Commissioned, followed by training and trials.
155,1 mOverall length
7102 tMaximum displacement
29,4 knMaximum speed
483 - 683Complement
Design and service
The story of Emden
The Emden was the first major German ship built after World War I. The basic design had its origins in the last class of small cruisers in World War I, the Cöln -Class. Therefore, the main artillery was mounted in single turrets like it was done in small cruisers of World War I and not in turrets like later cruiser designs.
For the first time, electrical welding was used to build a warship of this size. Since the results were very promising, electrical welding got more important for all following ship constructions. The ship was laid down at the end of 1921 but because of the lack of knowledge in constructing major warships and steel shortages it took three years to launch the ship and one additional year to complete it.
The Emden was built to perform like its famous predecessors in World War I, to hunt and sink allied merchant shipping in every ocean of the world. To increase its operational radius, the armor protection of the ship was reduced compared to the one of the World War I cruisers to carry a larger amount of fuel. Originally build with a mixed coal-oil boiler system the coal boilers were later replaced with oil fired one, too.
The ship was mainly used for training purposes. In the years before the war it made several major voyages around the world. Those voyages lead the ship to the Cocos-Islands where the small cruisers Emden in World War I was destroyed.
The ship went to Africa, the Indian Ocean, East Asia, the USA, the Mediterranean and more. At the start of World War II the ship was already 18 years old and was only used for military actions when no other vessel was available like the occupation of Norway or shore bombardment at the Baltic Sea.
Operational history
Service timeline
Battle training in North and Baltic Sea.
Final construction works.
Refits, aft funnel is modified.
First international voyage: Around Africa to Japan, visiting the Cocos-Islands where the small cruiser Emden was sunk in World War I. From there, the Emden sails to Indonesia, the USA, Chile, Brazil and returns to Wilhelmshaven.
Repairs and refits.
Fleet operations and support of the torpedo school.
Second international voyage: Mediterranean, Suez Channel, East Africa, Seychelles, Indonesia, New Zealand, Samoa, Hawaii, USA, Central America, Spain.
Repairs and refits.
Third international voyage: Westindies, visiting several islands and harbors, and the USA.
Repairs, followed by training.
Fourth international voyage: Mediterranean, Suda- Beight, Port Said, Suez Channel, Indian Ocean, India, Philippines, China, Japan, Cocos-Islands, Indonesia, South Africa, West Africa, Spain.
Fleet operations.
Fifth international voyage: Sailed to Spain.
Decommissioned because of major refits in Wilhelmshaven.
Training and trials.
Sixth international voyage: Cape Town, East Africa, Seychelles, Ceylon, Indian Ocean, Suez-Channel, Spain Portugal.
Seventh international voyage: Central America, Panama Channel, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, Panama Channel, USA, Canada.
Eighth international voyage: Mediterranean, Dardanelles, Varna, Istanbul, Port Said, Suez-Channel, Indian Ocean, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, China, India, Suez-Channel. In April 1937, the Emden takes part in control operations off the Spanish coast.
Ninth international voyage: After control operations in spanish waters, the Emden continues her voyage to Suez Channel, Ceylon, Indonesia, China, Mediterranean, Yugoslavia, Greece, Spain.
Tenth international voyage: Azores, Bermuda.
Eleventh international Voyage: Mediterranean, Varna, Istanbul, Greece, Spain.
Used as a fishery protection ship near iceland.
Supported by government yacht Grille and several torpedo boats, the Emden laid a mine field in the North Sea.
During a a British air raid on Wilhelmshaven, the Emden shoot down an Blendheim bomber which crashed into the bow of the ship, causing several deaths. First navy casualties in World War II.
Used as a training ship.
Operation "Weserübung": Transports troops from Swinemünde.
Part of Squadron 5 assembled in Kiel.
On their way to Oslo, Squadron 5 looses the CA Blücher. Troops on board of the Emden disembark to attack Forts at the Dröbak Narrows.
Arrives in Oslo. The radio station on board of the Emden is the main communication center in Oslo.
Emden transfers to Gothenburg for training purposes.
The torpedo boats Greif and Kondor escort the light cruiser Emden from Frederikshavn to Norden.
Together with CL Köln, Emden bombards Russian shore batteries at Cape Ristna on Ösel.
Together with the CL Leipzig, the Emden sinks the Soviet MTB 83 in the Lyu Beight off Sworbe.
Attached to the training section of the fleet.
Laid up in the Wilhelmshaven shipyard for major refits.
While on refit in Schichau Shipyard in Königsberg, the Russians attack the city.
Emden is towed to Pillau by ice breakers. There one of the CLs engines is brought into action.
The Emden arrived in Kiel after a six day journey from Pillau.
Refitting in Kiel.
The Emden is heavily damaged during an air raid on Kiel. The ship has to be beached in the Heikendorf Beight.
Withdrawn from service.
Destroyed by explosions. The wreck is scrapped and scrapped.
At a glance
Technical profile
Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.
Dimensions
- Size (Max)
- 7102 t
- Length (Total)
- 155,1 m
- Length (Waterline)
- 150,5 m
- Beam
- 14,3 m
- Draft
- 5,93 m
- Crew
- 483 - 683
Armament
- 15 cm L/45 C/16 (5.9") (later replaced with C/36)
- 8
- 10,5 cm C/32
- 3 (since 1944)
- 8.8 cm L/45
- 2-3 (until 1944)
- 3,7 cm L/83
- 2 (since 1944)
- 2 cm MG L/64
- 6 (20 since 1944)
- 50 cm Torpedoes (later replaced with 53,3 cm tubes)
- 4
- Mines
- 120
Protection
- Deck
- 20-40 mm
- Belt
- 50 mm
- Command Tower
- 100 mm
Machinery
- Shafts
- 2
- Turbines
- 2
- Type
- Brown, Boveri & Cie
Performance
- Total Performance
- 46000 shp
- Speed
- 29,4 kn
- Range
- 6750 miles 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
Emden
- Laid down
- Reichsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven, 08.12.1921
- Launched
- 07.01.1925
- Commissioned
- 15.10.1925
- Fate
- Destroyed by explosions 03.04.1945 (Heikendorf Bay)