More guns and greater endurance
Ten 28 cm guns and improved protection developed the first German battlecruiser concept into ships suited for demanding fleet and overseas service.
25400 tMaximum displacement
186,6 mOverall length
28,4 knMaximum speed
1053Complement
Design and service
The story of Moltke
The two battlecruisers of the Moltke class were the successors of Germanys first battlecruiser, the Von der Tann. While their predecessor was still in development and construction, plans for a enlarged version of this ship were made. With a enlargement of about 3500 ts, a fifth gun turret, longer bow and enhanced armor were added to the two battlecruisers, giving them a much better protection than their British counterparts. While British battlecruisers of this time already had 30,5 cm guns, the Moltke and Goeben still had the 28cm guns of their predecessor (although a more modern version of this guns was used. Caused by the narrow stern, it was impossible to install two parallel rudders, therefor the rudder had to be enlarged and supported by an second auxiliary rudder mounted in front of it. As both ships received a lot of battle damage, they proved to be very good protected ships, their main disadvantage was that caused by the low bow height their seagoing capabilities was not so good at all.
Moltke operated with the 1st Reconnaissance Group (Aufklärungsgeschwader) of the Imperial Navy and took part in all major operations. Its fate is similar to those of most major German warships - it was scuttled in Scapa Flow.
Operational history
Service timeline
Shipyard trials.
Moltke is commissioned.
Training and trials.
Together with the small cruiser Stettin, the Moltke leaves Kiel for a visit to the USA.
Arrival at Hampton Roads.
Visit to New York.
Moltke returns to Kiel.
Escort ot the Imperial Yacht Hohenzollern to Baltischport.
Moltke becomes flagship of the 1st Reconnaissance Group.
Fleet services and exercises..
Part of the 1st Reconnaissance Group (1. Aufklärungsgeschwader) at the outbreak of the war.
Unsuccessful search for British battlecruisers in the German Beight.
Operation J1: Coastal bombardment of Yarmouth.
Operation J2: Coastal bombardment of Hartlepool.
Battle at the Doggerbank against British battlecruisers.
Operations near Riga: Hit by torpedo of British submarine E1 28-30 miles west off Irben Strait. Moltke sent to Hamburg for repairs with 450ts water in the ship.
Operations at the Hoofoten.
Coastal bombardment of Yarmouth and Lowestoft.
Battle of Jutland: Moltke was hit four times.
Repairs at Blohm & Voß in Hamburg.
Unsuccessful raid in the North Sea.
Unsuccessful raid in the North Sea.
Unsuccessful raid in the North Sea.
Operations off the Baltic Islands.
Unsuccessful raid in the Western North Sea.
Unsuccessful raid in the Northern North Sea, heavily damaged near Stavanger.
While being towed by BB Oldenburg, Moltke is hit by a torpedo fired by the British submarine E42, floddings cause 2100 ts water in the ship.
Interned at Scapa Flow.
Scuttled by own crew.
Wreck raised.
Broken down at Rosyth.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 25400 t
- Length (Total)
- 186,6 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 186,0 m
- Beam
- 29,4 m
- Draft
- 8,77 m
- Crew
- 1053
Armament
- 28 cm L/50
- 10
- 15 cm L/45
- 12
- 8,8 cm
- 12
- 50 cm torpedo tubes
- 4
Armor
- Deck
- 50 mm
- Belt
- 270 mm
- Command Tower
- 350 mm
- Turrets
- 230 mm
Machinery
- Shafts
- 4
- Turbines
- 2
- Type
- Parson
Performance
- Total Performance
- 85782 shp
- Speed
- 28,4 kn
- Range
- 4120 sm at 14 kn
The archive
Photographs
Original postcard and photographic material from the private collection.
The archive
Models
Ship models in 1/1250 scale.
Construction record
Moltke
- Laid down
- Blohm & Voß Hamburg, 07.12.1908
- Launched
- 07.04.1910
- Commissioned
- 13.09.1911
- Fate
- scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919, wreck raised 1927, broken down until 1929