SMS Markgraf

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SMS Konig
König class battleship - Jane's Fighting Ships, 1919 - Project Gutenberg etext 24797
Map of the Battle of Jutland, 1916
Konig-class battleship at Jutland, Claus Bergen 2
Konig-class battleship at Jutland, Claus Bergen
Operation Albion Map

SMS Markgraf was a Kaiser-class battleship of the Imperial German Navy during World War I. Named after the German title of nobility "Markgraf" (Margrave), she was the third ship of her class, which included four other vessels: SMS Kaiser, SMS Friedrich der Grosse, SMS König Albert, and SMS Prinzregent Luitpold.

Design and Construction[edit | edit source]

SMS Markgraf was laid down in 1911 at the AG Vulcan Stettin shipyard in Stettin, launched on 4 June 1913, and commissioned into the fleet on 1 October 1914. The ship was 172.4 meters long, had a beam of 29 meters, and a draft of 9.1 meters. She displaced 27,000 metric tons at full load and was powered by three steam turbines, enabling a top speed of 21 knots.

Armament[edit | edit source]

The primary armament of SMS Markgraf consisted of ten 30.5 cm (12 in) SK L/50 guns arranged in five twin turrets. The secondary battery included fourteen 15 cm (5.9 in) SK L/45 guns and twelve 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/45 guns. Additionally, she was equipped with five 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes.

Service History[edit | edit source]

SMS Markgraf saw extensive service during World War I. She participated in several major naval engagements, including the Battle of Jutland on 31 May – 1 June 1916, where she was part of the High Seas Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Reinhard Scheer. During the battle, Markgraf sustained damage but continued to fight effectively.

Fate[edit | edit source]

After the end of World War I, SMS Markgraf, along with most of the High Seas Fleet, was interned at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. On 21 June 1919, the fleet was scuttled by its crews to prevent the ships from being seized by the Allied powers. SMS Markgraf sank and remains at the bottom of Scapa Flow, where she is a popular site for wreck diving.

Related Pages[edit | edit source]

Categories[edit | edit source]

Template:Kaiser-class battleships Template:World War I German battleships

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD