Designed to remain abroad
The Bussard-class combination of coal capacity and sailing rig reduced dependence on a distant chain of naval bases.
1864 tMaximum displacement
82,60 mOverall length
16,2 knMaximum speed
161 - 166Complement
The full story
History of Condor
In the years after the French/German war of 1870/71, the German navy was looking for ships that could be used to protect the growing numbers of overseas colonies. The existing gunboats were not very useful for this, outgunned by foreign vessels, too small to store the nescessary amount of coal and not seaworth enough to operate on oceans far away from the coastal waters of Germany or the North Sea.
Therefore a new class of ships was ordered, the Kreuzer IV. Class of the Bussard class. Not build after the requirements of naval fleet battles, but specially designed ships for overseas duty. Beside their huge coal capacity, they were equipped with sails to assist the steam engines. Quite unusual for its time, the cruisers were equipped with an electrical system and a huge flashlight on top of the command bridge.
The ships were said to be good seagoing vessels, but because of their gun mountings besides the hull, they lost speed in higher seas.
The Condor operated in East Africa, Indian Ocean and South Eas Asia. It was put out of active duty before the war and used as a mine hulk during wartime. The ship was scrapped in the early 1920s.
Operational history
Service timeline
Because of high water in the Elbe river, the Condor launched itself earlier on the planned launch day.
Transferred to Willemshaven for completion.
Training and trials.
Condor is sent to East Africa to replace the gunboat Möwe.
Operations at Lourenco Marques.
Repairs and maintenance in Durban.
Operations at Lourenco Marques.
Sent to the Seychells for crew holidays.
Stationed in Cape Town.
Operations at Lourenco Marques.
Sent back to Germany.
Condor assists the German steam ship Mawska in the North Sea.
Send to South East Asia to replace the Cormoran.
Arrival in Singapore.
Operations at the Samoa Islands to fight an uprising.
Repairs in Sydney.
Visit to Honolulu
Repairs in Sydney.
Repairs in Sydney.
Operations against rebels on the Marshall Islands.
Operations in Apia.
Unsuccessful search for the missing gouvernment steam ship Seestern.
Joins East Asia squadron of Scharnhorst, Nürnberg and Emden.
Fight against rebels at Ponape together with Emden and Cormoran.
Repairs in Tsingtau.
Sent to the Palau Islands
Repairs in Sydney.
After a ground collision the ship was declared as too much used.
Ordered back to Germany. On its way back, the Condor assits the beached steamer Zanzibar at the coast of Marocco.
Decommissioned in Danzig.
Used as mine hulk in Friedrichsort.
Sold for scrap.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, machinery and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 1864 t
- Length (Total)
- 82,60 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 79,60 m
- Beam
- 12,7 m
- Draft
- 4,42 m
- Crew
- 161 - 166
Armament
- 10,5 cm L/35
- 8
- Revolver Cannons
- 5
- 35 cm torpedo tubes
- 2
Machinery
- Shafts
- 2
- Engines
- 2
- Type
- 3 cyl triple expansion
Performance
- Total Performance
- 2881 shp
- Speed
- 16,2 kn
- Range
- 3040 sm at 9 kn
Construction record
Condor
- Laid down
- Blohm & Voss Hamburg, 1890
- Launched
- 23.02.1892
- Commissioned
- 09.12.1892
- Fate
- scrapped 1921