Profile drawing of Tiger

Design and service

The story of Tiger

The six gunboats of the Iltis class were typical for a gunboat of the late 19th century used for overseas service. Small and lightly armed, they were used to protect a nation's interests in their colonies around the world.

The first two boats, Iltis and Jaguar were equipped with four 8,8 cm guns, the later ones got two larger 10,5 cm guns instead. To extend their operational radius, they were equipped with additional sails besides their expansion engines and they were very maneuverable ships using them. Despite their small size, they were good seagoing and maneuverable ships, only at high speed and shallow waters their maneuverability was decreased.

All six ships were used for overseas services and most of them were destroyed there

Iltis, Jaguar, Tiger and Luchs were stationed in Tsingtau, China and were all scuttled after the surrender of the German troops there.

Operational record

Service timeline

Recorded deployments, refits and major events from commissioning to final disposition.

Commissioned.

Trials and training.

Send to South-East Asia.

On its voyage to Asia, the Tiger runs aground at the Island of Perim while resupplying the ships with coal.

Repairs in Hong Kong.

Arrived in Tsingtau.

Operations off the chinese coast.

Visit to Nagasaki.

Visit to Bangkok.

Operations off the chinese coast.

Operations in Shanghai to protect European civilians.

Operations in Indonesian waters.

Repairs in Shanghai.

Various voyages in South-East Asia.

The guns of the Tiger are used to equip the auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich, the gunboat is decommissioned.

The ship is scuttled in Tsingtau.

At a glance

Technical profile

Dimensions, armament and performance.

Dimensions

Size (Max)
1108 t
Length (Total)
65,2 m
Length (Waterline)
63,9 m
Beam
9,10 m
Draft
3,56 m
Crew
130

Armament

10,5 cm
2
Machine Guns
6

Machinery

Shafts
2
Engines
2
Type
3 cyl triple expansion

Performance

Total Performance
1372 shp
Speed
14,0 kn
Range
3400 sm at 9 kn

Construction record

Tiger

Laid down
Kaiserliche Werft Danzig, 1898
Launched
15.08.1899
Commissioned
03.04.1900
Fate
scuttled in Kiautschou on 29.10.1914