German Battle Cruiser "Goeben"

[stevedrew]

I am trying to transcribe an interview with Tom Piper, who served with the RNAS in WW1. He describes keeping a "day and night" watch on a German battle cruiser, which he calls the "Goeben", which was accompanied up the Dardenelles by the light cruiser "Breslau". Can any one confirm the name of these vessels, and their classes? Both vessels were bombed and sank when striking mines attempting to evade the attacking aircraft. Thanks.

Steve Drew

[Volker_Nemsch]

Hello! Here is the information I was able to find for you: +++ BATTLE CRUISER GOEBEN: Moltke-class, comissioned in 1912, 1914 in the Mediterranean together with BRESLAU, 16.08.1914 handed over to the Osman Empire (German crew was still on board for the rest of the war), new name: SULTAN SELIM, survived WW1, 1936 new name: JAVUZ, survived WW2, broken down in 1974, +++ SMALL (LIGHT) CRUISER BRESLAU: Magdeburg-class, comissioned in 1912, 1914 in the Mediterranean together with GOEBEN, 16.08.1914 handed over to the Osman Empire (German crew was still on board for the rest of the war), new name: MIDILLI, 20.01.1918 hit by 5 mines, sunk near the island Imbros, 330 casualties, +++ I hope this helps. Volker Nemsch

you should see following www-page:

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Ba...7817/index.htm


best regards erich

The Goeben and Breslau were of great interest to the British Navy (Winston Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty at the time)just before and immediately at the commencement of the Great War. They were the only two German warships at sea when the war began, and were steaming towards Africa. The Goeben in particular was a threat with her high speed and large guns. The concern was that the French navy was about to transport thousands of her colonial troops from Africa to Europe and that these two vessels could inflict serious losses if they undertook a daring (i.e. foolhardy) attack. The British navy located and shadowed the German ships, but then lost them. It turned out that they were not heading to Africa, but rather to the Dardenelles in the hope of finding repairs, coal and shelter as I recall. I'm not aware of RNAS involvement, but it could have been at the earliest stage while the ships were setting out. As the other links mention, they were not sunk while trying to avoid aircraft; at least while using these names!

Steve,

I have info on both these vessels.

The Goeben, or as she was known in Turkey, Sultan Yavus Selim, survived the war.

The fate of the Breslau, or as she was known in Turkey the Midilli, was outlined by Volker.

Both these vessels were attacked by the RNAS(HP 0/100's) on 9/10 July 1917, at anchor in Stenia. The attack was unsuccessful in sinking these ships, but did however sink the old German destroyer S-166, renamed by the Turks, Yadighiar-i-Milet. The author of the article which I have obtained this information from, reports that it was the largest warship(665 tons) lost to aerial action during the war, and probably had the highest number of casualties(29), caused by aerial attack.

Andrew.

Reference C&C Vol 18 No. 1 Spring 1977.
Article by R.D. Layman.

In the 1950's the Turks offered to return the Breslau to Germany. The offer was refused and as we know the ship was scrapped at a later date.
Possibl the only surviving WW1 battleship lost.
Probably an early case of political correctness combined with cultural and historical vandalism.

andy

My last in error, follows correction.

In the 1950's the Turks offered to return the Goeben to Germany. The offer was refused and as we know the ship was scrapped at a later date.
Possibly the only surviving WW1 battleship lost.
Probably an early case of political correctness combined with cultural and historical vandalism.

andy

Dear Steve,

There is a grta book on the Goeben and Breslau published by Mittler in Germany, titled Halbmond und Kaisersadler - Breslau und Goeben am Bosporus 1914/1918.

Note that the Yadigar was salvaged and sunk once more in 1920, salvaged again and than scrapped.

[Paul Forster]

Two more books you may want to read - "Two Lone Ships" by Georg Kopp(who served on the Goeben)and "The Ship That Changed The World" by Dan Van Der Vat.

One World War One battleship still exists, the U.S.S. Texas, preserved at San Jacinto near Houston. Other ships in commission during the Great War I believe still exist are Dewey's Olympia at Philadelphia and Admiral Togo's flagship Mikasa from 1904-05.

I may be wrong about this, but I seem to recall that the Handley Page 0/400 which makes an appearance in "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" had been dispatched to the Middle East to attack the Goeben while she was beached after being mined in the incident that sank the Breslau. The H-P arrived too late and performed various duties including supporting the Arab Army.