User:Hammersfan/Imperial German Navy order of battle (1914)

File:Postcard Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany circa 1910.jpg

{{multiple image

| align = right

| total_width = 420

| image1 = Admiral Georg Alexander von Müller (cropped).jpg

| alt1 = Naval officer in full dress uniform looking at the camera

| caption1 = Admiral Müller

| image3 = Hugo von Pohl.jpg

| alt3 = Naval officer in full dress uniform looking to the right]]

| caption3 = Vice-Admiral Pohl

| image2 = Alfred von Tirpitz.jpg

| alt2 = Naval officer in full dress uniform looking at the camera

| caption2 = Admiral Tirpitz

}}

The overall commander of the Imperial German Navy was Kaiser Wilhelm II. All authority over the navy was vested in the Kaiser, and he was ultimately responsible for all decisions regarding the navy. Under the Kaiser were a number of organisational bodies responsible for various aspects of the navy's administration and operation, each of which was directly responsible to the Kaiser:

• The Naval Cabinet was a body of the Imperial Household, with responsibility over promotions and appointments, and the drafting and issuing of the Kaiser's orders.
• Chief of the Naval Cabinet - Admiral Georg von Müller
• The Imperial Naval Administration was the government department with responsibility for the Navy, which was answerable to the Imperial Chancellor, and was headed by the State Seretary.
• State Secretary - Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz
• Deputy State Secretary - Vice-Admiral Edward von Capelle

The departmental heads within the Imperial Naval Administration were:{{cite web |url=https://www.naval-history.net/XGW-GermanNavy1914-1918.htm#1 |title=Introduction to Die Kaiserliche Marine 1914-1918 |last=Watson |first=Graham |date= |website=Organisation of the Imperial German Navy 1914-1918|publisher=naval-history.net |access-date=24 February 2022 |quote=}}

• The Admiralty Staff was formed in 1899 to replace the Naval High Command, and operated as an organisation intended to gather intelligence and prepare operational plans for presentation to and approval of the Kaiser.Herwig p.22
• Chief of the Imperial Admiralty Staff - Vice-Admiral Hugo von Pohl
• Deputy Chief of Staff - Rear-Admiral Paul Behnecke
• Head of the Central Bureau - Rear-Admiral Albert Hopman

{{Location map+|Schleswig-Holstein

|width=370

|float=right

|caption=Kiel and Wilhelmshaven were the main bases of the Imperial German Navy, and were connected by the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal

|places =

{{location map~ |Schleswig-Holstein |lat=54.323333 |long=10.139444|mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Kiel |label_size=85 |position=left}}

{{location map~ |Schleswig-Holstein |lat=53.516667 |long=8.133333|mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg |label=Wilhelmshaven |label_size=85 |position=top}}

}}

Germany had two major naval bases covering its main areas of interest:

• Kiel - headquarters of the Baltic Naval Station, which was also responsible for the base at Danzig in East Prussia.
• Commander, Baltic Naval Station - Vice-Admiral Gustav Bachman{{cite web |url=https://www.naval-history.net/XGW-GermanNavy1914-1918.htm#app |title=Flag Officers of the Imperial German Navy 1914-1918 |last=Watson |first=Graham |date= |website=Organisation of the Imperial German Navy 1914-1918|publisher=naval-history.net |access-date=26 February 2022 |quote=}}
• Chief of Staff - Rear-Admiral Georg Herbinghaus
• Commander, Kiel Naval Base - Vice Admiral Konrad Henkel-Gebhardi
• Commander, Kiel Fortress - Vice Admiral Reinhard Koch
• Commander, Danzig Naval Base - Rear Admiral Franz von Hulleben
• In addition to hosting the fleet units stationed in the Baltic Sea, a number of other units were under the direct command of the Baltic Naval Station commander:
• 1st Seaman Division (Kiel)
• 1st Marine Artillery Division (Friedrichsort)
• 1st Torpedo Division (Kiel)
• 1st Battalion of Marines

• Wilhelmshaven - headquarters of the North Sea Naval Station, which also served as the host base of the High Seas Fleet.
• Commander, North Sea Naval Station - Vice-Admiral Gunther Krosigk
• Commander, Wilhelmshaven Naval Base - Rear-Admiral Hugo Kraf
• Commander, Wilhelmshaven Fortress - Rear-Admiral Friedrich Schulz
• Commander, Wesermunde Fortress - Vice-Admiral Johannes Schroder
• Commander, Helgoland Fortress - Vice-Admiral Leo Jacobsen
• As well as hosting the High Seas Fleet, other units were also under the direct command of the North Sea Station commander:
• 2nd Seaman Division
• 2nd Marine Artillery Division
• 3rd Marine Artillery Division
• 4th Marine Artillery Division
• 2nd Torpedo Division
• 2nd Battalion of Marines

In addition to its two major bases in Germany, the Imperial German Navy had a number of units stationed overseas.

File:Friedrich von Ingenohl pre-1915.jpg

File:First and second battleship squadrons and small cruiser of the - NARA - 533188-2 restored.jpg

File:SMS Seydlitz moored in harbour c1914.jpg

The High Seas Fleet (Hochseeflotte) was the primary formation of the Imperial German Navy, with its main element being the three operational battle squadrons to which the navy's battleships were assigned. The majority of units of the High Seas Fleet were stationed at Wilhelmshaven for operations in the North Sea. A small force was stationed at Kiel for use in the Baltic, which could be quickly reinforced by North Sea based units via the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal. The High Seas Fleet was under the command of Admiral Friedrich von Ingenohl, whose flagship was the battleship Friedrich der Grosse.{{cite web |url=http://www.gwpda.org/naval/fdgn0001.htm |title=Imperial German Navy Deployment, 1914 |last=Alton |first=Dave |date=2 September 2002 |website=The WWI Document Archive |publisher= |access-date=26 February 2022 |quote=}}

• {{SMS|Friedrich der Grosse||6}} - Fleet Flagship

{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}

• 1st Squadron (Vice-Admiral von Lans)
• 1st Division
• {{SMS|Helgoland|1909|6}}
• {{SMS|Oldenburg||6}}
• {{SMS|Ostfriesland||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Thüringen||6}}
• 2nd Division (Rear-Admiral Gadeke)
• {{SMS|Nassau||6}}
• {{SMS|Posen||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Rheinland||6}}
• {{SMS|Westfalen||6}}
• 2nd Squadron (Vice-Admiral Scheer)
• 3rd Division
• {{SMS|Deutschland|1904|6}}
• {{SMS|Hessen||6}}
• {{SMS|Lothringen||6}}
• {{SMS|Preussen|1903|6}} (Flagship)
• 4th Division (Kommodore Mauve)
• {{SMS|Hannover||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Pommern||6}}
• {{SMS|Schlesien||6}}
• {{SMS|Schleswig-Holstein||6}}
• 3rd Squadron (Rear-Admiral Funke)
• 5th Division
• The 5th Division was formed of battleships of the {{sclass|König|battleship|5}} class. The first to be commissioned was {{SMS|Grosser Kurfürst|1913|2}} on 30 July, which was undergoing sea trials on the outbreak of war. The remaining three ships were commissioned through the remainder of 1914.Tarrant, p. 286{{efn|name="v division"|group=note|The remaining three ships of the division were {{SMS|König||2}} (commissioned 10 August 1914); {{SMS|Markgraf||2}} (commissioned 1 October 1914); and {{SMS|Kronprinz||2}} (commissioned 8 November 1914).}}
• 6th Division
• {{SMS|Kaiser|1911|6}}
• {{SMS|Kaiserin||6}}
• {{SMS|König Albert||6}}
• {{SMS|Prinzregent Luitpold||6}} (Flagship)

{{div col end}}

{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}

• 4th Squadron (Vice-Admiral Schmidt)
• 7th Division
• {{SMS|Mecklenburg||6}}
• {{SMS|Schwaben||6}}
• {{SMS|Wettin||6}}
• {{SMS|Wittelsbach||6}} (Flagship)
• 8th Division (Rear-Admiral Alberts)
• {{SMS|Braunschweig||6}}
• {{SMS|Elsass||6}}
• {{SMS|Zähringen||6}}
• 5th Squadron (Vice-Admiral Grabow)
• 9th Division
• {{SMS|Kaiser Barbarossa||6}}
• {{SMS|Kaiser Wilhelm II||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse||6}}
• 10th Division (Kommodore Begas)
• {{SMS|Brandenburg||6}}
• {{SMS|Kaiser Friedrich III||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Kaiser Karl der Grosse||6}}
• {{SMS|Wörth||6}}
• 6th Squadron (Rear-Admiral Eckermann)
• 11th Division
• {{SMS|Frithjof||6}}
• {{SMS|Hagen||6}}
• {{SMS|Heimdall||6}}
• {{SMS|Hildebrand||6}} (Flagship)
• 12th Division (Rear-Admiral Behring)
• {{SMS|Agir||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Beowulf||6}}
• {{SMS|Odin||6}}
• {{SMS|Siegfried||6}}

{{div col end}}

{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}

• 1st Scouting Group (Rear-Admiral Hipper)
• {{SMS|Blücher||6}}
• {{SMS|Moltke||6}}
• {{SMS|Seydlitz||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Von der Tann||6}}
• 2nd Scouting Group (Rear-Admiral Maas)
• {{SMS|Cöln|1909|6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Kolberg||6}}{{efn|name=rostock|group=note}}
• {{SMS|Mainz||6}}
• {{SMS|Rostock||6}}{{efn|name=rostock|group=note|Rostock was attached to the battle fleet and Kolberg to the scouting groups as the leaders of the fleet's torpedo boats during fleet actions}}
• {{SMS|Stralsund||6}}
• {{SMS|Strassburg||6}}
• 3rd Scouting Group (No flag officer){{efn|name=swap|group=note|The 3rd and 4th Scouting Groups swapped identities on 25 August 1914}}
• {{SMS|Danzig||6}}
• {{SMS|Frauenlob||6}}
• {{SMS|Hela||6}}
• {{SMS|München||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Stuttgart||6}}
• 4th Scouting Group (Rear-Admiral Rebeur-Paschwitz){{efn|name=swap|group=note}}
• {{SMS|Prinz Adalbert|1901|6}}{{efn|name=adalbert|group=note|Prinz Adalbert was transferred to the Baltic Fleet in late August 1914}}
• {{SMS|Prinz Heinrich||6}}
• {{SMS|Roon||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Yorck||6}}
• 5th Scouting Group (Rear-Admiral Jasper){{efn|name=5scout|group=note|The ships of the 5th Scouting Group were assigned to the Baltic Station, but remained under the command of the High Seas Fleet until September 1914}}
• {{SMS|Hansa|1898|6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Hertha||6}}
• {{SMS|Victoria Louise||6}}
• {{SMS|Vineta|1897|6}}

{{div col end}}

{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}

• 1st Torpedo Boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|V187||6}} (Flotilla Leader)
• 1st Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|V188||6}}
• {{SMS|V189||6}}
• {{SMS|V190||6}}
• {{SMS|V191||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|G197||6}}
• 2nd Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|G192||6}}
• {{SMS|G193||6}}
• {{SMS|G194||6}}
• {{SMS|G195||6}}
• {{SMS|G196||6}} (Leader)
• 2nd Torpedo-Boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|S149||6}} (Flotilla Leader)
• 3rd Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S139||6}}
• {{SMS|S140||6}}
• {{SMS|S141||6}}
• {{SMS|S142||6}}
• {{SMS|S143||6}} (Leader){{efn|name=s143|group=note|S143 was sunk on 3 August 1914, and replaced by {{SMS|S138||2}}}}
• 4th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S144||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|S145||6}}
• {{SMS|S146||6}}
• {{SMS|S147||6}}
• {{SMS|S148||6}}
• 3rd Torpedo-Boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|S167||6}} (Flotilla Leader)
• 5th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|V162||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|V163||6}}
• {{SMS|V164||6}}
• {{SMS|S165||6}}
• {{SMS|S166||6}}
• 6th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S168||6}}
• {{SMS|S169||6}}
• {{SMS|G170||6}}
• {{SMS|G172||6}}
• {{SMS|G173||6}} (Leader)
• 4th Torpedo-Boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|G113||6}} (Flotilla Leader)
• 7th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S115||6}}
• {{SMS|S116||6}}
• {{SMS|S117||6}}
• {{SMS|S118||6}}
• {{SMS|S119||6}} (Leader)
• 8th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|G108||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|G109||6}}
• {{SMS|G110||6}}
• {{SMS|G111||6}}
• {{SMS|G112||6}}
• 5th Torpedo-Boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|G12||6}} (Flotilla Leader)
• 9th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|V2||6}}
• {{SMS|V3||6}}
• {{SMS|V4||6}}
• {{SMS|V5||6}}
• {{SMS|V6||6}} (Leader)
• 10th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|G7||6}}
• {{SMS|G8||6}}
• {{SMS|G9||6}}
• {{SMS|G10||6}}
• {{SMS|G11||6}} (Leader)
• 6th Torpedo-Boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|V161||6}} (Flotilla Leader)
• 11th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|V151||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|V152||6}}
• {{SMS|V153||6}}
• {{SMS|V154||6}}
• {{SMS|V155||6}}
• 12th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|V156||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|V157||6}}
• {{SMS|V158||6}}
• {{SMS|V159||6}}
• {{SMS|V160||6}}
• 7th Torpedo-Boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|S24||6}} (Flotilla Leader)
• 13th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S14||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|S15||6}}
• {{SMS|S16||6}}
• {{SMS|S17||6}}
• {{SMS|S18||6}}
• 14th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S19||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|S20||6}}
• {{SMS|S21||6}}
• {{SMS|S22||6}}
• {{SMS|S23||6}}
• 8th Torpedo-Boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|G175||6}} (Flotilla Leader)
• 15th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S121||6}}
• {{SMS|S126||6}}
• {{SMS|S128||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|S130||6}}
• {{SMS|S131||6}}
• 16th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S120||6}}
• {{SMS|G134||6}}
• {{SMS|S176||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|S177||6}}
• {{SMS|S179||6}}

{{div col end}}

{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}

• 1st U-boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|Hamburg||6}} (Flotilla Leader){{efn|name=hamburg|group=note|Hamburg was attached to the 4th Scouting Group as the leader of the fleet's u-boats during fleet actions}}
• 1st Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|V150||6}} (Leader)
• {{ship|SM|U-5||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-6||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-7||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-8||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-9||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-10||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-11||6}}
• 2nd Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S99||6}} (Leader)
• {{ship|SM|U-12||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-13||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-14||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-15||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-16||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-17||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-18||6}}
• 2nd U-boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|Stettin||6}} (Flotilla Leader)
• 3rd Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S100||6}} (Leader)
• {{ship|SM|U-19||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-20||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-21||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-22||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-24||6}}
• 4th Half-Flotilla
• {{SMS|S101||6}} (Leader)
• {{ship|SM|U-23||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-25||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-26||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-27||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-28||6}}

{{div col end}}

{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}

• 1st Minesweeping Division
• {{SMS|D3||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|T24||6}}
• {{SMS|T38||6}}
• {{SMS|T42||6}}
• {{SMS|T43||6}}
• {{SMS|T44||6}}
• {{SMS|T45||6}}
• {{SMS|T74||6}}
• {{SMS|T75||6}}
• {{SMS|T76||6}}
• {{SMS|T77||6}}
• {{SMS|T78||6}}
• {{SMS|T79||6}}
• {{SMS|T80||6}}
• {{SMS|T81||6}}
• 2nd Minesweeping Division
• {{SMS|D6||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|T28||6}}
• {{SMS|T30||6}}
• {{SMS|T39||6}}
• {{SMS|T46||6}}
• {{SMS|T47||6}}
• {{SMS|T49||6}}
• {{SMS|T50||6}}
• {{SMS|T51||6}}
• {{SMS|T52||6}}
• {{SMS|T53||6}}
• {{SMS|T54||6}}
• {{SMS|T55||6}}
• {{SMS|T56||6}}
• {{SMS|T57||6}}
• 3rd Minesweeping Division
• {{SMS|D8||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|T25||6}}
• {{SMS|T29||6}}
• {{SMS|T31||6}}
• {{SMS|T33||6}}
• {{SMS|T34||6}}
• {{SMS|T35||6}}
• {{SMS|T36||6}}
• {{SMS|T37||6}}
• {{SMS|T40||6}}
• {{SMS|T41||6}}
• {{SMS|T71||6}}
• {{SMS|T72||6}}
• {{SMS|T73||6}}
• Minelayers
• {{SMS|Nautilus|1906|6}}
• {{SMS|Albatross|1907|6}}
• {{SMS|Pelikan||6}}

{{div col end}}

{{Location map+|Lower Saxony

|width=270

|float=right

|caption=Locations of the North Sea coast defence units

|places =

{{location map~ |Lower Saxony |lat=53.861111 |long=8.694444|mark=Red pog.png |label=Elbe |label_size=85 |position=bottom}}

{{location map~ |Lower Saxony |lat=53.516667 |long=8.133333|mark=Red pog.png |label=Jade / Weser |label_size=85 |position=top}}

{{location map~ |Lower Saxony |lat=53.366944 |long=7.206111|mark=Red pog.png |label=Ems |label_size=85 |position=top}}

{{location map~ |Lower Saxony |lat=54.1825|long=7.885278|mark=Red pog.png |label=Heligoland |label_size=85 |position=top}}

}}

A number of small units were formed whose primary purpose was coastal and harbour defence of the various naval bases in and around Wilhelmshaven. These usually consisted of one or more light cruisers, commanding a number of torpedo-boat destroyers and other vessels.

{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}

• Coast Defence Division Ems
• {{SMS|Arcona|1902|6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|D9||6}}
• {{SMS|T87||6}}
• {{SMS|T87||6}}
• Coast Defence Division Jade/Weser
• {{SMS|Ariadne||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|Berlin||6}}
• {{SMS|Niobe||6}}
• {{SMS|D2||6}}
• {{SMS|S103||6}}
• {{SMS|S107||6}}
• {{SMS|T61||6}}
• {{SMS|T62||6}}
• {{SMS|T66||6}}
• {{SMS|T68||6}}
• {{SMS|Zieten||6}}
• {{SMS|Drache||6}}
• {{SMS|Hay||6}}
• {{SMS|Blitz||6}}
• Coast Defence Division Elbe
• {{SMS|Medusa||6}}
• {{SMS|Nymphe||6}} (Leader)
• {{SMS|T59||6}}
• {{SMS|T64||6}}
• {{SMS|T67||6}}
• {{SMS|T69||6}}
• {{SMS|S92||6}}
• {{SMS|S114||6}}
• {{SMS|Fuchs||6}}
• {{SMS|Pfeil||6}}
• {{SMS|Hyane||6}}
• Outpost Half-Flotilla Helgoland
• {{SMS|D7||6}}
• {{SMS|T82||6}}
• {{SMS|T83||6}}
• {{SMS|T84||6}}
• {{SMS|T86||6}}
• {{SMS|Helga||6}}

{{div col end}}

File:Prince Henry of Prussia.jpg

Although part of the High Seas Fleet, the force stationed permanently at Kiel for operations in the Baltic operated with a degree of independence. Grand Admiral Prince Heinrich of Prussia, the brother of Kaiser Wilhelm II, was the commander-in-chief of the Baltic Fleet,{{efn|name=heinrich|group=note|Prince Heinrich also served as the Inspector-General of the Navy}} with Rear-Admiral Robert Mischke in operational command of units at sea.

{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}

• Cruisers
• {{SMS|Amazone||6}}
• {{SMS|Augsburg||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Freya}}
• {{SMS|Friedrich Carl||6}}
• {{SMS|Gazelle||6}}
• {{SMS|Lubeck||6}}
• {{SMS|Magdeburg||6}}
• {{SMS|Panther||6}}
• {{SMS|Thetis||6}}
• {{SMS|Undine||6}}
• Torpedo-Boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|D1||6}}
• {{SMS|V25||6}}
• {{SMS|V26||6}}
• {{SMS|S91||6}}
• {{SMS|S93||6}}
• {{SMS|S94||6}}
• {{SMS|S97||6}}
• {{SMS|S102||6}}
• {{SMS|S127||6}}
• {{SMS|V186||6}}
• U-boat Flotilla
• {{SMS|D10||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-1||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-2||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-3||6}}
• {{ship|SM|U-4||6}}

{{div col end}}

{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}

• Torpedo-Boats
• {{SMS|T27||6}}
• {{SMS|T58||6}}
• {{SMS|T60||6}}
• {{SMS|T63||6}}
• {{SMS|T65||6}}
• Other ships
• {{SMS|Delphin||6}}
• {{SMS|Hyane||6}}
• {{SMS|Primus||6}}

{{div col end}}

File:LZ 24 'L 3'.jpg

The Imperial German Navy had a small aviation capability, which was originally formed in 1913 when the Kaiser decreed the foundation of the Naval Aviation Forces (Marinefliegerkräfte). Within the newly formed aviation section were two separate commands - the Naval Airship Detachment, based at Nordholz, near Cuxhaven, and the Naval Flying Detachment, which was split between Kiel, Heligoland and Putzig.{{cite web |url=https://www.japcc.org/100-years-of-german-naval-aviation/ |title=100 Years of German Naval Aviation: A Continuous Change from the Beginning |last=Neumann |first=Arndt |date=14 September 2014 |website=Joint Air Power Competence Center |publisher= |access-date=26 February 2022 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2020/10/08/the-birth-of-german-naval-aviation/ |title=The Birth of German Naval Aviation |author= |date=8 October 2020 |website=Weapons and Warfare |publisher= |access-date=26 February 2022 |quote=}}

• Naval Airship Detachment{{efn|name=zeppelin|group=note|The airship detachment had a single operational airship on the outbreak of war. By the end of 1914, another five had been commissioned}}
• Zeppelin L 3
• Naval Flying Detachment
• 1st Naval Flying Detachment
• Kiel Detachment
• Heligoland Detachment
• Putzig Detachment

{{multiple image

| align = right

| total_width = 320

| image1 = Vonspee1.JPG

| alt1 = Naval officer in dress uniform looking at the camera

| caption1 = Vice-Admiral Spee

| image2 = Vonsouchonadmiral.jpg

| alt2 = Naval officer in dress uniform looking to the right

| caption2 = Rear-Admiral Souchon

}}

In addition to the main body of the Imperial German Navy stationed in home waters, Germany also maintained a number of overseas deployments of ships. The majority of these were usually of one or two cruisers operating independently, with the primary formations of German warships outside German waters being the East Asia Squadron, under the command of Vice-Admiral Maximilian von Spee,Bassett, p. 55{{cite web |url=https://thecritic.co.uk/the-great-war-in-the-south-atlantic/ |title=The Great War in the South Atlantic |author= |date=8 December 2021 |website=The Critic |publisher= |access-date=26 February 2022 |quote=}} and the Mediterranean Division, commanded by Rear-Admiral Wilhelm Souchon.Bassett, p. 40 These units operated independently of the High Seas Fleet.

{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}

• East Asia Squadron (Vice-Admiral Spee)
• {{SMS|Gneisenau||6}}
• {{SMS|Scharnhorst||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Emden||6}}
• {{SMS|Leipzig||6}}
• {{SMS|Nurnburg||6}}
• {{SMS|Cormoran|1892|6}}
• {{SMS|Prinz Eitel Friedrich||6}}
• {{SMS|S90||6}}
• {{SMS|Iltis||6}}
• {{SMS|Jaguar||6}}
• {{SMS|Tiger||6}}
• {{SMS|Luchs||6}}
• {{SMS|Vaterland||6}}
• {{SMS|Otter||6}}
• {{SMS|Tsingtau||6}}
• Mediterranean Division (Rear-Admiral Souchon)
• {{SMS|Goeben||6}} (Flagship)
• {{SMS|Breslau||6}}
• {{SMS|Loreley|1885|6}}
• American station
• {{SMS|Karlsruhe||6}}
• {{SMS|Dresden||6}}
• East African station
• {{SMS|Königsberg|1905|6}}
• {{SMS|Möwe|1906|6}}
• West African station
• {{SMS|Eber||6}}
• South Sea station
• {{SMS|Geier||6}}
• {{SMS|Planet||6}}

{{div col end}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Bassett|first=Ronald|title=Battle-Cruisers: A History 1908-1948|year=1981|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=0-333-28164-0|location=London}}
• {{cite book |last=Herwig|first=Holger H. |title='Luxury Fleet', The Imperial German Navy 1888-1918 |publisher= The Ashfield Press |location=London |year=1980 |isbn= 0-948660-03-1}}
• {{cite book |last=Tarrant|first=V. E.|title=Jutland: The German Perspective|year=1995|publisher=Cassell Military Paperbacks|isbn=0-304-35848-7|location=London}}