SMS Blücher

Type:
Cruiser
Class:
Blücher
Builder:
Kaiserliche Werft
Kiel, Germany
Hull Number:
N/A
Ordered:
N/A
Launched:
April 11, 1908
Keel Laid:
February 21, 1907
Commissioned:
October 1, 1909
Fate:
Sunk Jan. 24, 1915 at the Battle of Dogger Bank by Royal Navy warships.

792 crewmen killed, 260 survivors picked up by Royal Navy ships.


Dimensions, machinery and performance

Length:
530' 10"
Engines:
3 vertically inverted triple expansion
Beam:
80' 4"
Boilers:
18 Schulz-Thornycroft
Draft:
27'
Shafts:
3
Displacement:
15,500 std / 17,250 full
SHP:
32,000
Speed:
24.5 knots
Crew:
847
Range:
N/A


Armament As Built
Number Carried
Type
Arrangement
Maximum Range / Ceiling
12
21cm/45 (8.27")
SK L/45

6 twin turrets
20,900 yards @ 30° (11.8 miles)
31,700yards @ 45°
(coastal bombardment)
8
15cm/45 (5.9")
SK L/45
single mounts
19,250 @ 30° (10.9 miles)
16
8.8cm/45 (3.46")
SK L/45
single mounts
12,900 yards @ 45° (7.3 miles)
4
45cm (17.7")
torpedo tubes
single tubes
below waterline
up to 4,050 yards (2.3 miles)
up to 26 knots
388 lb. charge


Combat Victories
None


Notes
Named in honor of Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht Fürst Blücher von Wahlstatt
(1742-1819).

Christened by Countess Blücher von Wahlstatt.
May 29, 1913:
Grounded near Romsoe Island, towed to Kiel for repairs.
1913:
During repairs the forward mast was replaced with a tripod mast.
Nov. 3, 1914:
Bombarded Yarmouth, England
Dec. 16, 1914
Bombarded Hartlepool, England. Damaged by four hits from shore batteries.


Class Overview
Builder's Data
Page published Aug. 25, 2008