'MARKGRAF' WWI GERMAN BATTLESHIP

SMS Markgraf was a German battleship (so-called dreadnought) from the First World War. The keel for this unit was laid in 1911, the launch took place in June 1913, and entry into service in the Kaiserliche Marine - in 1914. The length of the ship was 175.4 meters and a width of 29.5 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 28,600 tons, and maximum speed - approx. 21-22 knots. The deck armament, at the time of launch, consisted of 10 305 mm guns, 14 150 mm guns, 10 88 mm guns and 5 torpedo tubes. SMS Markgraf was one of four König-class battleships. The battleships of this type were designed and built to be very similar to the previous class of German battleships, the Kaiser. Both classes of ships had almost identical combat capabilities and weapons. The main difference was a slightly different arrangement of the main artillery on the König-class battleships. Originally, they were also planned to use a mixed drive consisting of steam turbines and a diesel engine, but eventually three steam turbines were used as the drive. One of the battleships of this type was SMS Markgraf, which was built at the AG Weser shipyard in the city of Bremen. The unit took an active part in most important activities of the German navy during World War I, and in particular in the Battle of Jutland (May 31-June 1, 1916). It was damaged in the course of it, but was capable of further actions. In October 1917, the ship took part in operations in the Baltic Sea, and more specifically in Operation Albion. On the way back from this operation, he stepped on a mine, but made it successfully to the port. After the end of the war, SMS Markgraf was interned at the British base at Scapa Flow, where he was sunk by his own crew on June 21, 1919. The shipwreck has not been excavated from the seabed until today.