The Imperial Navy - SMS Seeadler - Photo Collection

The S.M.S. Seeadler was a small unprotected cruiser of the Imperial Navy and belonged to the so-called Bussard class.

Originally the ship was to be named SMS Kaiseradler, but this was later changed to SMS Seeadler.

Built at the Imperial Shipyard in Danzig, the launch took place on 02.02.1892 in Danzig.

The ship had a length of 82 m, a beam of 12.7 m and a draught of 5.30 m.

The displacement was 1,630 tonnes and the maximum speed was 15 knots.

The armament consisted of 8 x 10.5 cm quick-firing guns, 5 x 3.7 cm revolving guns and 2 torpedoes (35 cm).

The S.M.S. Seeadler was commissioned on 15.03.1893.

The ship's service up to 1914 can be summarized as follows:

1893 – Voyage to America on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America.

1893 – subsequently returned via the Azores, through the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal, took over the area of operations on the East African station and participated in the fights against slave traders in Kilwa (East Africa).

1893 – took on refugees from the uprising in Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) and subsequently (until early 1895) served to protect the coast of German East Africa and the economic interests of the Empire.

1895 – from the end of May back on station off the East African coast.

1895 – at the end of the year the ship's operations were affected by the conflicts between the British Cape Colony and the two independent Boer republics.

1896 – in May the ship returned to the East African station area.

1897 – at the beginning of the year repairs in Cape Town and then return to its previous area of operations.

1897 – at the beginning of May the SMS Seeadler left East Africa and returned to Danzig. There she was decommissioned and subsequently refitted.

1899 – at the beginning of October the SMS Seeadler was recommissioned and ordered to the South Seas as its new station.

1899 – service in the new station area and a multi-week cruise there.

1900 – from mid-July (outbreak of the Boxer Rebellion) the S.M.S. Seeadler was ordered to Tsingtau and integrated into the East Asian cruiser squadron.

Until 1902 – service in various Chinese ports and

1904 – in Kiautschou.

1905 – planned return to the station area in the South Seas, but as a result of the Maji Maji uprising returned to East Africa. Here also land operations (Ssamanga).

1907 – service in the East African station area.

1908 – overhaul in Cape Town.

1914 – early January homeward voyage to Germany. Arrival mid-March (18.03.) in Kiel.

The career of SMS Seeadler ended in 1914 as a mine hulk in Wilhelmshaven. The ship was completely destroyed by an explosion in 1917 (19.04.).