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ESMS EMDEN |
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The cruiser Emden was the first major warship to be built
under the limitations imposed by the Versailles Treaty. She was laid down in
1921 and completed in 1925, her design being based on that of the Koln, the
last cruiser to be built during the recent war. For the first time,
electrical welding was used to build a warship of this size. Emden's main
purpose, however, was not as a fighting ship, but to train the young officers
and cadets needed to form nucleus of the new Reichsmarine. In 1926 her aft
funnel was modified slightly by being raised to the same height as the
forward funnel. From the period October 1926 – 29th March 1933 she acted as a training ship, which included five international voyages. After a
brief refit at Wilhelmshaven she carried on this role again for the next four
years, which included a further six international voyages. One of her
commanding officers during this time was Karl Dönitz (Sept 34 to Sept 35).
In March 1939 she played a minor role as a fishery protection vessel off Iceland.
Supported by torpedo boats, Emden laid mines in the North Sea in August.
Whilst sheltered in Wilhelmshaven she shot down a Blenheim Bomber, which crashed,
into her bow. This resulted in the first naval casualties of the war (4th Oct 1939). After repairs she continued in the training role. As part of
operation Weserubung, Emden helped transported troops from Swinemunde on 6th Apr 1940. She then went to Kiel and joined Squadron 5, comprising the Lutzow
and the ill-fated Blucher (lost, 8th April 1940), Emden’s embarked
troops deployed at the Drobak Narrows to attack Norwegian Forts. She
then went to Oslofiord and acted as a communications post for all three
services from 10th April. In November she once again took on the
training role. In late September 1941 she joined the cruiser Leipzig and
together they bombarded Russian shore batteries at Cape Rista and also sank
the soviet MTB 83. She once again became a training ship before commencing a
major refit at Wilhelmshaven from June to November 1942. Further training
duties followed until November 1944, before she mined the Skagerrak. On 9th
December she ran aground at Oslofiord and had to be towed to Pillau by Ice
Breakers. After a six day journey she limped into Kiel harbour for her last
refit. During an air raid on Kiel on the night of 9th /10th April 1945, she became heavily damaged and was beached in Heikendorfer Bay.
She was de-activated on the 26th April and blown up on 3rd May 1945. Her remains were broken up in 1948.
1/100 SCALE 5- SHEET PLAN
MIBA-940 PRICE: $ 65.00 |
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