SMS Rhein
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| 300px | |
| Career (German Empire) | Kaiserliche Marine Ensign |
|---|---|
| Name: | SMS Rhein |
| Builder: | AG Weser, Bremen |
| Laid down: | 1871 |
| Launched: | 1872 |
| Fate: | Sold for scrap, 1884 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Flußkanonenboot / River gunboat |
| Displacement: | 283t |
| Length: | 49.6m |
| Beam: | 7.85m |
| Draught: | 1.6m |
| Propulsion: | Two single-cylinder steam engines; coal-fired boilers |
| Speed: | 6.5 knots |
| Complement: |
6 officers 22 men |
| Armament: | Two 12cm muzzle-loading bronze cannons |
| Armour: |
Casemate:5.5cm armour backed with 20cm of wood Turret: 5cm of iron, backed with 22cm of wood |
SMS Rhein was an steam-powered ironclad monitor of the German Imperial Navy. She was one of two such vessels built at the AG Weser dockyard in Bremen, the other being her sister, SMS Mosel. Though termed monitors they are more accurately described as Flußkanonenboote (river gunboats or river monitors). They were laid down in 1871 and launched in 1872. They made a short and uneventful journey to the mouth of the Rhine, and were stationed in Koblenz. They rarely left the city throughout their short lives.
The end of the Franco-Prussian War war between France and Prussia in 1871, and the subsequent unification of Germany, triggered a review of the German defences. It was quickly realised that an armed naval force was required to protect the vital artery of the Rhine around the city of Koblenz.
A flotilla of ironclad ships was commissioned, based on ships similar to the successful monitors used by the United States Navy, and named after the first of her type, USS Monitor. As the primary purpose of the ships was to protect the important railway bridges, the railway companies were obliged to pay for the ships.
Despite later being named the “Lorelei Flotilla” (and immortalised as such in a contemporary song) in recognition of their rather dubious practicality, the two monitors did prove some deterrent to the French.
Kaiser Wilhelm I undertook a short journey on board the monitor Rhein in 1875, while on a visit to Koblenz.
Design
The monitors were grossly underpowered - their engines were unable to propel the ships upstream when the river was in flood, and the ships needed teams of horses to assist in up-stream travel at these times.
Armour protection was very limited. The ships were designed to be able to be submerged in the water by flooding special tanks fore and aft so that only the central casemate showed above the water. This casemate was protected by 5.5 cm armour backed with 20 cm of wood. The Ericsson-type turret was armoured with 5 cm of iron, backed by 22 cm of wood.
The armament was also inadequate, the twin 12 cm bronze cannons (it is unclear whether they were muzzle or breech loaders) being unable to pierce even rudimentary armour plate. The magazines were situated within the casemate, either side of the turret. A command turret above the main turret had room for the captain and a helmsman and it was intended for use when the ship was in action. For normal purposes, the navigation bridge behind the turret gave better visibility.
The crew of 22 men and six officers had no sleeping quarters on board, the expectation being that the monitors would anchor or moor for the night and the crew would sleep on the shore in tents. Toilets were provided on the fore deck and a galley was situated on the aft deck. Day cabins for the Captain and the officers were provided inside the casemate, forward of the turret.
A team of between 50 and 100 troops was allocated to the monitors, intended to act as a pioneer squad to assist with navigation and to provide temporary mooring facilities. The monitors had a short and peaceful service career, finally being put up for sale at the end of 1884. Both were scrapped.
