Hello everyone

I'm pretty much up to speed with researching merchant ships, but German warships are not my speciality. Background information is this: I'm looking for some detailed information on the German light cruiser Nurnberg, built by Howaldtswerke, Kiel in 1916. As far as I can tell this ship did not see active service but was interned with the rest of the High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow in 1918. When the Fleet scuttled, Nurnberg drifted ashore, was subsequently salved, taken to Portsmouth and in July 1922 she was towed to a position in mid Channel south of the Isle of Wight where her armour was tested against British gunfire from HMS Repulse. The damage inflicted was examined and photographs taken, but Nurnberg eventally sank.

Today she is a large and substantial wreck but I can't make much sense of her machinery, so my questions are:

1. What type of engines did she have? Janes says 'Marine type' or geared turbines but I have no detailed specifications.
2. How many boilers? They were Schulz-Thorneycroft manufacture - are they similar to Scotch boilers or Yarrow boilers?
3. How many propellers did she have?

I have a few photos of the ship but any others would be welcome as well as any other information memebers may have. I'll also try to post one or two underwater photos if I can figure out how to do it...



Dave W

I found this German Wikipedia article (this link should provide the English translation: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...en%26safe%3Doff). The English auto-translation is rather clumsy, but you'll get the basic idea.

According to this, the Nurnberg had 10 coal-fired and 2 oil-fired boilers, but it doesn't list the type. She had two 3.5 meter screws. It does not, unfortunately, list engine type. However, there is a reference to a German-language book that may have more information.

Good luck,

Bucephalus

Here is a link to an explanation of different marine boilers. I assume a Schulz-Thorneycroft is a licence built version of a Thorneycroft boiler:
Water Tube boilers

From the book 'German Warships 1815-1945' by Erich Groner, it appears that only the Karlsruhe of this class had geared turbines. I have no more information on these turbines.

There are photos of the Nurnberg held by the Imperial War Museum.

Bob

Dave

Here are a few U/W photos I have of the Nurnberg, taken this year.