SMS KARLSRHUE
SMS KARLSRUHE
LTO HISTORY
. The SMS Karlsruhe was a Königsberg-class light cruiser, established in May 1915. She was named Karlsruhe after her namesake sank in the Caribbean in 1914 after an internal explosion.
Karlsruhe was commissioned into the High Seas Fleet in November 1916. She served in the II Exploration Group together with SMS Königsberg and Nürnberg. Ships patrolled the North Sea, protecting minesweepers from British light forces.
Between September and October 1917, SMS Karlsruhe participated in Operation Albion, planned to eliminate Russian naval forces in the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic.
During the operation, SMS Karlsruhe was one of the five cruisers commanded by Kontreadmiral (Rear Admiral) von Reuter, who would later give the order to sink the German Fleet at Scapa Flow.
The ship was the only one of its kind that the Germans managed to sink at Scapa Flow before the British headed for the SMS Nuremberg and Emden.
THE IMMERSION. The hull of SMS Karlsruhe was extensively destroyed and, as a result, much of its structure has been compromised. However, many of the ship's components remain and the explosion used to scrap it and remove its most valuable parts has exposed parts that cannot be seen in some of the other wrecks. This wreck offers a different view of the German high seas fleet.
The wreck rests on its starboard side in 25 meters of water. This is the shallowest of the four cruises, making it accessible to recreational divers. In addition, the heavy blasting has allowed exploration without the need for penetration.
Karlsruhe was commissioned into the High Seas Fleet in November 1916. She served in the II Exploration Group together with SMS Königsberg and Nürnberg. Ships patrolled the North Sea, protecting minesweepers from British light forces.
Between September and October 1917, SMS Karlsruhe participated in Operation Albion, planned to eliminate Russian naval forces in the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic.
During the operation, SMS Karlsruhe was one of the five cruisers commanded by Kontreadmiral (Rear Admiral) von Reuter, who would later give the order to sink the German Fleet at Scapa Flow.
The ship was the only one of its kind that the Germans managed to sink at Scapa Flow before the British headed for the SMS Nuremberg and Emden.
THE IMMERSION. The hull of SMS Karlsruhe was extensively destroyed and, as a result, much of its structure has been compromised. However, many of the ship's components remain and the explosion used to scrap it and remove its most valuable parts has exposed parts that cannot be seen in some of the other wrecks. This wreck offers a different view of the German high seas fleet.
The wreck rests on its starboard side in 25 meters of water. This is the shallowest of the four cruises, making it accessible to recreational divers. In addition, the heavy blasting has allowed exploration without the need for penetration.