sms sms light cruiser class built marine world war named earlier sunk november accidental explosion new cruiser laid shipyard kiel launched january commissioned high_seas_fleet november armed guns ship speed mph saw relatively limited service war commissioning late conflict present brief engagement british light forces august actively participate battle joined large task force assigned october significant action operation assigned final sortie high_seas_fleet closing days war large scale mutiny significant parts fleet forced cancellation plan interned scapa_flow end war scuttled june unlike ships sunk wreck raised construction ordered contract laid shipyard kiel launched january fitting work commenced commissioned high_seas_fleet november ship meters long overall beam draft forward displaced long tons combat load propulsion system consisted sets steam turbines powered coal fired oil fired marine type water tube boilers provided speed knots 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 august participated sweeping operation north_sea clearing channels minefields boats leave return port joined cruiser sms frankfurt torpedo boats spotted british squadron light cruisers sixteen destroyers approaching fled south cover smoke screens british broke attack rest escort failed come aid commander operation subsequently relieved command early september following german conquest russian port german navy decided eliminate russian naval forces held planned seize baltic island specifically russian gun batteries september order issued joint operation army capture primary naval component comprised flagship battlecruiser 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 october rest covered operating island insufficient number bad weather operation postponed october islands german control russian naval forces destroyed forced withdraw ordered naval component return north_sea october rest lead final attack british navy bombard targets flanders dresden attack merchant shipping thames estuary draw intended inflict damage possible british navy 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 following capitulation germany november high_seas_fleet ships command rear admiral interned british naval base scapa_flow ships interned fleet remained captivity negotiations ultimately produced versailles treaty believed british intended seize german ships june deadline germany signed peace treaty unaware deadline extended 23rd ordered ships sunk opportunity morning june british fleet left scapa_flow conduct training maneuvers transmitted order ships sank raised scrapping rights wreck sold
SMS Karlsruhe (1916)