1874 DEUTSCHLAND With her sister-ship the Kaiser, these were the last German Capital Ships to be built abroad. Originally rigged as sailing ships, they were later substantially rebuilt along more modern lines.
THE KAISER CLASS
These ships were built on the Thames by Samuda Bros. to the design of the pre-eminent naval architect Sir Edward Reed. Deutschland was laid down in 1872, the year the imperial German Navy came into being, and launched on 12 September 1874, being commissioned into the fleet on 20 July 1875. She was substantially re-built by the Imperial Dockyard at Wilhelmshaven, being recommissioned as a heavy cruiser on 25 January 1897. She was re-named Jupiter on 22 November 1904, and served as a harbour ship; was stricken on 21 May 1906 and sold for breaking up, for 120,000 marks, in 1908.
CAPITAL SHIPS IN TRANSITION
Capital ships changed completely in the last half of the 19th century they went from broadside to turrets, from sail to steam and from wood to steel via iron. The Kaisers fell right in the middle of the period, and were entirely transitionary as a result. Built of iron as full-rigged auxiliary ships with 1623 square metres of sail, they were eventually reduced to steam alone, and were deficient in both speed and endurance as a result. Their greatest weakness, however, probably lay in the way in which their main armament was arranged, in a central armoured citadel, with very poor fields of fire.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Armoured cruiser
Machinery: 1 -shaft Penn horizontal single-expansion engine giving 5640ihp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 89.3m (293ft); beam, 19 (62.7ft)
Displacement (alter conversion): 7645t standard; 8735t deep load
Draught: 7.65m (25ft)
Complement: 656 (plus 68 as flagship)
Speed: 14.5knots (27km/h)
