Konig

König-Class Battleships were built for the Imperial German Navy during the years of 1911 to 1914. They were the most powerful warships of the German High Seas Fleet at the outbreak of war in 1914. There were 4 ships of this class built.

König-Class Battleships served between the years of 1914 to 1919.

Preceded by:  Kaiser class

Succeeded by: Bayern class

König-Class Battleships SMS König, Grosser Kurfürst, Kronprinz & Markgraf all saw combat action in World War I. As the newest battleships in the fleet, the König class ships led the line as the battle fleet sailed north towards the battle of Jutland, with the König at the front of the line, followed by Grosser Kurfürst, Kronprinz and then Markgraf. The Kronprinz apparently avoided damage, but König took the heaviest losses of any German dreadnought at Jutland, being hit by 10 large shells, and suffering 45 dead and 27 injured. Grosser Kurfürst came next, hit by 8 large shells but escaping with only 15 dead and 10 wounded. Finally Markgraf was hit by five heavy shells, and suffered 11 dead and 13 wounded. All three ships were fully repaired by the end of July.

The König class ships were clearly robust. Grosser Kurfürst and Kronprinz both survived being torpedoed on 5 November 1916, while Grosser Kurfürst and Markgraf both survived hitting mines in the Gulf of Riga in October 1917. All four ships survived the war, and were interned at Scapa Flow, where they were scuttled by their crews on 21 June 1919.