sms sms lead ship class light cruisers built german_imperial_navy world war took earlier destroyed new ship laid shipyard launched december commissioned high_seas_fleet august armed guns ship speed mph saw action september participated large amphibious operation baltic islands months later attacked british battlecruisers second battle bight hit battlecruiser caused large fire reduced speed significantly escaped cover german battleships taken sortie entire high seas fleet attack final days war unrest broke forced cancellation plan ship carried rear admiral hugo scapa_flow negotiate plan high_seas_fleet interned escaped german fleet instead ceded france war prize renamed served french_navy scrapped construction specifications ordered contract laid shipyard bremen launched december fitting work commenced commissioned high_seas_fleet august ship meters long overall beam draft forward displaced long tons short tons combat load propulsion system consisted sets steam turbines powered coal fired oil fired marine type boilers provided speed mph range nautical miles mph ship armed guns single pedestal mounts placed forward forecastle located amidships arranged super firing pair aft supplied rounds ammunition shells gun carried anti aircraft guns mounted centerline astern funnels equipped pair torpedo tubes torpedoes deck mounted swivel launchers amidships carried mines ship protected waterline armored belt thick amidships conning tower thick sides deck covered thick armor plate service history early september following german conquest russian port german navy decided eliminate russian naval forces held navy high command planned operation seize baltic island specifically russian gun batteries september order issued joint operation army capture primary naval component comprise flagship iii battle squadrons high_seas_fleet invasion force amounted approximately officers enlisted men rest provided cruiser screen task force operation began morning october ships engaged russian positions squadron shelled russian gun batteries flagship steamed commander ground troops general staff aboard coordinated operations german infantry quickly subdued russian opposition october rest covered operating island insufficient bad weather operation postponed 19th sister ship cruiser danzig sent intercept russian torpedo boats reported area locate vessels broke operation october islands german control russian naval forces destroyed forced withdraw ordered naval component return north_sea actions north_sea november saw action second battle bight time assigned flagship rear admiral cruisers escorted clearing paths minefields laid british dreadnought battleships kaiser stood distant support british battlecruisers supported force light cruisers attacked german cruisers covered fleeing retreating smoke screen engagement battlecruiser scored hit minor damage started fire shell hit reduced speed mph german battleships intervened british broke attack german battleships arrived scene germans withdrew april ship participated abortive fleet operation attack british convoys norway second torpedo boat flotilla attack heavily guarded british convoy norway rest high_seas_fleet steaming support germans failed locate convoy fact sailed day fleet left port result admiral broke operation returned port fate october rest lead final attack british navy dresden attack merchant shipping thames estuary bombard targets flanders draw promoted position commander chief fleet new fleet commander admiral intended inflict damage possible british navy order secure better position germany cost fleet morning october order given sail wilhelmshaven following day starting night october sailors battleships unrest ultimately forced hipper cancel operation informed situation kaiser stated longer navy disorder consumed bulk fleet organized group attack british attempt advantage fleet disarray group ships including light cruisers november reports british activity german bight prompted destroyers sweep reports proved false flotilla returned learned kaiser following armistice ended fighting took rear admiral hugo scapa_flow negotiate admiral commander grand_fleet place german fleet ship arrived scapa_flow november flying white flag accepted arrangement high_seas_fleet meet combined allied fleet north_sea proceed transferring scapa_flow interned high_seas_fleet ships including sister ships interned british naval base scapa_flow command instead remained germany returning negotiations time fleet left june ordered fleet stricken naval register ceded france ship taken july renamed served french_navy ultimately broken scrap
SMS Königsberg (1915)