Bussard-Class
Germany's First Standardized Light Cruiser Class - 6 ships built (1890-1893): Bussard, Falke, Seeadler, Cormoran, Condor, Geier. Last unprotected cruisers built for Kaiserliche Marine. 1,612 tons, 6× 10.5cm guns, 15.5 knots. Designed for colonial service in China, East Africa, and Pacific stations. Established successful pattern for German overseas cruisers. Notable service: Geier was only German cruiser interned in USA (Honolulu, April 1917, seized when USA entered WWI). All served in WWI colonial stations, most scuttled or captured 1914-1917.
Specifications
- Displacement (std)
- 1559 t
- Displacement (full)
- 1870 t
- Length
- 271 ft
- Beam
- 41 ft
- Crew
- 201
- Ships built
- 6
- Commissioned
- 1890-1893
- Decommissioned
- 1912-1920
Performance
- Top speed
- 15.5 kn
- Range
- 3420 nm at 9 knots
Armament
- Main guns
- 6× 10.5cm (4.1-inch) SK L/35
- Secondary guns
- 4× 3.7cm revolver cannon
- Torpedoes
- 2× 35cm
Armor & Systems
- Belt
- None (unprotected)
- Deck
- None
- Fire control
- Optical rangefinders
In-Game
- Tier
- T1
- Game power
- 10.53
- Research cost
- 232
- Credit cost
- 7,371
Notable
- First standardized German light cruiser class (6 ships)
- First German cruisers with modern triple-expansion engines
- Established unprotected cruiser concept for colonial service
- Last unprotected cruisers built for Kaiserliche Marine
- Successful colonial service pattern (China, East Africa, Pacific)
- Geier: Only German cruiser interned in USA (Honolulu, 1917)