Cruisers

Austro-Hungarian "Maria Theresia" - Armoured Cruisers -

	Full name "S.M.S. Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia". Originally planned as third torpedo ram cruiser, 1000 tons were added to the design allowing a belt armour, improved machinery and increasing the number of 150mm (6") guns. The distinctive tubular fighting masts were inspired by the French armoured cruiser Dupuy-de-Lôme. The guns came from F. Krupp, Germany, but were replaced in 1910 by Skoda guns of domestic origin. The cruiser made a number of cruises to East Asia and served as stationery at the Levant.
	At the outbreak of WWI the ship was obsolete and had no fighting value, therefore it became harbour guard ship at Sebenico. Disarmed in Feb. 1917, allocated to GB in 1920 and scrapped in Italy.
	Line Drawing of "S.M.S. Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia" by Erwin Sieche [MGH]

	Technical Data
	Laid down: Launched: Commissioned: Displacement: Dimensions: Propulsion: Max. Speed: Fuel: Range: Crew:	6 September 1891 at Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Triest 29 April 1893 24 March 1895 5,164.36 / 6,026.07 ts 113.7 × 16.25 × 6.84 m 9,000 / 9,755 IHP; 6 cylindrical boilers; 2 VTE; 2 shafts 18.9 kts 746 t coal 3,500 nm / 10 kts 32 + 443
	Tactical Data
	Main: Secondary: QF: Torpedoes: Armour: Searchlights:	2x240 cal 35 Krupp C/85 8x150 cal 35 Krupp C/86 12x47 cal 44 Skoda; 6x47 cal 33; 2x8mm 4x450 (bow, stern and sides, above waterline) belt: 100; deck: 38-57; turrets/conning tower: 100 4x600, 2x350 mm

	Career of "S.M.S. Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia" ( 49 kb) 1895: Commissioned as flagship of the summer training squadron. Together with Kaiser Franz Joseph I. and Kaiserin Elisabeth to Germany to the opening celebrations of the "Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal". 1896/97: Part of the international naval blockade of Crete. 1898: Deployed to Cuba to protect Austro-Hungarian subjects in the Spanish-American war.
	1900: Accompanied by Zenta deployment to China as part of the international peace keeping force fighting the Boxer rebellion. 1901/02: Stationary in the Far East . 1902-12-12 back at Pola and decommissioned
	1903: reconstruction of superstructure.
	1906/08: Placed in reserve; 240 mm turrets replaced by 190 mm guns in shields.
	1909/10: Rebuildings; change of 150 mm guns . 1911/12: Eight week Levant cruise with the three battleships of the Erzherzog-class. Decommissioned and placed in reserve after return. 1914-17: Harbor guard ship at Sebenico (Sibenik).
	1917: Decommissioned at Pola on 7 Feb.; disarmed, accommodation ship for German submariners. 1920: End of January allocated to Great Britain by the Allied Naval Delegations in Paris and sold for scrapping to Italy.

Quellen/Sources: ES02, MGH, E. Sieche Updated: 09/03/04 © hgs 08/98