Commissioned.
Design and service
The story of Eber
The six gunboats of the Iltis class were typical for a gunboat of the late 19th century used for overseas service. Small and lightly armed, they were used to protect a nation's interests in their colonies around the world.
The first two boats, Iltis and Jaguar were equipped with four 8,8 cm guns, the later ones got two larger 10,5 cm guns instead. To extend their operational radius, they were equipped with additional sails besides their expansion engines and they were very maneuverable ships using them. Despite their small size, they were good seagoing and maneuverable ships, only at high speed and shallow waters their maneuverability was decreased.
All six ships were used for overseas services and most of them were destroyed there
The Eber was operating in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic and was interned in Bahia in September 1914, where it was set on fire by its own crew on 26.10.1917.
Operational record
Service timeline
Recorded deployments, refits and major events from commissioning to final disposition.
Trials, decommissioned and remained at the Vulcan shipyard as material reserve for the other boats of the class.
Recommissioned, sent to Wilhelmshaven.
Sent to West Africa.
Arrived in Duala, Cameroon.
Repairs in Cadiz, Spain.
Operating off the coast of Morocco.
Eber returns to Duala.
Voyage to South Africa.
Arrived in Cape Town.
Expedition into the Congo river.
Together with the Panther and small cruiser Bremen, the Eber is sent to Monrovia to protect German citizens and interests.
Returned to Duala.
Sent back to Germany for repairs in Wilhelmshaven.
Sent to West Africa again.
Surveys in the Gulf of Guinea.
Repairs in Cape Town.
Because of the war threat in Europe, the Eber is ordered back to Germany.
Arrived in the Lüderitzbay. The Eber is ordered to cross the Atlantic to South America and equip a ship as an auxiliary cruiser.
Arrived at the Island of Trinidada, 900 miles off the Brazilian coast.
The Eber's guns are mounted on the German passenger ship Cap Trafalger which is taken over by most of the Eber crew.
The disarmed Eber arrives at Bahia, Brazil. With a crew of 15 the ship stays in the neutral country.
After Brazil entered the war on allied side, the Eber is set on fire and scuttled by its remaining crew.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 1193 t
- Length (Total)
- 66,9 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 64,1 m
- Beam
- 9,70 m
- Draft
- 3,54 m
- Crew
- 130
Armament
- 10,5 cm
- 2
- Machine Guns
- 6
Machinery
- Shafts
- 2
- Engines
- 2
- Type
- 3 cyl triple expansion
Performance
- Total Performance
- 1314 shp
- Speed
- 14,3 kn
- Range
- 3400 sm at 9 kn
Construction record
Eber
- Laid down
- A.G. Vulcan Stettin, 1902
- Launched
- 06.06.1903
- Commissioned
- 15.09.1903
- Fate
- burned down at Bahia on 26.10.1917