SMS Greif (1914)
{{other ships|SMS Greif}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Alcantara 1916.jpg |Ship caption=HMS Alcantara (left) and SMS Greif (right) dueling at close range during the action of 29 February 1916.}} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Germany |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|German Empire|naval}} |Ship name=Greif |Ship namesake= |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Neptun Werft, RostockSchmalenbach (1977) pp. 46–49 |Ship laid down= |Ship commissioned=23 January 1916 |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship honours= |Ship fate=Sunk 29 February 1916 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship displacement=9,900 tons normal |Ship length={{convert|131.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|16.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|7.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship draft= |Ship propulsion=Two coal-fired boilers, one 3,000 shaft horsepower (12 MW) 3-cylinder triple expansion reciprocating steam engine driving one propeller |Ship speed={{convert|13|kn|km/h|1}} |Ship range={{convert|35000|nmi|km}} at {{convert|10|kn|km/h}} |Ship complement=10 officers & 297 menSchmalenbach (1977) p.24 |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=Four 15 cm SK L/40 naval gun guns (4 × 1) with 600 rounds ammunition, one 10.5 cm SK L/40 naval gun rapid-fire gun with 200 rounds ammunition, and two {{convert|50|cm|in|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes with 12 torpedoesSchmalenbach (1977) pp. 70–71 |Ship armour= |Ship armor= |Ship aircraft= |Ship notes= }} |
SMS Greif was a German cargo steamship that was converted into a merchant raider for the Imperial German Navy.
Construction and conversion
Built as Guben, she was a {{GRT|4962}} steel-hulled ship owned by the German-Australian Line (DADG), Hamburg. She was converted for naval service at Kaiserliche Werft Kiel in 1915 and commissioned as Greif on 23 January 1916.
Service history
Greif sailed from the Elbe port of Cuxhaven on 27 February 1916Poole (July 1975) pp. 52–57 under the command of Fregattenkapitän Rudolf Tietze (born 13 September 1874, previously was commander of the battleship {{SMS|Wörth}}).Schmalenbach (1977) p.16 The Royal Navy had learned of Greif{{'}}s sailing and was waiting in the North Sea.Schmalenbach (1977) p.34
=Action of 29 February 1916=
{{main|Action of 29 February 1916}}
Greif was disguised as the Norwegian Rena bound for Tønsberg, Norway, when intercepted by the {{GRT|15620}} armed merchant cruiser {{RMS|Alcantara|1913|2}} on the morning of 29 February 1916. Alcantara closed to {{convert|2,000|yd|sigfig=2}} and slowed to lower a boarding cutter when Greif hoisted the German battle ensign, increased speed, and opened fire. Alcantara returned fire with her six {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns and two 3-pounders. Range was never more than {{convert|3,000|yd|sigfig=2}}.
Alcantara was hit by a torpedo amidships on her port side, and one of Alcantara{{'}}s shells exploded the ready ammunition for Greif{{'}}s after gun. Both ships lost speed. Greif{{'}}s crew abandoned ship 40 minutes after opening fire. Alcantara sank first. The {{sclass2|C|cruiser|0}} light cruiser {{HMS|Comus|1914|2}} and M-class destroyer {{HMS|Munster||2}} then arrived to sink the stationary Greif and rescue 120 German survivors. An estimated 187 Germans perished along with 72 Britons.
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- {{cite journal |last=Poole |first=Francis |title=Alcantara vs. Greif: Duel of the Merchant Cruisers |publisher=United States Naval Institute Proceedings | date=July 1975 }}
- {{cite book |last=Schmalenbach |first=Paul |year=1977 |title=German Raiders |place=Annapolis, MD |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-85059-351-4}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Greif (ship, 1915)}}
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{{February 1916 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greif, SMS}}
Category:Auxiliary cruisers of the Imperial German Navy
Category:Maritime incidents in 1916
Category:World War I commerce raiders
Category:World War I cruisers of Germany