Range before fleet power
Large coal bunkers and auxiliary sails enabled independent colonial service where docks and supply networks were scarce.
1868 tMaximum displacement
82,60 mOverall length
15,7 knMaximum speed
161 - 166Complement
The full story
History of Bussard
In the years after the French/German war of 1870/71, the German navy was looking for ships that could be used to protect the growing numbers of overseas colonies. The existing gunboats were not very useful for this, outgunned by foreign vessels, too small to store the nescessary amount of coal and not seaworth enough to operate on oceans far away from the coastal waters of Germany or the North Sea.
Therefore a new class of ships was ordered, the Kreuzer IV. Class of the Bussard class. Not build after the requirements of naval fleet battles, but specially designed ships for overseas duty. Beside their huge coal capacity, they were equipped with sails to assist the steam engines. Quite unusual for its time, the cruisers were equipped with an electrical system and a huge flashlight on top of the command bridge.
The ships were said to be good seagoing vessels, but because of their gun mountings besides the hull, they lost speed in higher seas.
The Bussard was was the type ship of this class. It served all its operation time in oversea services until it returned to Germany in 1910.
Operational history
Service timeline
First trials.
Bussard is commissioned.
The ship is sent to South East Asia.
Arrival in Sydney.
The Bussard reaches its destination Samoa.
Repairs in Auckland.
Police operations in Nusa.
Repairs in Sydney.
Repairs in Auckland.
Police operations in Samoa
Repairs in Auckland.
Bussard meets with gun boat Sperber in Sydney.
Arrival in Apia, followed by police operations.
Repairs in Auckland.
Meeting with the gunboats Sperber and Möwe in Sydney.
Arival in Apia, cartography operations.
Repairs in Sydney.
Stationed in Apia.
Repairs in Auckland.
Visit to Sydney.
Visit to Sydney.
Visit to Auckland.
Police operations in the Bismarck archipelago.
Operations in the Marshal Islands.
Ordered back to Germany.
Arrival in Kiel.
Decommissioned in Danzig.
Modernisations, one mast is removed.
Recommissioned.
Together with 4 Linienschiffe of the Brandenburg Class, the Bussard is sent to China. During the journey, the Bussard has to stop in Aden because of engine repairs
Arrival in Singapore.
Operations at the chinese coast.
Repairs in Nagasaki.
Arrival in Hong Kong.
Operations in Nederlands-India.
Visit to Hong Kong.
Stationed at the Jantsekiang river.
Arrival in Tsingtau.
Visit to Kobe, Yokohama, Hakodate and Wladiwostok.
Stationed at the Jantsekiang river.
Arrival in Tsingtau.
Operations South East Asia.
Ordered to East Africa.
Arrival in Daressalam.
Operations in Mombasa.
Operations in Mozabique and Sansibar.
Repairs in Cape Town.
Unsuccessful attempt to rescue the beached steamer Regina.
Operations at the Rufiji river. Bussard transports German troops.
Together with the unprotrcted cruier Seeadler, the Bussard is ued for troop transports and support operations in the area of Daressalam.
Transfer of German troops to Kiswere.
Repairs at Daressalam.
Operations in East Africa.
Repairs in Cape Town.
Operations in East Africa.
Repairs in Cape Town.
Repairs in Durban.
Repairs in Cape Town.
Repairs in Cape Town, after that the ship returns to Daressalam.
The ship is ordered back to Germany because of its general state.
Arrival in Kiel.
Decommissioned in Danzig.
Stricken form fleet lists
Sold and scrapped.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, machinery and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 1868 t
- Length (Total)
- 82,60 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 79,62 m
- Beam
- 12,5 m
- Draft
- 4,45 m
- Crew
- 161 - 166
Armament
- 10,5 cm L/35
- 8
- Revolver Cannons
- 5
- 35 cm torpedo tubes
- 2
Machinery
- Shafts
- 2
- Engines
- 2
- Type
- 3 cyl triple expansion
Performance
- Total Performance
- 2806 shp
- Speed
- 15,7 kn
- Range
- 2880 sm at 9 kn
Construction record
Bussard
- Laid down
- Kaiserliche Werft Danzig, 1888
- Launched
- 23.01.1890
- Commissioned
- 07.10.1890
- Fate
- scrapped 1913