More firepower for the scouting force
Twin 21 cm turrets and improved protection strengthened the cruiser concept while preserving the range required for fleet and overseas work.
9875 tMaximum displacement
126,50 mOverall length
20,4 knMaximum speed
586Complement
Design and service
A training ship sent to war
Prinz Adalbert combined years of artillery instruction with operational service when the Baltic demanded every available armored vessel.
The full story
History of Prinz Adalbert
After the construction of the armored cruiser Prinz Heinrich, its reduction in armament was heavily criticized. Therefore, the two ships of the following Prinz Adalbert class had the double number of heavy artillery guns, but the size had to reduced to 21 cm again in order not to increase the size of the ship.
Showing the same design principles than the previous classes, those two ships again had an increase in engine power to archive a higher top speed, but like the gun size this was limited by the restriction not to increase the ship size.
They were maneuverable and good seagoing ships, but their outward decks and casemates were flooded even by smaller waves.
Unlike other armored cruisers, both ships were lose early in the war. Prinz Adalbert exploded after a torpedo hit by a British submarine in October 1915, it only served as an artillery training ship before the war.
Operational history
Service timeline
After training and trials the ship is not attached to the fleet, but used as an artillery training ship.
Prinz Adalbert takes part in several autumn fleet maneuvers.
At the outbreak of the war, the armored cruiser is attached to the Baltic fleet and takes part in several operations.
Prinz Adalbert is torpedoed by the British submarine E8 west of Libau. The torpedo hits one of the ammunition stores which explodes. Only three crew members survive.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 9875 t
- Length (Total)
- 126,50 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 124,90 m
- Beam
- 19,60 m
- Draft
- 7,90 m
- Crew
- 586
Armament
- 21 cm L/40
- 4
- 15 cm L/40 C/97
- 10
- 8,8 cm
- 12
- 3,7 cm
- 4
- 45 cm torpedo tubes
- 4 (below waterline)
Armor
- Deck
- 40-60 mm
- Belt
- 100 mm
- Command Tower
- 100 mm (max)
- Turrets
- 150 mm (max)
Machinery
- Shafts
- 3
- Engines
- 3
- Type
- 3-cyl triple-expansion
Performance
- Total Performance
- 17272shp
- Speed
- 20,4 kn
- Range
- 4200 sm at 12 kn
The archive
Models
Ship models in 1/1250 scale.
Construction record
Prinz Adalbert
- Laid down
- Kaiserliche Werft Kiel, April 1900
- Launched
- 25.06.1901
- Commissioned
- 12.01.1904
- Fate
- sunk by British Submarine E8 on 23.10.1915