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Thursday 4 February 2016

German light cruiser SMS Graudenz (1912-1920) and Italian cruiser Ancona 1920-1937


Of the Graudenz-class with as sister ship the Regensburg. Laid down at the Kaiserliche Werft, Kiel, Germany in 1912, launched on 25 October 1913, commissioned on 10 August 1914, stricken from the navy list on 10 March 1920, handed over to the Allies as war retribution transferred to Italy at Cherbourg, France under the name ‘E” on 1 June 1920, renamed Ancona and commissioned in Italian service on 6 May 1925, refitted to be able to take a Macchi M7 seaplane with her in 1925, partly rebuilt with lengthening bow and forecastle necessary to fit her out with a catapult to launch the plane, laid up in 1932 at Taranto, Italy, stricken on 11 March 1937 and finally broken up.

Displacement 4.912 tons/4.834 long tons/5.415 short tons (design)-6.382 tons/6.281 long tons/7.035 short tons (full combat load) with as dimensions 142,7 x 13,8 x 5,75 metres or 468.2 x 45.3 x 18.10”.
Fitted out with two sets of Marine steam turbines to which 10 coal-fired marine-type water0tube boilers and 2 oil-fired double-ended boilers were added supplying via two screws 26.000 ship allowing a speed of 27,5 knots and with a speed of 12 knots a range of 5.500 nautical miles. The crew numbered in German service 385 men. The armour consisted of a 6cm/2.4” thick belt and a 6cm/2.4” thick deck. The original armament consisted of 12x1-10,5cm L/45 quick firing guns and 2-50cm torpedo tubes mounted on deck; she was also able to take 120 mines with her. Later were the guns replaced by 7-15cm L/45 quick firing gins and 2-8,8cm L/45 anti aircraft guns.