class class pair built imperial_german_navy class comprised ships improvement preceding class slightly faster armed quick firing guns slower old pattern guns earlier ships proved primarily result extreme vibration caused propulsion system particularly higher speeds result service careers limited served years active duty returned limited duty guard ships stricken naval register subsidiary roles scrapped design began building small 1880s serve main fleet german waters vessels intended support battle line unlike contemporary german unprotected cruisers designs emphasized offensive capability high speed long cruising radius design based earlier class slightly smaller vessels displaced earlier vessels savings weight powerful propulsion system new gun armament quick firing guns slightly thicker armor plating class design produced 1890s german naval designers taken best characteristics contemporary unprotected cruisers combined class light cruisers vessels type warship general characteristics meters long waterline long overall beam maximum draft forward displaced metric tons long tons short tons designed metric tons long tons short tons combat load slightly heavier long tons short tons long tons short tons respectively hulls constructed transverse steel frames initially fitted single pole mainmast pole mainmast smaller mast aft wireless fitted second mast class ships crew officers enlisted men ships carried smaller boats including cutter poor sea boats unstable calm weather excessively severe particularly high speeds ships vessels metacentric height machinery propulsion system consisted vertical cylinder triple expansion engines drove pair wide bladed screw propellers steam engines provided coal fired locomotive boilers funnels centerline ships equipped pair electric generators combined output kilowatts volts steering controlled single rudder ships propulsion system varied slightly performance engines rated indicated horsepower speed knots mph exceeded figures sea trials reaching speed knots mph engines rated ihp mph exceed trials ships range approximately nautical miles mph armament armor ships armed guns placed single pivot mounts forward aft guns supplied rounds ammunition range carried torpedo tubes mounted submerged bow deck mounted launchers broadside supplied torpedoes ships protected steel armor thick deck thick sloped sides conning tower thick plating sides thick roof service history laid shipyard kiel launched january fitting work commenced completed commissioned german fleet built vulcan shipyard stettin laid launched january fitting completed transferred kiel commissioned sea trials commissioned fleet april ship remained active service long primarily excessive vibration assigned dispatch vessel reduced reserve status served annual maneuvers august september quickly placed reserve ships reactivated guard ships service long ships withdrawn stricken naval register barracks ship kiel hulk danzig sold scrapping respectively
Meteor-class aviso