MARKGRAF
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Nationality: |
Germany |
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| Type: | BB | ||||||||||||||||||
| Class: | KÖNIG - four ships in class | ||||||||||||||||||
| Builder: | A G Weser, Bremen | ||||||||||||||||||
| Completed: | January, 1915 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Displacement: | 25,390 tons | ||||||||||||||||||
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Dimensions: (in feet and inches) |
575' 6" x 96' 9" x 27' 3" | ||||||||||||||||||
| Armor: |
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| Machinery: | 3-shaft Bergmann turbines, 15 Schulz-Thornycroft boilers; 31,000shp. Coal: 3,540 tons. Oil: 690 tons. Range: 8,000nm at 12 knots; 4,000nm at 18 knots. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 21 knots | ||||||||||||||||||
| Armament: |
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| Compliment: | 1,136 |
Sister ships: KÖNIG, GROSSER KURFÜRST, KRONPRINZ (renamed KRONPRINZ WILHELM on 15 June 1918)
Notes: These ships were an improvement on the preceding KAISER class battleships, especially in the layout of main battery turrets; all five were on the center line, with superfiring pairs both fore and aft. The funnels were closer together than the KAISERs. All four exceeded speed requirements on trials; the GROSSER KURFÜRST supposedly reached 24 knots, but was outpaced by KÖNIG at Jutland. They were regarded as very good sea boats.
Upon commissioning, MARKGRAF joined with her sister ships to form the 3rd Squadron, 5th Division of the High Seas Fleet. MARKGRAF took part in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. Her gun crews expended 144 rounds of 12" ammunition and 214 rounds of 5.9". Two 12" hits were scored on the battlecruiser PRINCESS ROYAL, jamming her "X" turret and causing many casualties amongst their gun crews. At least five 5.9" hits were scored on the light cruiser CALLIOPE, disabling two of her 4" guns and forcing her to turn away from a torpedo attack. Just after 0200 hours on 1 June, British destroyers attacked the 5th Division. Two torpedoes were fired by the destroyer MARVEL at the MARKGRAF, which turned to avoid them; one missed 30 yards to port, and the track of the second ran directly under MARKGRAF, but she was not hit. During the course of the battle, MARKGRAF took three 15" hits, one 13.5" hit, and one 12" hit. 11 of her crew were killed, and another 13 wounded. Two of the 15" hits did not explode. One passed through her foremast, nearly cutting it in two (but it remained standing); the second passed through the starboard derrick-post near the top. A near miss caused MARKGRAF to reduce speed, due to the port propeller shaft being bent (most likely by a near miss), which caused overheating in the bearings. However, she was still capable of 17 to 18 knots, and was able to maintain her place in the German line. Following repairs (which lasted until 16 July 1916), MARKGRAF returned to service. Along with most of the High Seas Fleet, MARKGRAF was scuttled at Scapa Flow on 21 June 1919. She was raised and broken up in 1962.
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Superior G903 |