Preussen-class ironclad

Preussen in 1887
Class overview
Builders	AG Vulcan Kaiserliche Werft Kiel Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven
Operators	Imperial German Navy
Preceded by	SMS Hansa
Succeeded by	Kaiser class
Built	1868–1878
In commission	1876–1894
Completed	3
Lost	1
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	Turret ship
Displacement	Design: 6,821 t (6,713 long tons) Full load: 7,718 t (7,596 long tons)
Length	96.59 m (316 ft 11 in)
Beam	16.30 m (53 ft 6 in)
Draft	7.11 m (23 ft 4 in)
Installed power	6 × boilers 5,471 PS (5,396 ihp)
Propulsion	1 × Single-expansion steam engine 1 × screw propeller
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Range	1,690 nmi (3,130 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h)
Complement	46 officers 454 enlisted men
Armament	4 × 26 cm (10 in) guns 2 × 17 cm (6.7 in) guns
Armor	Upper belt: 203 mm (8 in) Lower belt: 102 to 229 mm (4 to 9 in) Turrets: 203 to 254 mm (8 to 10 in)

The Preussen class of armored frigates was a class of three ships built for the German Imperial Navy in the early 1870s. The lead ship, Preussen, was laid down in 1871 and launched in 1873. Friedrich der Grosse also was laid down in 1871 and launched in 1874. Grosser Kurfürst, although the first to be laid down, in 1869, was the last to be completed, launched in 1875. The ships served in the fleet starting in 1876, when Preussen was commissioned.

Grosser Kurfürst was lost in 1878 during maneuvers shortly after her commissioning, when a pair of small sailing boats crossed the bows of Grosser Kurfürst and König Wilhelm, which caused both ships to undertake emergency maneuvers. In the confusion, König Wilhelm collided with Grosser Kurfürst, causing the latter to sink. Both Preussen and Friedrich der Grosse served in the fleet until the 1890s, when they were relegated to secondary duties, including serving as harbor ships, and later as coal hulks. The ships were eventually scrapped following the end of World War I, in 1919 and 1920, respectively.