Imperial German Navy



The Imperial German Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) is the navy created at the time of the formaton of the German Empire. It was formed in 1871, and grew out of the small Norddeutsche Bundesmarine and the Prussian Navy into the world's second largest navy.

Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz with the support of Kaiser Franz I greatly expanded the Navy, and enlarged its mission. The key leader was Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz (1849–1930), who greatly expanded the size and quality of the Navy, while adopting the sea power theories of American strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan. The result was a naval arms race with Britain as the German navy grew to become one of the greatest maritime forces in the world, second only to the Royal Navy.

All ships of the Imperial Navy are designated SMS, for Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship).

Battleships
The German Navy has 22 Battleships on active duty.

The following ships comprise the battleship force:

1 Kaiser Class

-SMS Kaiser

6 Bayern Class

-SMS Bayern

-SMS Baden

-SMS Württemberg

-SMS Sachsen

-SMS Posen

-SMS Rheinland

6 Scharnhorst Class

-SMS Scharnhorst

-SMS Gneisenau

-SMS Salzburg

-SMS Tirol (Tyrol)

-SMS Schlesien

-SMS Admiral Bibran

9 Bismarck Class

-SMS Bismarck

-SMS Tirpitz

-SMS Bülow

-SMS Anhalt

-SMS Müller

-SMS Einem

-SMS Von Hollmann

-SMS Hannover

-SMS Pommern

Battle Cruisers
The German Navy has 6 Battle Cruisers

Heavy Cruisers
The German Navy has 6 Heavy Cruisers

Light Cruisers
The German Navy has 10 Light Cruisers

Destroyers
The German Navy has 36 Destroyers

U-boats
The German Navy has 26 U-boats

Escorts
The German Navy has 86 Escorts

Aircraft Carriers
The German Navy currently operates a single Aircraft Carrier, the Europa. Laid down in 1934 as the "aircraft carrier I" Germany's first carrier was comissioned as the Europa in 1936, and was the first planned aircraft carrier of the German Imperial Navy. While the Imperial Navy had experimented previously with seaplane carriers like the SMS Roon in the 1920's. Europa features many extensive technical and design innovations found in the Japanese carrier Ryujo, and in many respects is a complete emulation of what the German naval planners must have considered a very sound design for a first dedicated light carrier. Japanese innovation and design influences have become very well-liked amongst some in the German Naval Command, as seen by Europa.

These early ships, aside Roon were all conversions of slow merchant vessels or armored cruisers, were too slow to operate with the High Seas Fleet, and carried an insufficient number of aircraft. Europa could carry between 38 and 44 biplane aircraft, including fighters, bombers, and torpedo-bombers. The ship entered service by 1935, and had  begun life sailing around the North and Baltic seas showing the flag for the Imperial navy. A subsequent refit that started in 1938 and finished in 1939 enabled Europa to carry 40 monoplanes.