The
Konisberg II Class light cruiser Karlsruhe was built at Wilhelmshaven by
Laiserliches Werft in 1916. She was driven by two coal/oil fired turbines
that could push her to speeds on 28 knots. She was protected by a 2.4 inch
thick layer of armour plating on her main belt and on her deck. Her
control tower was more heavily defended by 3.8 inch thick plating.Karlsruhe carried eight 5.9 inch guns set in single turrets, two at the bow, two set one at either side of the bridge facing forward. Two faced astern at either side of the deck, just forward of the mainmast, and two were set astern on the centre line of the vessel, one behind the other. In addition Karlsruhe boasted tow 3.5 inch anti aircraft guns and two 19.7 deck mounted torpedo tubes and had a carrying capability of 200 mines.
In 1917 Karlsruhe took part in the conquest of the Baltic islands. Latterly she formed part of the German World War I High Seas Fleet that was taken into internment by the Allies as a condition of the Armistice that halted the hostilities in November 1918.
Today the wreck of SMS
Karlsruhe lies on her starboard side in 25 metres of water. The least
depth to the wreck is about 12 metres.The history, sinking and dive details of the Karlsruhe are described in much greater detail in Dive Scapa Flow.
Photograph courtesy of the Imperial War Museum