Niobe

The Gazelle class comprised the first modern small cruisers built for the Imperial German Navy. The design began a line of development that culminated in Emden, the first German cruiser completed after World War I. With ten ships, the Gazelles were also the largest class of German small cruisers. Because construction extended from 1897 to 1904, individual ships differed in dimensions and appearance as the design evolved.

The Gazelle class introduced the 10.5 cm gun as the standard weapon for German small cruisers. This caliber remained in service even as British cruisers adopted heavier main batteries.

Already obsolete by 1914, the ships served primarily in coastal defense during World War I. Several were lost, while the survivors performed various duties after the war. None was interned at Scapa Flow. Two survivors were later converted into floating antiaircraft batteries during World War II.

All ships were used for fleet service until the outbreak Between 1902 and 1904. After foreign operations between 1906-1909, the Niobe was used for coastal defence until 1917 when it served as a floating barrack. On 24.06.1925 it was sold to Yugoslavia and renamed to Dalmacija. On 17.04.1941 it was captured by Italian troops, renamed to Cattaro. After the Italian capitulation, the ships taken over by the Kriegsmarine again and on 06.12.1943, it got it original name back, With a partly Croatian crew, it only saw a few days of operations when it beached on 19.12.1943 and attacked by British MTBs on 22.12.1943. The wreck was scrapped after 1949.