SS Königin Luise (1913)
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | SS Königin Luise |
| Operator: | Hamburg America Line |
| Builder: | AG Vulcan Stettin |
| Laid down: | 1913 |
| Launched: | 8 May 1913 |
| Acquired: | Taken over by the Kaiserliche Marine on 3 August 1914 |
| Fate: | sunk on 5 August 1914 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Steam ferry |
| Tonnage: | 2,150 tones |
| Length: | 310 ft (94 m) |
| Beam: | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Draught: | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion: | 6500 shp |
| Speed: | 20 knots (37 km/h) |
| Armament: |
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SS Königin Luise was a German steam ferry. She operated between Hamburg and the Netherlands, before being taken over by the Kaiserliche Marine on the outbreak of the First World War. She was used as an auxiliary minelayer before being sunk on 5 August 1914.
Königin Luise was laid down at AG Vulcan Stettin in 1913, and launched on 8 May 1913 for service with the Hamburg America Line. After serving for sometime as a ferry, she was requisitioned by the Kaiserliche Marine on 3 August 1914 to serve as an auxiliary minelayer, carrying 200 naval mines. She was fitted with two revolver cannons, and there were plans to fit her with two 88 mm guns, but the British entry to the war on 4 August led to the navy pressing Königin Luise into immediate action. She was disguised in the black, buff, and yellow colours of the steamers of the Great Eastern Railway that sailed between Harwich and the Hook of Holland, and sailed from Emden on the night of 4 August. Her captain, Commander Biermann, had orders to lay mines off the Thames Estuary.
Königin Luise was able to lay a number of mines off the coast during the night, but was sighted by a number of fishing vessels. The light cruiser Amphion of the Harwich Force and a number of destroyers of the 3rd Flotilla sailed early in the morning of 5 August and headed towards Heligoland Bight. On the way they encountered a fishing boat, whose occupants informed the British force that they had seen an unknown ship "throwing things over the side" about 20 miles north of the Outer Gabbard.Amphion and the destroyers set off to investigate.
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