Wikipedia:Today's featured article/November 17, 2024
SMSFriedrich Carlwas anarmored cruiserof theImperial German Navy.A member of thePrinz Adalbertclass,the ship was intended to act as a scout for the fleet'sbattleshipsand to patrol theGerman colonial empire.ThePrinz Adalbertclass was based on the earlier armored cruiserPrinz Heinrich,but with improved armament and armor. Built in the early 1900s,Friedrich Carlserved in the German fleet from 1904 to 1909, which included a period asflagshipof the reconnaissance squadron and a cruise to theMediterranean Sea.The ship was then used as atorpedotest vessel from 1909 until the start of World War I in July 1914.Friedrich Carlwas assigned to the Cruiser Division of theBaltic Sea,serving as its flagship. On 17 November 1914, the ship struck a Russiannaval mineoffMemeland sank, though only seven or eight men were killed in the sinking.(This articleis part of afeatured topic:Armored cruisers of Germany.)