SMS König Albert: differenze tra le versioni

Versione delle 16:55, 18 ott 2013

Versione delle 13:18, 15 dic 2013

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Dopo la resa della Germania e la sigla dell'[[Armistizio di Compiègne|armistizio]] nel novembre 1918, la ''König Albert'' fu condotta insieme alla maggior parte della ''[[Hochseeflotte]]'' presso la base della [[Royal Navy|marina britannica]] di [[Scapa Flow]].Le navi vennero disarmate e dotate del minimo degli uomini necessari al governo mentre gli [[Alleati della prima guerra mondiale|Alleati]] discutevano le clausole del [[trattato di Versailles (1919)|trattato di Versailles]]. Il 21 giugno 1919, giorni prima della firma del trattato, il comandante della flotta tedesca internata, il contrammiraglio [[Ludwig von Reuter]], ordinò alle sue navi di [[Autoaffondamento della flotta tedesca a Scapa Flow|autoaffondarsi]] per evitare che cadessero in mani britanniche. La ''König Albert'' fu recuperata nel luglio 1935 e demolita per recuperarne i metalli nel 1936.

== Costruzione e caratteristiche ==

== Construction ==

[[File:Kaiser class diagram.jpg|thumb|left|ASchema line-drawingdella ofprotezione thedella ''Kaiser''nave, class;in thescuro shadedle areasaree representprotette theda portions of the ship protected by armorcorazza.|alt=AUna largegrande warshipnave withda fivebattaglia guncon turretsdue tozzi fumaioli, twodue tallalti mastsalberi, twocinque funnels,torrette anded heavy armorun'estesa protectioncorazza.]]

OrderedOrdinata undersotto theil contractnome namedi ''Ersatz Ägir'' as a replacementsostituzione fordella the obsoleteobsoleta [[coastalcorazzata defense shipcostiera]] [[SMS Ägir}}]],<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 6}}</ref><ref {{efn|namegroup=provisionalNota>Le names}}navi tedesche venivano ordinate con un nome provvisorio, se dovevano sostituire una nave già in servizio le veniva dato il nome ''Ersatz (sostituto di) ed il Nome della Nave da sostituire'', in questo caso la SMS Ägir.</ref> La ''König Albert'' wasfu laidimpostata downpresso ati thecantieri [[Schichau-Werke]] dockyard indi [[DanzigDanzica]] onil 17 luglio 1910.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 6}}</ref> SheFu wasvarata launched onil 27 aprile 1912;<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 20}}</ref> La principessa [[PrincessMatilde Mathildedi of Saxony (1863–1933)|Princess Mathilde of SaxonySassonia]] christenedbattezzò thela shipnave, ande her brothersuo fratello, thel'ultimo lastre kingdi of SaxonySassonia, [[FrederickFederico Augustus III of Saxony|Friedrich AugustAugusto III]] gavetenne il thediscorso speechinaugurale.<ref>{{cita|Hildebrand Röhr & Steinmetz|p. 109}}</ref> FollowingDopo thela completionfine ofdei fitting-outlavori workdi allestimento, theentrò ship was commissioned into the fleetin onservizio 31 luglio 1913.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 20}}</ref>

TheLa ship''König wasAlbert'' |172.4|m|ftaveva longuna [[Lengthlunghezza overall|overall]]fuori andtutto displaceddi a172,4&nbsp;m maximumed ofun |27000|MTdislocamento massimo di 27.000&nbsp;t. She had a beam of |29|m|ft and a draft of |9.1|m|ft forward and |8.8|m|ft aft. ''König Albert'' was powered by three sets of [[Schichau-Werke|Schichau]] [[turbine]]s, supplied with steam by 16 coal-fired [[water-tube boiler|boilers]]. The powerplant produced a top speed of |22.1 nodi. She carried |3600|MT|LT of coal, which enabled a maximum range of |7900|nmi at a cruising speed of |12|kn. She had a crew of 41&nbsp;officers and 1,043&nbsp;enlisted.<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p. 26}}</ref>

''König Albert'' was armed with a main battery of ten [[30.5 cm SK L/50 gun]]s in five twin [[gun turret|turrets]].<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p. 26}}</ref> The ship disposed of the inefficient hexagonal turret arrangement of previous German battleships; instead, three of the five turrets were mounted on the centerline, with two of them arranged in a [[superfire|superfiring pair]] aft. The other two turrets were placed [[Glossary of nautical terms#E|''en echelon'']] amidships, such that both could fire on the [[broadside]].<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 4}}</ref> The ship was also armed with fourteen [[15 cm SK L/45||15|cm|in SK L/45 guns]] in [[casemate]]s amidships, eight [[8.8 cm SK L/45 naval gun||8.8|cm|in SK L/45 guns]] in casemates and four 8.8&nbsp;cm L/45 [[anti-aircraft gun]]s. The ship's armament was rounded out by five |50|cm|in [[torpedo tube]]s, all mounted in the hull.<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p. 26}}</ref>

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Although ''König Albert'' was the last ship in her class to be launched, she was the third to be commissioned,<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 20}}</ref> owing to turbine damage on [[SMS Kaiserin]] and delays on [[SMS Prinzregent Luitpold]]'s diesel engine.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|pp. 18, 22}}</ref> The ship was selected to form part of the special Detached Division, alongside her sister [[SMS Kaiser]] and the [[light cruiser]] [[SMS Strassburg]]. The Division was placed under the command of ''Konteradmiral'' (Rear Admiral) von Rebeur Paschwitz and sent on a tour of South America,<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 20}}</ref> with the goals of testing the new turbine propulsion system and representing the growing power of the Imperial Navy.<ref>{{cita|Gröner|p. 26}}</ref> The three ships left [[Wilhelmshaven]] on 9 December 1913 and steamed for [[German West Africa]], where they made several stops, including [[Lomé]], Togo, and [[Limbe, Cameroon|Victoria]] and [[Douala|Duala]], [[Kamerun]]. The Division then proceeded to [[German South-West Africa]], making stops in [[Swakopmund]] and [[Lüderitzbucht]], and South Africa, stopping in [[Saint Helena]] en route. On 15 febbraio 1914, the Division reached [[Rio de Janeiro]], which ceremonially greeted the visiting German warships.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|pp. 10, 11}}</ref>

From Rio de Janeiro, ''Strassburg'' went to [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina, while ''König Albert'' and ''Kaiser'' steamed to [[Montevideo]], Uruguay. ''Strassburg'' then rejoined the battleships in Montevideo, and all three then rounded [[Cape Horn]] and steamed to [[Valparaíso]], Chile. Between 2 and 11 aprile they remained in Valparaiso, which marked the furthest point of their journey. On the return voyage, the three ships made additional stops, including in [[Bahía Blanca]], Argentina, before returning to Rio de Janeiro. The Division then began the trip back to Germany, stopping in [[Cape Verde]], [[Madeira]], and [[Vigo]]. The ships reached [[Kiel]] on 17 June 1914, after having traveled some |20000|nmi without incident. On 24 June, the Detached Division was dissolved, and ''König Albert'' and ''Kaiser'' joined their classmates in the III Battle SquadronGeschwader of the [[High Seas Fleet]].<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 11}}</ref>

=== World War I ===

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On 11 January 1916, Admiral [[Reinhard Scheer]] replaced the ailing von Pohl, who was suffering from liver cancer.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p. 49}}</ref> Scheer proposed a more aggressive policy designed to force a confrontation with the Grand Fleet; he received approval from the Kaiser in febbraio.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p. 50}}</ref> The first of Scheer's operations was conducted the following month, on 5–7 March, with an uneventful sweep of the [[Hoofden]].<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|pp. 32, 35}}</ref> On 25–26 March, Scheer attempted to attack British forces that had raided [[Tondern]], but failed to locate them. Another advance to Horns Reef followed on 21–22 aprile.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|pp. 15, 21}}</ref> On 24 aprile, the [[battlecruiser]]s of the I Scouting Group conducted a [[Bombardment of Yarmouth and Lowestoft|raid on the English coast]]. ''König Albert'' and the rest of the fleet sailed in distant support. The battlecruiser [[SMS Seydlitz]] struck a mine while en route to the target, and had to withdraw.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p. 53}}</ref> The other battlecruisers bombarded the town of Lowestoft unopposed, but during the approach to Yarmouth, they encountered the British cruisers of the [[Harwich Force]]. A short artillery duel ensued before the Harwich Force withdrew. Reports of British submarines in the area prompted the retreat of the I&nbsp;Scouting Group. At this point, Scheer, who had been warned of the sortie of the Grand Fleet from its base in Scapa Flow, also withdrew to safer German waters.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p. 54}}</ref>

After the raid on Yarmouth, several of the III. SquadronGeschwader battleships developed problems with their condensers.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p. 56}}</ref> This included ''König Albert''; tubing needed to be replaced in all three main condensers, which necessitated extensive dockyard work. The ship went into drydock in the [[Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven|Imperial Dockyard in Wilhelmshaven]] on 29 May, two days before the rest of the fleet departed for the [[Battle of Jutland]]. Work on the ship was not completed until 15 June,<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 21}}</ref> and as a result, ''König Albert'' was the only German dreadnought in active service to miss the battle.<ref>{{cita|Tarrant|p. 62}}</ref>{{efn|name=Bayern unavailable}} On 18 agosto 1916, ''König Albert'' took part in an operation to bombard [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]].<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|pp. 15, 21}}</ref> Admiral Scheer attempted a repeat of the original 31 May plan: the two serviceable German battlecruisers—[[SMS Moltke]] and [[SMS Von der Tann]]—augmented by three faster dreadnoughts, were to bombard the coastal town of Sunderland in an attempt to draw out and destroy Vice Admiral [[David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty|David Beatty's]] battlecruisers. Scheer would trail behind with the rest of the fleet and provide support.<ref>{{cita|Massie|p. 682}}</ref> Scheer turned north after receiving a false report from a [[zeppelin]] about a British unit in the area.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 15}}</ref> As a result, the bombardment was not carried out, and by 14:35, Scheer had been warned of the Grand Fleet's approach and so turned his forces around and retreated to German ports.<ref>{{cita|Massie|p. 683}}</ref>

Another fleet operation took place on 18–19 ottobre, though it ended without encountering any British units. Unit training in the Baltic was then conducted, and on the return voyage the III SquadronGeschwader was diverted to assist in the recovery of a pair of [[U-boat]]s stranded on the Danish coast. The fleet was reorganized on 1 December;<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 21}}</ref> the four ''König''-class battleships remained in the III SquadronGeschwader, along with the newly commissioned [[SMS Bayern]], while the five ''Kaiser''-class ships, including ''König Albert'', were transferred to IV SquadronGeschwader.<ref>{{cita|Halpern|p. 214}}</ref> ''König Albert'' saw no major operations in the first half of 1917, and on 18 agosto she went into drydock at the [[Kaiserliche Werft Kiel|Imperial Dockyard in Kiel]] for periodic maintenance, which lasted until 23 September.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 21}}</ref>

==== Operation Albion ====

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[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1970-074-34, Besetzung der Insel Ösel, Truppenanlandung.jpg|thumb|German troops landing at Ösel|alt=A small boat packed with soldiers passes in front of a cruiser and several transport ships]]

In early September 1917, following the German conquest of the Russian port of [[Riga]], the German naval command decided to eliminate the Russian naval forces that still held the [[Gulf of Riga]].<ref>{{cita|Halpern|p. 213}}</ref> On 18 September, the ''Admiralstab'' (the Navy High Command) issued the order for a joint operation with the army to capture [[Saaremaa|Ösel]] and [[Muhu|Moon]] Islands. The naval component, organized as a Special Unit (''Sonderverband''), was to comprise the flagship, ''Moltke'', along with the III and IV&nbsp;Battle SquadronsGeschwaders of the High Seas Fleet. Along with nine light cruisers, three torpedo boat flotillas, and dozens of [[naval mine|mine]] warfare ships, the entire force numbered some 300 ships, supported by over 100 aircraft and six zeppelins.<ref>{{cita|Halpern|pp. 214–215}}</ref> Opposing the Germans were the old Russian [[pre-dreadnought]]s {{ship|Russian battleship|Slava]] and {{ship|Russian battleship|Tsesarevich]], the [[armored cruiser]]s {{ship|Russian cruiser|Bayan|1907|2}}, {{ship|Russian cruiser|Admiral Makarov]], and {{ship|Russian cruiser|Diana|1899|2}}, 26 destroyers, and several torpedo boats and gunboats. The garrison on Ösel numbered some 14,000 men.<ref>{{cita|Halpern|p. 215}}</ref>

The operation began on the morning of 12 October, when ''Moltke'' and the III SquadronGeschwader ships engaged Russian positions in Tagga Bay while ''König Albert'' and the rest of IV SquadronGeschwader shelled Russian gun batteries on the [[Sõrve Peninsula|Sworbe Peninsula]] on Ösel.<ref>{{cita|Halpern|p. 215}}</ref> The coastal artillery in both locations were quickly silenced by the battleships' heavy guns.<ref>{{cita|Barrett|p. 125}}</ref> On the morning of the 14th, ''König Albert'', ''Friedrich der Grosse'', and ''Kaiserin'' were detached to support German troops advancing toward [[Anseküll]].<ref>{{cita|Barrett|p. 146}}</ref> ''König Albert'' and ''Kaiserin'' were assigned to suppress a Russian battery at [[Zerel]], though heavy fog delayed them from engaging the target. The Russians opened fire first, which was quickly returned by the two ships. ''Friedrich der Grosse'' came to the two ships' assistance and the three battleships fired a total of 120 large-caliber shells at the battery at Zerel over the span of an hour. The battleships' gunfire prompted most of the Russian gun crews to flee their posts.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battle for the Baltic Islands''|pp. 71–72}}</ref>

On the night of 15 October, ''König Albert'' and ''Kaiserin'' were sent to replenish their coal stocks in [[Putzig]].<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battle for the Baltic Islands''|p. 81}}</ref> On the 19th, they were briefly joined in Putzig by ''Friedrich der Grosse'', which continued on to [[Kuressaare|Arensburg]] with ''Moltke''.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battle for the Baltic Islands''|p. 140}}</ref> The next morning, Vice Admiral Schmidt ordered the special naval unit to be dissolved; in a communique to the naval headquarters, Schmidt noted that "''Kaiserin'' and ''König Albert'' can immediately be detached from Putzig to the North Sea."<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battle for the Baltic Islands''|p. 145}}</ref> The two ships then proceeded to Kiel via Danzig, where they transited the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal back to the North Sea.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 20}}</ref> After returning to the North Sea on 23 October, ''König Albert'' served as the [[flagship]] for a force of heavy ships, including ''Kaiserin'', [[SMS Nassau]], [[SMS Rheinland]], and the battlecruiser [[SMS Derfflinger]], supporting a mine-sweeping operation in the [[German Bight]]. Afterward she resumed guard duty in the Bight.<ref>{{cita|Staff, ''Battleships''|p. 21}}</ref>

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{{notes

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| name = provisional names

| German warships were ordered under provisional names. For new additions to the fleet, they were given a single letter; for those ships intended to replace older or lost vessels, they were ordered as "Ersatz (name of the ship to be replaced)".

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'''Citations'''

{{refs|25em}}

== Note ==