SMS Greif was a German cargo steamship that was converted into a merchant raider for the Imperial German Navy.[1]

HMS Alcantara (left) and SMS Greif (right) dueling at close range during the action of 29 February 1916.
History
Germany
NameGreif
BuilderNeptun Werft, Rostock[1]
Launched1914[1]
Acquired1915[1]
Commissioned23 January 1916[1]
FateSunk 29 February 1916
General characteristics
Displacement9,900 tons normal[1]
Length131.7 m (432 ft)[1]
Beam16.4 m (54 ft)[1]
Draught7.5 m (25 ft)[1]
PropulsionTwo coal-fired boilers, one 3,000 shaft horsepower (12 MW) 3-cylinder triple expansion reciprocating steam engine driving one propeller[1]
Speed13 knots (24.1 km/h)[1]
Range35,000 nautical miles (65,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h)[1]
Complement10 officers & 297 men[2]
ArmamentFour 15 cm (5.9 in) SK L/40 guns (4 × 1) with 600 rounds ammunition, one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/40 rapid-fire gun with 200 rounds ammunition, and two 50 cm (20 in) torpedo tubes with 12 torpedoes[3]

Construction and conversion

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Built as Guben, she was a 4,962 GRT steel-hulled ship owned by the German-Australian Line (DADG), Hamburg.[1] She was converted for naval service at Kaiserliche Werft Kiel in 1915 and commissioned as Greif on 23 January 1916.[1]

Service history

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Greif sailed from the Elbe port of Cuxhaven on 27 February 1916[4] under the command of Fregattenkapitän Rudolf Tietze (born 13 September 1874, previously was commander of the battleship SMS Wörth).[5] The Royal Navy had learned of Greif's sailing and was waiting in the North Sea.[6]

Action of 29 February 1916

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Greif was disguised as the Norwegian Rena bound for Tønsberg, Norway, when intercepted by the 15,620 GRT armed merchant cruiser Alcantara on the morning of 29 February 1916.[4] Alcantara closed to 2,000 yards (1,800 m) and slowed to lower a boarding cutter when Greif hoisted the German battle ensign, increased speed, and opened fire.[4] Alcantara returned fire with her six 6-inch (152 mm) guns and two 3-pounders.[4] Range was never more than 3,000 yards (2,700 m).[4]

Alcantara was hit by a torpedo amidships on her port side, and one of Alcantara's shells exploded the ready ammunition for Greif's after gun.[4] Both ships lost speed.[4] Greif's crew abandoned ship 40 minutes after opening fire.[4] Alcantara sank first.[4] The C-class light cruiser Comus and M-class destroyer Munster then arrived to sink the stationary Greif[4] and rescue 120 German survivors.[2] An estimated 187 Germans perished along with 72 Britons.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Schmalenbach (1977) pp. 46–49
  2. ^ a b Schmalenbach (1977) p.24
  3. ^ Schmalenbach (1977) pp. 70–71
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Poole (July 1975) pp. 52–57
  5. ^ Schmalenbach (1977) p.16
  6. ^ Schmalenbach (1977) p.34

References

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  • Poole, Francis (July 1975). "Alcantara vs. Greif: Duel of the Merchant Cruisers". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Schmalenbach, Paul (1977). German Raiders. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85059-351-4.
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61°45′N 1°10′E / 61.750°N 1.167°E / 61.750; 1.167