Turbines tested at sea
Dresden and Emden paired similar hulls with different machinery, producing two of the best-known German commerce raiders.
4268 tMaximum displacement
118,3 mOverall length
25,2 knMaximum speed
361Complement
The full story
History of Dresden
Dresden and Emden became the best-known German small cruisers of World War I. Their hulls differed little from those of their predecessors, but the two ships used different machinery: Emden retained triple-expansion engines, while Dresden served as a test platform for steam turbines.
Both cruisers were stationed overseas at the outbreak of World War I: Emden served with the East Asia Squadron, while Dresden operated in the Caribbean. Shortly before the war, Dresden carried Mexican president Victoriano Huerta into exile in Jamaica. She then sailed around South America into the Pacific and joined the East Asia Squadron on 18 October 1914. After taking part in the Battle of Coronel, Dresden was the squadron’s only ship to escape the Battle of the Falkland Islands. Pursued by British forces, she hid along the Chilean coast for three months. On 14 March 1915, the cruisers Glasgow and Kent caught and badly damaged Dresden near Más a Tierra; her crew subsequently scuttled her.
Operational history
Service timeline
Dresden is commissioned
During trials, the Dresden rams and sinks the Swedish ship Cäcilie, the small cruiser is heavily damaged.
Dresden enters fleet service.
Sent to the USA.
The cruiser takes part in New York fleet parade.
Arrival in Germany, attached to the reconnaissance forces.
Collision with small cruiser Königsberg, minor damages.
Participation in fleet exercises and maneuvers.
Part of the Mediterranean Division, operations in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Sent to Mexico.
Arrives in Vera Cruz.
Dresden transfers the former Mexican President Huerta to Jamaica.
The cruiser gets orders to prepare for cruiser warfare in the Atlantic.
Operations in the South Atlantic, two British transports are sunk, two other captured.
Arrives at the Easter Islands. The cruiser joins the German South-East Asian Squadron.
Battle of Coronel.
Battle of the Falkland Islands. The Dresden is the only German ship that manages to escape.
The ship passes Cape Horn and hides in different channels and near several Islands in the Cape Horn area. Because of the incomplete navigation charts, the ship is not detected by the British fleet, but has to change its location several times after being detected by Chilean vessels.
Arrives at the Comberland-Beight at the island of Mas-a-Tierra. Because of the bad technical conditions and lack of supplies, the ship is not operational anymore.
The British armored cruisers Kent, small cruiser Glasgow and auxiliary cruiser Orama arrive at the island and attack the German ship. After negotiations, the Dresden is scuttled at 11:15.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 4268 t
- Length (Total)
- 118,3 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 117,9 m
- Beam
- 13,5 m
- Draft
- 5,53 m
- Crew
- 361
Armament
- 10,5 cm
- 10
- MG
- 10
- 45 cm Torpedo tubes
- 2
Armor
- Deck
- 25 mm (max)
- Belt
- 80-100 mm
Machinery
- Shafts
- 2
- Turbines
- 2
- Type
- geared turbines
Performance
- Total Performance
- 18880 shp
- Speed
- 25,2 kn
- Range
- 3600 miles at 14 kn
The archive
Models
Ship models in 1/1250 scale.
Construction record
Dresden
- Laid down
- Blohm & Voß Hamburg, October 1906
- Launched
- 05.10.1907
- Commissioned
- 14.11.1908
- Fate
- scuttled 14.03.1915 at Mas a Tierra