The König class battleship was a one of a series of four German dreadnoughts, which were laid down in 1911. They were well-protected by thick armor and they were armed with ten 305-mm (12 in.) and fourteen 150-mm (5.9 in.) naval guns. The class comprised the König, Grosser Kurfürst, Markgraf, and Kronprinz. All four were commissioned beteen 1914 and 1915.
The König class battleship looked very similar to the Kaiser class. However, their main turrets layout was different as they had been rearranged, with all of them being mounted on the centerline. They had been laid down in 1911, and, at the time of the Battle of Jutland, they were the most advanced dreadnoughts in the High Seas Fleet. Their ten 305-mm guns were mounted in five twin-turrets along the centerline. Each of the 150-mm guns was mounted singly in casemates. Like the other German WW1 dreadnought battleship classes, they were propelled by modern Parsons steam engines.
During the Battle of Jutland, König was struck by one 380-mm (15-in) and nine 343-mm shells; Grosser Kurfürst by five 380-mm and three 343-mm shells; and Markgraff by three 380-mm shells, while Kronprinz was not hit at all, coming out unscathed. Despite being struck several time by big-caliber guns, none of them sank. Grosser Kurfürst got damaged but she managed to limp back home to the port of Kiel. Kronprinz and Grosser Kurfürst would be hit again after the battle, at the end of 1916, but by a British submarine torpedoes. However, they did not sink as they were only lightly damaged, being able to sail back home.
Specifications
Type: dreadnought battleship
Length: 175.4 m (575.5 ft)
Beam: 29.5 m (96.8 ft)
Draft: 9.3 m (30.5 ft)
Displacement: 25.309 tons (empty); 29.200 tons (full load)
Propulsion: 3-shaft Parsons/Bergmann steam turbines, with 12 boilers, producing 31,000-HP.
Maximum Speed: 21 knots.
Range: 10,000 nautical miles at 10 knots.
Armor: 350-mm on the belt; 305/130mm on bulkheads.
Compliment: 1,315 sailors and officers.
Below, the König in 1915, the flagship of her class.
