Irene-class cruiser
SMS Irene at full steam.
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Irene class |
| Builders: | AG Vulcan Stettin and Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Operators: |
 Kaiserliche Marine
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| Succeeded by: | SMS Kaiserin Augusta |
| Built: | 1886–1889 |
| In service: | 1888–1922 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Retired: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | protected cruiser |
| Displacement: | 5,027 t (4,948 long tons; 5,541 short tons) |
| Length: | 103.7 m (340 ft) oa |
| Beam: | 14.2 m (47 ft) |
| Draft: | 6.74 m (22.1 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 18 knots (33.3 km/h) |
| Range: | 2,490 nmi (4,610 km; 2,870 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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| Armor: | 20 millimeters (0.79 in) |
The Irene class was a class of protected cruisers built by the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) in the late 1880s. The class comprised two ships, Irene and Prinzess Wilhelm; they were the first protected cruisers built by the German Navy. As built, the ships were armed with a main battery of fourteen 15 cm (5.9 in) guns and had a top speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). They were modernized in 1899–1905, and their armament was upgraded with new, quick-firing guns.
Both ships served in the East Asia station with the East Asia Squadron; Prinzess Wilhelm played a major role in the seizure of the Kiautschou Bay concession in November 1897. Both ships returned to Germany at the turn of the 20th century, and remained in European waters until 1914, when they were removed from active service. They were reduced to secondary roles then, and continued to serve until the early 1920s, when they were sold for scrap.
The ships were 98.9 m (324 ft) long at the waterline and 103.7 meters (340 ft) long overall. They had a beam of 14.2 m (47 ft) and a draft of 6.74 m (22.1 ft) forward. They displaced 4,271 metric tons (4,204 long tons; 4,708 short tons) at designed displacement and 5,027 t (4,948 long tons; 5,541 short tons) at full combat load. The hull was constructed with transverse and longitudinal steel frames, and the outer hull consisted of wood planking covered with Muntz copper sheathing to prevent fouling. The stem was made of bronze below and iron above. The hull was divided into 10 watertight compartments and had a double bottom that extended for 49 percent of the length of the hull.
The ships were very good sea boats; they ran very well before the wind, and were very handy. They lost minimal speed in hard turns and suffered from moderate roll and pitch. In heavy seas, the ships were capable of only half speed, as both suffered from structural weakness in the forecastle. They had a transverse metacentric height of .69 to .72 m (2 ft 3 in to 2 ft 4 in). The ships had a crew of 28 officers and 337 enlisted men; after their modernization after the turn of the century, the ships' crews comprised 17 officers and 357 enlisted men. The ships carried a number of smaller boats, including two picket boats, one pinnace, two cutters, one yawl, and two dinghies. Searchlight platforms were added to the foremast 13 m (43 ft) above the waterline.
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