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SMS Derfflinger

1914 BATTLE OF JUTLAND WORLD WAR 1

History

SMS Derfflinger served as a "battle cruiser" for the Imperial German Navy during the First World War (1914-1918). She was the lead ship of the three-man Derfflinger class, which included sisters SMS Hindenburg and SMS Lutzow.

By design, these ships were a formidable trio, considered at the time to be very capable capital ships - well-armed and well-armored, but with high sea speeds and reasonable range.

The SMS Derfflinger was ordered on the eve of the war during the German naval program of 1912-1913 and formulated by Blohm and Voss in Hamburg on March 30, 1912. On July 17, 1913, the warship set sail to see the tests and accessories she needed. The ship was officially commissioned on September 1, 1914 - just in time for the war with Britain.

She earned the fighting nickname "The Iron Dog".

Although outdated by modern standards, the battlecruiser was a typical surface fighter of the era, taking the form and function of a powerful battleship. Key differences include lower displacement and longer hull, plus a powerful engine block, light main gun and reduced armor protection. The result is a warship that, under ideal conditions, is relatively fast and can hold its own in an exchange of fire.

Germany once again followed the British lead in battlecruisers, as did Japan, the Americans and the Turks.

The standard displacement of the SMS Derfflinger when completed is 26,600 tons, which increases to 31,200 tons when fully loaded. She measures 690.2 feet in length with a beam of 95.1 feet and a draft of up to 30.1 feet. Power comes from 18 boiler units feeding 4 shafts to 4 Parsons turbines rated at 75,585 hp.

The warship has a cruising speed of up to 26.5 knots and a range of 5,600 nautical miles.

There are 1,112 crew members on board, including 44 candidates for officer rank. The armor belt reaches 12 inches, the conning tower reaches 12 inches, the deck reaches 3 inches, and the main turret reaches 11 inches.

The armament is concentrated on the 8 x 30.5 cm (12") SK L/50 main gun with four turrets, two guns, two front and two rear guns. There is also a 12 x 15 cm (5.9" ) SK L/45 Secondary Guns Guns in twelve single turrets for increased firepower.

4 x 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/45 guns were also mounted in four single-gun emplacements. The weapon consists of 4 x 20 inch torpedo tubes.

Her profile includes forward staggered guns which provide excellent forward firing angles. The stern superstructure includes the bridge section, fore mast and fore pipe. Midship are two lifeboats, booked through a second in-line funnel and stern mast.

The remaining two main turrets belong to the same level and overlook the stern. With a relatively clean arc, Derfflinger's all-out flanking attack can deal significant damage to all weapons contained.

One of Derfflinger's earliest actions was the shelling of Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in England during a German naval attack on 16 December 1914. The German victory, with 592 casualties and 137 enemy dead, was joined by a damaged British cruiser and three destroyers.

As a result of their engagement, the Germans suffered 20 casualties, 8 killed and 3 cruisers damaged. She then took part in the Battle of Dogger Beach on 24 January 1915 - although this was considered a British victory and cost the Germans an armoured cruiser, a battlecruiser and 954 soldiers (Kia) .

From 31 May 1916 to 1 June 1916, Derfflinger participated in the most famous naval engagement of World War I, the Battle of Jutland. During the battle, Derfflinger and SMS Seydlitz claimed that the British battlecruiser HMS Queen Mary fired no less than 11 rounds at them. In return, the SMS Derfflinger itself received 10 15" and 10 12" shells, inflicting heavy damage, but the German ship managed to survive despite the fire spreading and flooding.

The battle was hailed as a victory by both sides, as the German fleet remained in control, losing 11 ships of various sizes, 2,551 Kias, 14 British warships and 6,094 Kias.

In 1918, Derfflinger took part in a massive naval raid on the British Grand Fleet as a last-ditch effort for the beleaguered Germans. According to plans for the attack in late October, German sailors began mass desertion, rebellion and sabotage, thwarting the attack.

With Germany in ruins, the Reich surrendered and was forced to surrender under the armistice of November 1918.

The SMS Derfflinger was one of many German warships expected to be taken over and scrapped by the Allies in Scapa Flow. Instead, Derfflinger was scuttled by the Germans on June 21, 1919. Her body was finally recovered in 1939, and after World War II in 1948, her hull was sold as scrap.