The Moltke Class was designed even as construction was
beginning on the Von der Tann. Two ships were ordered, so that along with
Von der Tann they could counter the three British Invincible Class ships. The Moltke Class were enlarged versions of the earlier
ship, with armor protection nearly equal
to the Helgoland Class battleship then under construction.
An additional turret aft was also fitted,
and extra beam allowed for better underwater
protection. Moltke made a good account of herself, being damaged
at Jutland and twice torpedoed by British
subs.
These ships shared the same low freeboard
as the Von der Tann, making them wet in anything but calm seas.
The 11" gun was again retained, while
the heavier 12" gun was reserved for
the battleships.
Moltke was scuttled at Scapa Flow, while Goeben was sold to Turkey. See that nation for
her history under that flag.
| Laid down Moltke 7 Dec 1908 Goeben 7 Dec 1909 |
Launched Moltke 7 Apr 1910 Goeben28 Mar1911 |
Completed Moltke Sep 1911 Goeben Jul 1912 |
Commissioned Moltke 30 Sep1911 Goeben 2 Jul 1909 |
| Fate Moltke: Scuttled at Scapa Flow, 21 Jun 1919 Goeben: Sold to Turkey, 16 Aug 1914 |
Builders Blohm & Voss |
Complement 1056 |
|
| Displacement 22,616 tons standard, 24,999 full load |
Dimensions 610' x 96' |
Draught 27 |
|
| Main guns 10x 11"/50 cal (5 x 2) |
Secondary guns 12 x 5.9" (12x 1) |
Light guns 12 x 3.4 (12 x 1) |
Torpedo tubes 4 x 19.7" submerged |
| Armour Belt: 11" Turrets: 10" Deck: 2.5" C.T.: 10" |
|||
| Machinery 24 Schulz-Thornycroft boilers |
Turbines 4 x Parsons |
Power output 52,000 shp |
Shafts 4 |
| Speed 25.5 kts |
Range 6,500 NM @ 10 kts |
Fuel 984 tons coal normal 2952 tons coal max |
|
Moltke:
11 May - 24 Jun 1913 Cruise to USA, with
visits at Norfolk, New York, and Baltimore
Spring 1914 Intended to become flagship of
East Asian Squadron, cancelled
Instead to become flagship German Mediterranean
Squadron late Summer 1914, cancelled due
to war
WWI Service:
3 Nov 1914 Bombardment of Yarmouth
16 Dec 1914 Bombardment of Hartlepool
19 Aug 1915 Torpedoed by British sub E1 in
Gulf of Riga
25 Apr 1916 Bombardment of Lowestoft and
Yarmouth
31 May 1916 Battle of Jutland, struck by
4 shells
Oct 1917 Operations Gulf of Riga
25 April 1918 Torpedoed by British sub E42
in North Sea
24 Nov 1918 Internment at Scapa Flow
21 Jun 1919 Scuttled at Scapa Flow
1927 Reloated and broken up at Rosyth
Goeben :
From Nov 1912 Flagship German Mediterranean
Squadron
4 Aug 1914 Bombarded Bone and Philippeville
16 Aug 1914 arrived Constantinople after
evading British squadron
Sold to Turkey
Click HERE for history as Turkish Yavuz Sultan
Selim
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