas_fleet october armed main battery guns speed mph commissioning served reconnaissance forces high_seas_fleet assigned patrols island outbreak world war early august battle bight august german patrol forces attacked superior british forces including battlecruisers light cruisers initially stationed support forces patrol line attempted reinforce german forces encountered stronger force british cruisers destroyers scored damaging hits gunfire torpedo disabled prompted commander abandon ship british rescued men crew ship rolled sank eighty men killed battle including commanding officer design ordered contract laid vulcan shipyard stettin launched january christened mayor fitting work commenced commissioned high_seas_fleet october ship meters long overall beam draft forward displaced long tons short tons combat load propulsion system consisted sets steam turbines driving meter propellers designed shaft horsepower powered coal fired marine water tube boilers gave ship speed knots mph carried long tons short tons coal gave range approximately nautical miles knots mph crew eighteen officers enlisted men ship armed guns single pedestal mounts placed forward forecastle located amidships aft carried anti aircraft guns equipped pair torpedo tubes submerged hull carry mines conning tower thick sides deck covered thick armor plate service history commissioning served reconnaissance forces german fleet commander commander uncle held command january assigned screened battlecruisers outbreak world war beginning august cruisers tasked patrol duties cruisers divided torpedo boat assigned rotate nightly patrols north_sea operation conducted patrol night august viii torpedo boat flotilla incident time british submarines began german patrol lines august british commanders submitted plan attack patrol line light cruisers destroyers commanded ships supported submarines vice admiral battlecruisers associated light forces plan approved set august british forces began leave port evening august beginning submarines assigned operation surface forces went sea early following morning 7th added provide support left port later day morning august anchor mouth sister flagship wilhelmshaven lay entrance cruisers assigned support cruisers stettin stationed patrol line morning encountered outer german torpedo boats fled german cruisers ensuing battle bight stettin engaged british force quickly reinforced ordered steam british cut line retreat got way operated conjunction reconnaissance encountered british cruiser destroyers ships engaged minutes minutes engagement british cruisers appeared broke engagement attempted escape superior british forces pursuing british cruisers scored hits escaped cover dense smoke screen british cruiser fearless destroyers appeared port attacked fleeing german ship quickly scored hits destroyers laurel liberty laurel damaged forced withdraw disabled hit engine room shell british cruisers hit jammed rudder degrees starboard crew shut port engine attempt correct ship course continued turn starboard majority ship guns disabled ship superstructure shot pieces center aft funnel collapsed suffering hits torpedo destroyer hit ship port amidships prompted ship commander order crew abandon stricken cruiser left conning tower navigation officer immediately killed shell hit ship communication system service order abandon ship reach entire crew ship executive officer reached bridge reiterated order abandon crippled ship completely disabled engines stopped guns ceased firing shortly came alongside took wounded german sailors rolled port quickly sank position survivors water gave cheers ship british rescued survivors men including ship commander killed battle survivors son admiral architect german fleet winston_churchill lord admiralty informed embassy berlin son survived battle course engagement british sank german cruisers sister minimal losses wreck august members dutch sport diving club dove wreck retrieved variety artifacts including engine telegraph actions provoked criticism german sources noted wreck war grave containing remains crew members disturbed investigating incident
SMS Mainz