Kaiser-class ocean liner

The largest Kaiser-class liner, Kronprinzessin Cecilie
Class overview
Builders:	AG Vulcan Stettin, Germany
Built:	1897-1907
In service:	1897-1919
Building:	4
General characteristics
Type:	Ocean liner
Tonnage:	circa 16,000 tonnes
Displacement:	circa 20,000 tons
Length:	circa 655 ft (200 m)
Beam:	circa 70 ft 6 in (21.49 m)
Propulsion:	quadruple expansion reciprocating engines

The Kaiser-class ocean liners or Kaiserklasse refer to four transatlantic ocean liners of the Norddeutscher Lloyd, a German shipping company. Built by the AG Vulcan Stettin between 1897 and 1907, these ships were designed to be among the largest and best appointed liners of their day. These four ships, two of whom held the prestigious Blue Riband, were known as the "four flyers" and all proved to be popular with wealthy transatlantic travellers. They also took great advantage of the masses of immigrants who wished to leave Europe.

The first of these "superliners" was Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, unique for being the first liner with four funnels. She was credited with sparking the race for maritime supremacy between France, Germany and the United Kingdom which soon saw the creation of some of the most famous ships in history. Although not planned to have had any sister ships, the subsequent Kronprinz Wilhelm (1901), Kaiser Wilhelm II (1903) and Kronprinzessin Cecilie (1906) all enjoyed good careers; however, when World War I broke out, the first was sunk in August 1914 and the other three were seized in 1917 by the United States, never to return to German hands.

At the close of the 19th century, competition on the North Atlantic was fierce. Transport to and from Europe was dominated by British shipping lines, namely the Cunard and the White Star Line. The largest liner ever built was the British Great Eastern. Between 1892 and 1893, Cunard Line had launched the sister ships Campania and Lucania, the fastest ships on the sea. They were also the heaviest. Norddeutscher Lloyd were charged by Emperor Wilhelm II with building up Germany's maritime power to rival and surpass Britain's. When he saw White Star's SS Teutonic in 1891, the ship had left a lasting impression on the emperor.