SMSCarola
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | Carola |
| Namesake | Carola of Saxony |
| Builder | AG Vulcan Stettin |
| Laid down | 1879 |
| Launched | 27 November 1880 |
| Commissioned | 1 September 1881 |
| Decommissioned | 10 January 1905 |
| Fate | Broken up, 1906 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Carola-classcorvette |
| Displacement | Full load:2,424t(2,386long tons) |
| Length | 76.35 m (250 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 12.5 m (41 ft) |
| Draft | 4.98 m (16 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 13.7knots(25.4 km/h; 15.8 mph) |
| Range | 3,420nautical miles(6,330 km; 3,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Crew |
|
| Armament |
|
SMSCarolawas thelead shipof theCarolaclassof steamcorvettesbuilt for the GermanKaiserliche Marine(Imperial Navy) in the 1880s. Intended for service in theGerman colonial empire,the ship was designed with a combination of steam and sail power for extended range, and was equipped with abatteryof ten 15-centimeter (5.9 in) guns.Carolawaslaid downat theAG Vulcanshipyard inStettinin 1879,launchedin November 1880, and completed in September 1881.
Carolawas sent abroad twice during her career, the first immediately after entering service in 1881 and lasting into 1883. She sailed to the centralPacific Oceanto protect German interests inSamoaandMelanesiaand was the first German warship to reach what would becomeGerman Southwest Africa.Her second deployment came in 1886, and lasted into 1891; the tour sawCarolaalternate betweenGerman East Africaand the central Pacific. During operations in the former from 1888 to 1890, she participated in anti-slave tradeoperations and helped suppress theAbushiri revolt.
After returning to Germany in 1891,Carolawas converted into a gunnerytraining ship,as she was by then obsolete as a warship. She served in this capacity through the 1890s and early 1900s, before being decommissioned in 1905, sold the following year, andbroken upforscrap.
Design
[edit]The six ships of theCarolaclass were ordered in the late 1870s to supplement Germany's fleet of cruising warships, which at that time relied on several ships that were twenty years old.Carolaand hersister shipswere intended to patrolGermany's colonial empireand safeguard German economic interests around the world.[1]
Carolawas 76.35 meters (250 ft 6 in)long overall,with abeamof 12.5 m (41 ft) and adraftof 4.98 m (16 ft 4 in) forward. Shedisplaced2,424metric tons(2,386long tons) atfull load.The ship's crew consisted of 10 officers and 246 enlisted men. She was powered by a singlemarine steam enginethat drove one 2-bladedscrew propeller,with steam provided by eight coal-firedfire-tube boilers,which gave her a top speed of 13.7knots(25.4 km/h; 15.8 mph) at 2,367metric horsepower(2,335ihp). She had a cruising radius of 3,420nautical miles(6,330 km; 3,940 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). As built,Carolawas equipped with a three-mastedbarquerig, but she had her rigging reduced in 1891.[2][3][4]
Carolawas armed with abatteryof ten 15 cm (5.9 in) 22-caliber(cal.)breech-loadingguns and two 8.7 cm (3.4 in) 24-cal. guns. She also carried six 37 mm (1.5 in)Hotchkiss revolver cannons.The 15 cm guns were later reduced to six and then four guns, and the 8.7 cm guns were replaced with a pair of10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/35 guns,eight8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 guns,and two5 cm (2 in) SK L/40 guns.[2][3]
Service history
[edit]Construction and first overseas deployment
[edit]Carolawaslaid downat theAG Vulcanshipyard inStettinin late 1879 under the contract designation "E", denoting a new addition to the fleet.[5]She waslaunchedon 27 November 1880,[2]and during the ceremony she was christenedCarolain honor of QueenCarola of Saxony.After completingfitting-outwork,Carolawascommissionedon 1 September 1881 forsea trials,though these lasted just two weeks, as the ship was needed in the centralPacific Oceanto protect German interests in the region.CarolaleftKielon 18 October, bound for Australia; from there, she proceeded north toApiain Samoa, where she relieved thegunboatMöweon 15 April 1882. After arriving,Carolatook the Germanconsulin Samoa on a tour of the islands to meet with the Samoan chiefsMalietoa LaupepaandTupua Tamasese Titimaea.She cruised to visitTonga,New Zealand,and theSociety Islands;in the latter archipelago, she helped suppress a fire inPapeeteon the island ofTahiti.[5]
Carolareturned to Apia, where she was joined by the gunboatHyäne.The two vessels began a trip to theBismarck Archipelagoon 22 November. On the way,Carolaindependently visitedTuvaluand theCarteret Islandsbefore rejoiningHyäneinMatupi Harbor.The ships proceeded to theHermit Islands,where locals had murdered two Germans and nine native employees of a German company.CarolaandHyänewere ordered to punish those responsible for the killings. They sent landing parties ashore to track them down, but the murderers fled to another island. After an extensive search that involved destroying local farms and huts, the Germans captured two men who were involved in the killings; both were executed. The two ships returned to Matupi, and on 16 January 1883,Caroladeparted forSydney,Australia, stopping in theDuke of York Islandson the way. She sailed toBuka Islandto search for a French expedition that had gone missing, but she was unable to locate the explorers. She remained in Buka from 20 to 24 January in a previously unused harbor, which was named "Queen Carola Harbor" in honor of the ship's namesake.[6]
Carolathereafter returned to Sydney, where from 11 February to 19 March she wasoverhauled.She returned to Apia on 8 May, where she received orders to return to Germany. A week later,Hyänearrived to relieve her, andCarolaembarked the consul for a tour ofPolynesiaandMelanesiathat concluded in Matupi in early August. She left the consul there and began the voyage home on 4 August. While inCape Town,South Africa,Carolareceived the order to go to south western Africa, where merchantAdolf Lüderitzhad recently acquired a strip of territory aroundAngra Pequena.She reached the bay there on 18 August, the first German warship to arrive in what became the colony ofGerman South West Africa.Caroladeparted and arrived in Kiel on 1 November, where she was inspected by GeneralLeo von Caprivi,the new Chief of theKaiserliche Admiralität(Imperial Admiralty). The ship was then decommissioned.[7]
Second overseas deployment
[edit]
While out of service,Carolawas equipped with atorpedo tube.She was recommissioned on 4 May 1886 for another deployment to the Pacific. She left on 17 May, transited theSuez Canal,and reachedSingaporeon 26 July. From there, she sailed toHong Kong,where on 14 August she rendezvoused with the German overseas cruiser squadron, which consisted of her sister shipOlgaand the corvetteBismarck,theflagshipofKonteradmiral(KAdm—Rear Admiral)Eduard von Knorr.The three ships visited ports in Japan before departingEast Asianwaters forGerman East Africa;while en route,Carolahad to stop in Singapore to repair her engines. She caught up withBismarckandOlgainZanzibarin late December. Germany had been granted a protectorate overWituland,andCarolaandOlgawere tasked with surveying the coast. On 1 March 1887, the squadron received orders to return to the central Pacific, but before the ships could depart, they were temporarily redirected to Cape Town, where they were to await further orders, owing to a possibility of war with France. While they were waiting for the crisis to pass,Kapitän zur See(KzS—Captain at Sea)Karl Eduard Heusnerarrived to replace Knorr, andCarolavisited Angra Pequena again.[7]
On 15 April, Heusner arrived and the squadron was ordered to continue on their voyage to the Pacific on 7 May. They arrived in Sydney in early June, where they were overhauled between 9 June and 3 August. While there, men fromCarolaparticipated in a parade held for the celebration of BritishQueen Victoria's 40th year on the throne. After emerging from the Sydney dry dock, the three corvettes sailed to Samoa, where they were sent to punish Malietoa Laupepa for threatening German interests in the islands.CarolaandBismarckleft Samoa for East Asia by way of the Bismarck Archipelago, where they visited several ports through May 1888. Heusner received the order to take his squadron back to East Africa; while in Singapore,Bismarckwas ordered back to Germany, and her place as the squadron flagship was taken byCarola's sisterSophie.Carolawas delayed in Singapore by engine troubles, which necessitated repairs that lasted until 26 June. The delay nevertheless allowedOlgatime to rendezvous with the rest of the squadron while it waited forCarolato be ready for sea.[8]
In late-July,Carolawent toWalvis Bayin German Southwest Africa, as rumors led the German government to believe a local revolt was planned. Nothing came in the colony, however, andCarolaconducted a survey of the bay before returning to East Africa. While in Zanzibar in August, Heusner was recalled to Germany, and he was replaced byKAdmKarl August Deinhardaboard the corvetteLeipzig,which took over the role of squadron flagship. The ships of the squadron were deployed to suppress theslave tradebetween central Africa, Zanzibar, and Arabia. On 6 November,Carolarejoined the squadron in Zanzibar before returning to operations in German East Africa. She bombarded rebels inWindiand sent marines ashore to attack them, and in the process captured a slavedhowwith 78 slaves aboard, which she freed.[9]The crew from the dhow, which was not familiar with the black-painted German warship, thought it to be a British vessel, which were painted white. Believing that it posed no threat to them, they sailed close toCarola,allowing her to easily capture the slave ship.[10]In further operations aroundBagamoyo,Carola's marines captured a pair offield gunsused by rebel forces.Carola's marines took part in the occupation ofKunduchion 27 March 1889, in a campaign led by MajorHermann Wissmannto suppress theAbushiri revolt.[9]
On 14 May,Carolaleft forMahéin theSeychelles,as a significant number of her crew had contracteddysenteryand needed time to rest and recover.Carolawas back in East African waters on 11 June, when she took part in the search for threesteam shipsthat had been sent to support Wissmann's forces. The ships were located inKismayoon 15 June, andCarolaescorted them to Zanzibar. She took part in the conquest ofPanganion 8 July andTangatwo days later.Carolawent toAden,where part of her crew were replaced. The ship's captain,Korvettenkapitän(Corvette Captain) Valette, served as the squadron commander from 13 August to 10 November, as he was the most senior officer in the area in the absence of Deinhard.Caroladeparted forBombayon 10 November for an overhaul; she arrived back in Zanzibar on 17 February 1890. By this time, the cruiser squadron had been disbanded, and the newunprotected cruisersSchwalbeandSperberhad arrived in East Africa to strengthen German forces in the colony. Valette again served as the commander of naval operations on the ship's return.[9]
Carolareturned to operations against rebels in East Africa, bombardingKilwa Kisiwanion 28 March and sending troops ashore to capture the town between 1 and 4 May. She supported the capture ofLindion 10 May. From 11 August to 17 September, she returned to Mahé for another rest period. On 9 October, she was present for the erecting of a monument to the soldiers killed in the fighting at Tanga. Toward the end of the year,Carolawas recalled to Germany. She left Zanzibar on 20 January 1891 and was greeted byKaiserWilhelm IIaboard theavisoGreifon arriving in Germany.[11]
Later career
[edit]Since she was by now obsolete as a warship, the Imperial Admiralty decided to convertCarolainto a gunnerytraining shipas the older vesselMarswas no longer sufficient for the task, particularly because of the adoption ofsmokeless powderandquick-firing guns,which required more training than older-style guns. She was sent to theKaiserliche Werft(Imperial Shipyard) inDanzigfor the conversion. Her rigging was cut down and she was fitted with heavymilitary mastswithfighting tops,her 15 cm guns were bolstered with shields to protect the crews, she received new 10.5 cm, 8.8 cm, and 5 cm guns, and the torpedo tube was removed.Carolareturned to service in 1893 in her new role, initially operating in theBaltic Sea.She cruised either alone, with hertenderHay,an old gunboat, or withMars,which was by then used to train artillery officers. She periodically also participated in maneuvers with the rest of the fleet.[4]
From 2 January 1894 to 15 March,Carolaoperated with a reduced crew. She had to go into dry dock in Kiel for repairs to her engines in September that year. She again had a reduced crew from 12 November 1894 to mid-February 1895, and again from 13 December 1895 to the end of February 1896.CarolaandMarsserved astarget shipsfor the fleet in theNorth Seain 1897, and she returned to gunnery training duties in 1898 and 1899. Herrudderwas damaged in September 1899, necessitating repairs in Kiel. After an accident withMarsremoved her from service in 1900,Carolahad to take on her function as well as her own, though on 31 October,Olgareturned to service as a gunnery training ship, reducing the burden onCarola.In 1902,Carolawas overhauled at theKaiserliche WerftinWilhelmshaven.The following year, the naval artillery school was established inSonderburg,andCarolawas relocated there, operating in the waters offAlsen.The following year passed uneventfully, and on 10 January 1905, she was decommissioned and stricken from thenaval register.She was sold the next year andbroken upinHamburg.[4]
Notes
[edit]- ^Sondhaus,pp. 116–117, 136–137.
- ^abcGröner,p. 90.
- ^abLyon,p. 252.
- ^abcHildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz,p. 173.
- ^abHildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz,p. 170.
- ^Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz,pp. 170–171.
- ^abHildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz,p. 171.
- ^Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz,pp. 171–172.
- ^abcHildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz,p. 172.
- ^Lyne,p. 152.
- ^Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz,pp. 172–173.
References
[edit]- Gröner, Erich(1990).German Warships: 1815–1945.Vol. I: Major Surface Vessels. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.ISBN978-0-87021-790-6.
- Hildebrand, Hans H.; Röhr, Albert & Steinmetz, Hans-Otto (1993).Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe: Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart[The German Warships: Biographies − A Reflection of Naval History from 1815 to the Present] (in German). Vol. 2. Ratingen: Mundus Verlag.ISBN9783782202107.
- Lyne, Robert Nunez (1905).Zanzibar in Contemporary Times: A Short History of the Southern East in the Nineteenth Century.London: Hurst and Blackett, Ltd.
- Lyon, Hugh (1979). "Germany". In Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger; Kolesnik, Eugene M. (eds.).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905.Greenwich: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN978-0-85177-133-5.
- Sondhaus, Lawrence (1997).Preparing for Weltpolitik: German Sea Power Before the Tirpitz Era.Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.ISBN978-1-55750-745-7.
Further reading
[edit]- Dodson, Aidan;Nottelmann, Dirk (2021).The Kaiser's Cruisers 1871–1918.Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.ISBN978-1-68247-745-8.
- Nottelmann, Dirk (2022). Wright, Christopher C. (ed.). "From" Wooden Walls "to" New-Testament Ships ": The Development of the German Armored Cruiser 1854–1918, Part II:" The Iron-Cruisers "".Warship International.LIX(3): 197–241.ISSN0043-0374.