Heavy guns on the centerline
Five twin 30.5 cm turrets on the centerline improved firing arcs and made the class the fleet's most powerful ships at Jutland.
28600 tMaximum displacement
175,4 mOverall length
21,2 knMaximum speed
1136Complement
Design and service
The story of Großer Kurfürst
The König class was the successor of the Kaiser class and although there were several similarities between them (like the size of the main artillery), the König class showed several improvements, especially in the engine system. For the first time, a mixed boiler system was used - 3 oil fired boilers and 12 coal fired. The initial plans for those ships were even more ambitious - the center shaft was planed to be driven by a diesel engine of 12000 hp, giving the ships a speed of 12 kn with the diesel engine only. But since it was not possible to build such powerful diesel engines in time (the most powerful diesel had only 2000 hp), the center shaft was driven by steam turbines, too.
Also for the first time, all main turrets were put un the centerline, giving them all an optimal firing arc.
All four ships were just completed before the war and formed the 3rd Battleship Squadron of the Imperial Navy. They were the most powerful German battleships at the famous Battle of Jutland, and all four took some heavy hits during this battle, but survived. Their fate was similar to most German warships in World War I - they were scuttled at Scapa Flow, all but one still rest there today.
Operational history
Service timeline
First sea trial.
Second sea trial.
Großer Kurfürst is commissioned and attached to the 3rd Battleship Squadron at the outbreak of the war.
Fleet operations in the North Sea.
Fleet operations in the North Sea.
Rams the battleship König near Wilhelmshaven, both ships remained undamaged.
Exercises in the Baltic Sea.
Exercises in the Baltic Sea.
Fleet operations in the North Sea.
Exercises in the Baltic Sea.
Exercises in the Baltic Sea.
Repairs in Wilhelmshaven.
Operations at the Hooften.
Covers fleet operations at the Amrumbank.
Fleet Operations at the Horns Reef.
Covers battlecruiser coastal bombardment of Yarmouth and Lowestoft.
Battle of Jutland: Großer Kurfürst is hit 8 times, killing 15 crew members, 10 others are wounded.
Repairs at AG "Vulcan" in Hamburg.
Exercises in the Baltic Sea.
Raid against the British East Coast.
Operation in the Doggerbank area.
Exercises in the Baltic Sea.
Operation at the Danish West Coast, torpedoed by British submarine J1.
Repairs.
On its way to Kiel, the Großer Kurfürst runs aground.
Collision with the battleship Kronprinz Wilhelm, bow of the Großer Kurfürst is damaged.
Repairs.
Exercises in the Baltic Sea.
Operations near the Baltic Islands, hit by a mine, despite the damage, the ships continues its operation to bombard the batteries as Cape Ninnast.
Repairs in Wilhelmshaven.
Unsuccessful raid in the northern North Sea, the ship is damaged while entering Wilhelmshaven harbor after the operation.
Repairs in Wilhelmshaven.
Großer Kurfürst runs aground near Helgoland, damaging one of the shafts.
Repairs in Wilhelmshaven.
Interned at Scapa Flow.
Scuttled by own crew at 13:30.
Wreck raised and broken down.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 28600 t
- Length (Total)
- 175,4 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 174,7 m
- Beam
- 29,5 m
- Draft
- 9,19 m
- Crew
- 1136
Armament
- 30,5 cm L/50
- 10
- 15 cm L/45
- 14
- 8,8 cm
- up to 10
- 50 cm torpedo tubes
- 5 (below waterline)
Armor
- Deck
- 30 mm
- Belt
- 350 mm
- Command Tower
- 300 mm
- Turrets
- 300 mm
Machinery
- Shafts
- 3
- Turbines
- 3
- Type
- Parsons
Performance
- Total Performance
- 45100 shp
- Speed
- 21,2 kn
- Range
- 8000 sm at 12 kn
Construction record
Großer Kurfürst
- Laid down
- AG "Vulcan" Hamburg, October 1911
- Launched
- 05.05.1913
- Commissioned
- 30.07.1914
- Fate
- scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919, wreck raised 1936 and broken down