A bridge to a new ship type
More than twenty knots and modern construction details foreshadowed the small cruisers, despite a light 8.8 cm main battery.
2082 tMaximum displacement
105,0 mOverall length
20,5 knMaximum speed
178 - 195Complement
The full story
History of Hela
In many respects, the Aviso Hela was the predecessor of the small cruisers which were developed in the final years of the 19th century. With a speed of over 20 knots, the Hela was a fast ship for its time. Although it was only armed with 8,8 cm guns as main artillery component, the ship showed several construction details that were typical for the early classes of small cruisers build in Germany.
The Hela entered fleet service in 1896 and was in active combat duty until 1910 - with a two year use for overseas service in 1900 and 1901. In 1910 it was reclassified to a fleet tender, and its main armament was reduced by half. Despite of its age, the ship was even used in World War 1 as part of the coastal defenses. The Hela was an early loss of the war, it was sunk on 13.09.1914 after a torpedo hit fired form the British submarine E9 in the North Sea.
Operational history
Service timeline
Engine trials. Due to engine problems, several trials are required.
Decomissioned and put into reserve status.
Commissiond as aviso for the 1. division of the 1. Squadron.
Used as escort of the Imperial Yacht Hohenzollern on its nordic voyage.
Together with the armored cruiser Herta, the Hela escorts the Imperial Yacht Hohenzollern on its voyage to Palestine.
Participation in the Atlantic voyage of the 1. Squadron.
Escort of the Imperial Yacht Hohenzollern to Scandinavia.
Hela damages one prop in Neufahrwasser.
Repairs in Kiel.
Escort of the Imperial Yacht Hohenzollern to Sweden.
Together with the battleship Friedrich III, the Hela escorts the Imperial Yacht Hohenzollern on its voyage to England.
Participation in the Skagerak voyage of the 1. Squadron.
Sent to South East Asia.
Arrival in China.
Operations at Wusung.
Operations at Jangtse and Shanghai.
Operations at Tschingkiang.
Operations at Shangahi and Tsingtau.
Together with Linienschiff-Division, the Hela sails back to Germany.
Arrival in Wilhelmshaven.
Participation in the Autumn fleet excercises.
Hela escorts the damaged cruiser Amazone back to Kiel.
Reconstruction in Kiel, as the ship has been shown as too weakly armed for the role of a fleet cruiser.
Used in its new role as training ship for smaller guns.
Decomissioned because of the bad boiler conditions.
Boilers are replaced, a second funnel is installed.
Commisisoned as fleet tender.
Trials.
During a night excercise, Hela rams the torpedo boat S121. Both ships are slightly damaged.
After a fleet parade, Hela transports the Austrian-Hungarian fleet commander to Helgoland and Wilhelmshaven.
Relocated to Kiel.
After the outbreak of World War I, Hela is used for patrol duties in the German Beight as part of the IV. Reconnaisance group.
Hela is torpedoed by the British submarine E9 on its way from Helgoland to Wilhelmshaven. The ship sinks after 25 minutes, all but two crew memeber could get rescued.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, machinery and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 2082 t
- Length (Total)
- 105,0 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 104,6 m
- Beam
- 11,0 m
- Draft
- 4,46 m
- Crew
- 178 - 195
Armament
- 8,8 cm L/30
- 4 (2 after reconstruction)
- 5 cm L/40
- 6
- 45 cm torpedo tubes
- 3
Machinery
- Shafts
- 2
- Engines
- 2
- Type
- 3 cyl triple expansion
Performance
- Total Performance
- 5982 shp
- Speed
- 20,5 kn
- Range
- 3000 sm at 12 kn
The archive
Models
Ship models in 1/1250 scale.
Construction record
Hela
- Laid down
- A.G. Weser Bremen, 1893
- Launched
- 28.03.1895
- Commissioned
- 03.05.1896
- Fate
- sunk 13.09.1914