German light cruiser class, built 1914-17.
Four small cruisers were authorized in 1913: Ersatz Gazelle, E Niobe, E Nymphe and E Thetis, but by the time they came to be launched in 1915-16 they were given the names of ships which had been sunk. Konigsberg and Emden were built by AG Weser, Bremen, Karlsruhe by Wilhelmshaven dockyard, and Nürnberg by Howaldt, Kiel.
The design was an improved Magdeburg, but war experience led to the provision of 150-mm (5.9-in) L/45 guns in place of the 105-mm (4.1-in) L/45. Königsberg was commissioned in August 1916, but she and her sisters saw little action. She wore the flag of Admiral von Meurer during the negotiations in the Firth of Forth for the surrender of the High Seas Fleet in November 1918, but was not among the ships scuttled at Scapa Flow. As Ship A she was ceded to France in 1920, was renamed Metz and served in the French navy until 1934.
Emden served as flagship of the torpedo- boat flotillas from December 1916, and although scuttled at Scapa Flow, was boarded by the British salvage parties and run ashore. She was then ceded to France and used as a target, before being scrapped in 1926. Karlsruhe and Nürnberg were both scuttled at Scapa Flow and were subsequently raised and scrapped.
Displacement: 5440 tons (normal), 7125 tons (full load) Length: 151.4 m (496 ft 9 in) oa Beam: 14.3 m (46 ft 11 in) Draught: 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) max Machinery: 2-shaft steam turbines, 31000 shp=27 knots Protection: 64 mm (2.5 in) belt, 19 mm (0.75 in) deck Armament: 8 150-mm (5.9-in) L/45 (8×1); 2 88-mm (3.5-in) L/45 AA (2×1); 4 50-cm (19.7-in) torpedo tubes (broadside; 2 submerged, 2 above water) Crew: 475
