View source for SMS Kaiser (1911)

{{Use shortened footnotes|date=October 2022}}
{{Short description|Battleship of the German Imperial Navy}}
{{other ships|SMS Kaiser}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{| {{Infobox ship begin}}
|+ SMS ''Kaiser''
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-61-83, Linienschiff "SMS Kaiser".jpg
| Ship image size = 300
| Ship caption = SMS {{lang|de|Kaiser}}
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header =
| Ship country = [[German Empire]]
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|German Empire|naval}}
| Ship name = {{lang|de|Kaiser}}
| Ship builder = {{lang|de|[[Kaiserliche Werft Kiel|Kaiserliche Werft]]}}, [[Kiel]]
| Ship laid down = December 1909
| Ship launched = 22 March 1911
| Ship commissioned = 1 August 1912
| Ship fate = Scuttled at Scapa Flow, 21 June 1919
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header =
| Header caption =
| Ship class ={{sclass|Kaiser|battleship}}
| Ship displacement =
* [[Normal displacement|Normal]]: {{cvt|24724|t|LT|lk=on}}
* [[Full-load displacement|Full load]]: {{cvt|27000|t|LT}}
| Ship length ={{convert|172.40|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam ={{convert|29|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship draft ={{convert|9.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion =
* 3 × [[steam turbine]]s
* 3 × screw [[propeller]]s
| Ship power=
*16 × [[water-tube boiler]]s
*{{convert|20,594|kW|ihp|lk=in|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| Ship speed ={{convert|23.4|kn}}
| Ship range ={{convert|7,900|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn}}
| Ship crew =
* 41 officers
* 1,043 enlisted
| Ship time to activate =
| Ship armament =
* 10 × [[30.5 cm SK L/50 gun|{{cvt|30.5|cm|0}} guns]]
* 14 × [[15 cm SK L/45|{{convert|15|cm|abbr=on}}]]
* 12 × [[8.8 cm SK L/45 naval gun|{{convert|8.8|cm|in|abbr=on}}]]
* 5 × {{cvt|50|cm|1}} [[torpedo tube]]s
| Ship armor =
* [[Belt armor|Belt]] {{cvt|350|mm|1}}
* [[Conning tower]]: {{cvt|400|mm|1}}
* [[gun turret|Turrets]]: {{cvt|300|mm|1}}
| Ship notes =
}}
|}

'''SMS {{lang|de|Kaiser}}'''{{efn|name=SMS|"SMS" stands for "{{lang|de|[[Seiner Majestät Schiff]]}}" ({{langx|de|His Majesty's Ship}}).}} was the [[lead ship]] of the {{sclass|Kaiser|battleship|4}} of [[dreadnought battleship]]s of the [[Imperial German Navy]]. {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was built by the [[Kaiserliche Werft Kiel|Imperial Dockyard]] at [[Kiel]], [[ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 22 March 1911 and commissioned on 1 August 1912. The ship was equipped with ten {{convert|30.5|cm|in|sp=us|adj=on|0}} guns in five twin turrets, and had a top speed of {{convert|23.4|kn}}. {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was assigned to [[III Battle Squadron]] of the [[High Seas Fleet]] for the majority of [[World War I]].

In 1913, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} and her sister {{SMS|König Albert||2}} conducted a cruise to South America and South Africa. The ship participated in most of the major fleet operations during the war. She fought at the [[Battle of Jutland]] on 31 May – 1 June 1916, during which she was hit twice and suffered negligible damage. The ship was also present during [[Operation Albion]] in the [[Baltic Sea]] in September and October 1917, and at the [[Second Battle of Heligoland Bight]] in November 1917.

During peace negotiations after the end of the war in 1918, she was interned with other ships of the High Seas Fleet at [[Scapa Flow]]. On 21 June 1919 the commander of the interned fleet, Rear Admiral [[Ludwig von Reuter]], [[Scuttling of the German fleet at Scapa Flow|ordered the fleet to be scuttled]] to ensure that the British would not be able to seize the ships. The wreck was raised in 1929 and [[ship breaking|broken up]] in [[Rosyth]] in 1930.

== Design ==
{{main|Kaiser-class battleship}}

The German 1909 construction program included the last two members of the {{sclass|Helgoland|battleship|1}}s, along with two additional [[dreadnought]]s to be built to a new design. The primary change was intended to be the adoption of [[steam turbine]]s in favor of [[triple-expansion steam engine]]s used in the earlier vessels. The space savings of turbines permitted a more efficient [[superfiring]] arrangement of the [[main battery]], along the same model as the {{sclass|Moltke|battlecruiser|1}}s. The new ships' armor layout was significant improved over earlier designs; the ''Kaiser'' class was also far superior in defensive characteristics to their British counterparts of the {{sclass|King George V|battleship|5||1911}} and {{sclass|Iron Duke|battleship|4}}es, even if markedly inferior in terms of firepower.{{sfn|Dodson|pp=84–85}}

[[File:Kaiser-class plan and profile.png|thumb|left|Plan and profile drawing of the ''Kaiser'' class|alt=A large warship with five gun turrets, two tall masts, two funnels, and heavy armor protection.]]

The ship was {{convert|172.40|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long [[Length overall|overall]] and [[displacement (ship)|displaced]] a maximum of {{convert|27,000|t|LT|sp=us|-1|lk=on}} at [[full load]]. She had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|29|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and a [[draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|9.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}} forward and {{convert|8.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}} aft. {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was powered by three sets of Parsons [[turbine]]s, supplied with steam by sixteen coal-fired [[water-tube boiler]]s. The powerplant produced a top speed of {{convert|23.4|kn|lk=in}}. She carried {{convert|3600|t|LT|sp=us}} of coal, which enabled a maximum range of {{convert|7900|nmi|sp=us}} at a cruising speed of {{convert|12|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|p=26}}

{{lang|de|Kaiser}} was armed with a [[main battery]] of ten [[30.5 cm SK L/50 gun]]s in five twin turrets.{{sfn|Gröner|p=26}}{{efn| In Imperial German Navy gun nomenclature, "SK" ({{lang|de|Schnelladekanone}}) denotes that the gun is quick loading, while the L/50 denotes the length of the gun. In this case, the L/50 gun is 50 [[Caliber (artillery)|calibers]], meaning that the gun is 45 times as long as it is in [[Caliber|bore]] diameter.{{sfn|Grießmer|p=177}}}} The ship dispensed with the inefficient hexagonal arrangement of previous German battleships; instead, three of the five turrets were mounted on the [[centerline (nautical)|centerline]], with two of them arranged in a [[superfire|superfiring pair]] aft. The other two turrets were placed [[Glossary of nautical terms (A-L)#en echelon|''en echelon'']] amidships, so that both could fire on the [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]].{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=4}} The ship was also armed with a [[secondary armament|secondary battery]] of fourteen [[15 cm SK L/45|{{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/45 guns]] in [[casemate]]s amidships. For close-range defense against [[torpedo boat]]s, she carried eight [[8.8 cm SK L/45 naval gun|{{convert|8.8|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/45 guns]] in casemates. The ship was also armed with four 8.8&nbsp;cm L/45 anti-aircraft guns. The ship's armament was rounded out by five {{cvt|50|cm|1}} [[torpedo tube]]s, all mounted in the ship's [[hull (watercraft)|hull]]; one was in the bow, and the other four were on the broadside.{{sfn|Gröner|p=26}}

Her main [[belt armor|armored belt]] was {{cvt|350|mm|1}} thick in the central [[armored citadel|citadel]], and was composed of [[Krupp cemented armour|Krupp cemented armor]] (KCA). Her main battery gun turrets were protected by {{cvt|300|mm|1}} of KCA on the sides and faces. {{lang|de|Kaiser}}{{'}}s [[conning tower]] was heavily armored, with {{cvt|400|mm|1}} sides.{{sfn|Gröner|p=26}}

== Service history ==
Ordered under the contract name {{lang|de|Ersatz Hildebrand}} as a replacement for the obsolete [[coastal defense ship]] {{SMS|Hildebrand||2}},{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=4}}{{efn|name=provisional names|German warships were ordered under provisional names. For new additions to the fleet, they were given a single letter; for those ships intended to replace older or lost vessels, they were ordered as "Ersatz (name of the ship to be replaced)".}} {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was [[keel laying|laid down]] at the [[Kaiserliche Werft Kiel|Imperial Dockyard]] in [[Kiel]] in September 1909.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=10}} The hull was completed by 22 March 1911, when the ship was [[ceremonial ship launching|launched]]; this date was specifically chosen, as it was the birthday of {{lang|de|[[Kaiser]]}} (Emperor) [[William I, German Emperor|Wilhelm I]]. His grandson, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} [[Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Wilhelm II]], attended the launching ceremony,{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=18}} where German [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]] [[Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg]] gave a speech while {{lang|de|Kaiserin}} (Empress) [[Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein|Augusta Victoria]] christened the ship. Fitting-out work then began, which was completed by the end of July 1912. On 1 August, the ship was commissioned for [[sea trial]]s. These were concluded by 7 December; the following day {{lang|de|Kaiser}} joined the fleet as the flagship of V Division. Her crew consisted largely of men who had been transferred from the recently decommissioned battleships {{SMS|Elsass||2}} and {{SMS|Braunschweig||2}}.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=10}}

[[File:SMS Kaiser.png|thumb|left|{{lang|de|Kaiser}} in 1912]]

After joining the active fleet in December 1912, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was stationed in Kiel. The ship then conducted individual training. In February 1913, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was transferred to [[Wilhelmshaven]], along with her sister ship {{SMS|Friedrich der Grosse|1911|2}}. She then took part in several training exercises with the rest of the [[High Seas Fleet]]. These included maneuvers in the [[North Sea]] in March and April, artillery drills in the Baltic at the end of the month, and further fleet maneuvers in May. In June, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} took part in the [[Kiel Week]] regatta. Kaiser Wilhelm II and Italian King [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy|Victor Emmanuel III]] inspected the ship. The annual summer cruise to Norway was conducted in July and August, followed immediately by the autumn maneuvers in August and September.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=10}} In September 1913, Captain [[Adolf von Trotha]] became the ship's commanding officer, a post he held until January 1916.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=17}}

{{lang|de|Kaiser}} was selected to participate in a long-distance cruise to test the reliability of the new turbine propulsion system. The ship was joined by her sister {{SMS|König Albert||2}} and the [[light cruiser]] {{SMS|Strassburg||2}} in a special "Detached Division". The trio departed Germany on 9 December 1913 and proceeded to the [[German West Africa|German colonies]] in western Africa. The ships visited [[Lomé]] in [[Togoland]], [[Douala|Duala]] and Victoria in [[Kamerun]], and [[Swakopmund]] in [[German South-West Africa]].{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|pp=10–11}} From Africa, the ships sailed to [[St. Helena]] and then on to [[Rio de Janeiro]], arriving on 15 February 1914. {{lang|de|Strassburg}} was detached to visit [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina before returning to meet the two battleships in [[Montevideo]], Uruguay. The three ships sailed south around [[Cape Horn]] and then north to [[Valparaiso]], Chile, arriving on 2 April and remaining for over a week.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 1)|p=11}}

On 11 April, the ships departed Valparaiso for the long journey back to Germany. On the return trip, the ships visited several more ports, including [[Bahía Blanca]], Argentina, before returning to Rio de Janeiro. On 16 May the ships left Rio de Janeiro for the Atlantic leg of the journey; they stopped in [[Cape Verde]], [[Madeira]], and [[Vigo]], Spain while en route to Germany. {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, {{lang|de|König Albert}}, and {{lang|de|Strassburg}} arrived in Kiel on 17 June 1914. In the course of the voyage, the ships traveled some {{convert|20000|nmi|sp=us}}. A week later, on 24 June, the Detached Division was dissolved and {{lang|de|Kaiser}} returned to III Squadron. {{lang|de|Kaiser}} then participated in squadron exercises in July.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 1)|p=11}} {{lang|de|Kaiser}} joined the High Seas Fleet for its annual summer cruise to Norway in July 1914,{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 1)|p=11}} about two weeks after the [[Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria|assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand]] in [[Sarajevo]]. As a result of rising international tensions, the cruise was cut short and the German fleet was back in Wilhelmshaven by 29 July.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 1)|p=11}} At midnight on 4 August, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany.{{sfn|Herwig|p=144}}

=== World War I ===
[[File:SMS Kaiser turrets aft2.jpg|thumb|{{lang|de|Kaiser}}{{'}}s rear superfiring turrets|alt=Two large gun turrets on a battleship]]

The High Seas Fleet, including {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, conducted a number of sweeps and advances into the North Sea. The first occurred on 2–3 November 1914, though no British forces were encountered. Admiral [[Friedrich von Ingenohl]], the commander of the High Seas Fleet, adopted a strategy in which the battlecruisers of Rear Admiral [[Franz von Hipper]]'s [[I Scouting Group]] raided British coastal towns to lure out portions of the [[Grand Fleet]] where they could be destroyed by the High Seas Fleet.{{sfn|Herwig|pp=149–150}} The [[raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby]] on 15–16 December 1914 was the first such operation.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=31}} On the evening of 15 December, the German battle fleet of some twelve [[dreadnought]]s—including {{lang|de|Kaiser}} and her four [[sister ship|sisters]]—and eight [[pre-dreadnought battleship|pre-dreadnoughts]] came to within {{convert|10|nmi|abbr=on}} of an isolated squadron of six British battleships. However, skirmishes between the rival [[destroyer]] screens in the darkness convinced Ingenohl that he was faced with the entire Grand Fleet. Under orders from Kaiser Wilhelm II to avoid risking the fleet unnecessarily, Ingenohl broke off the engagement and turned the battlefleet back toward Germany.{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=31–33}}

Following the loss of {{SMS|Blücher}} at the [[Battle of Dogger Bank (1915)|Battle of Dogger Bank]] in January 1915, the Kaiser removed Ingenohl from his post on 2 February. Admiral [[Hugo von Pohl]] replaced him as commander of the fleet.{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=43–44}} Pohl conducted a series of fleet advances in 1915 in which {{lang|de|Kaiser}} took part; in the first one on 29–30 March, the fleet steamed out to the north of [[Terschelling]] and return without incident. Another followed on 17–18 April, where {{lang|de|Kaiser}} and the rest of the fleet covered a mining operation by II Scouting Group. Three days later, on 21–22 April, the High Seas Fleet advanced towards the [[Dogger Bank]], though again failed to meet any British forces.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=15}} {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was in dock in Kiel for periodic maintenance during the operation on 17–18 May,{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 1)|p=11}} but she was back with the fleet for the sortie on 29–30 May, during which the fleet advanced as far as [[Schiermonnikoog]] before being forced to turn back by inclement weather. On 10 August, the fleet steamed to the north of [[Helgoland]] to cover the return of the [[auxiliary cruiser]] {{SMS|Meteor|auxiliary cruiser|2}}. A month later, on 11–12 September, the fleet covered another mine-laying operation off the [[Swarte Bank]]. The last operation of the year, conducted on 23–24 October, was an advance without result in the direction of [[Horns Reef]].{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=15}}

On 12 January 1916, Admiral [[Reinhard Scheer]] replaced Pohl as the fleet commander.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=15}} {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was present during the fleet advance on 5–7 March, though this too ended without action. While in port in Kiel, the old pre-dreadnought {{SMS|Hannover||2}} accidentally collided with {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, though neither ship was seriously damaged. Scheer continued the series of fleet operations practiced by his predecessors; the fleet conducted sweeps of the North Sea on 26 March, 2–3 April, and 21–22 April. The battlecruisers conducted another [[Bombardment of Yarmouth and Lowestoft|raid on the English coast]] on 24–25 April, during which {{lang|de|Kaiser}} and the rest of the fleet provided distant support.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 1)|p=11}} Scheer planned another raid for mid-May, but the battlecruiser {{SMS|Seydlitz||2}} had struck a mine during the previous raid and the repair work forced the operation to be pushed back until the end of the month.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=58}}

==== Battle of Jutland ====
{{main|Battle of Jutland}}
[[File:Map of the Battle of Jutland, 1916.svg|thumb|Diagram of the Battle of Jutland showing the major movements|alt=The German fleet sailed to the north and met the British fleet sailing from the west; both fleets conducted a series of turns and maneuvers during the chaotic battle.]]

Almost immediately after the Lowestoft raid, Scheer began planning another foray into the North Sea. He had initially intended to launch the operation in mid-May, by which time the mine damage to {{lang|de|Seydlitz}} was scheduled to be repaired—Scheer was unwilling to embark on a major raid without his battlecruiser forces at full strength. On 9 May, however, several battleships developed problems with their engines, which delayed the operation further, to 23 May.{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=55–56}} On 22 May, {{lang|de|Seydlitz}} was still not fully repaired, and the operation was again postponed, this time to 29 May.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=58}} At noon on 29 May, the repairs to {{lang|de|Seydlitz}} were finally completed, and the ship returned to I Scouting Group.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=62}} The plan called for Hipper's battlecruisers to steam north to the [[Skagerrak]], with the intention of luring out a portion of the British fleet so it could be destroyed by Scheer's waiting battleships.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=61}}

{{lang|de|Kaiser}} and the rest of III Battle Squadron were the leading unit of the High Seas Fleet; the four {{sclass|König|battleship|2}}s led the line. {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, the flagship of {{lang|de|Konteradmiral}} H. Nordmann, was directly astern of the four {{lang|de|König}}s. I Battle Squadron, composed of the eight {{sclass|Helgoland|battleship|5}}- and {{sclass|Nassau|battleship|2}}s, followed III Squadron, with the six elderly pre-dreadnoughts of II Battle Squadron bringing up the rear.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=286}} Hipper's five battlecruisers left the [[Jadebusen|Jade estuary]] at 02:00 on 31 May; Scheer, with the High Seas Fleet, followed an hour and a half later.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=62}}

Shortly before 16:00&nbsp;[[Central European Time|CET]],{{efn|name=CET times|The times mentioned in this section are in [[Central European Time|CET]], which is congruent with the German perspective. This is one hour ahead of [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], the time zone commonly used in British works.}} the battlecruisers of I Scouting Group encountered the British 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, under the command of David Beatty. The opposing ships began an artillery duel that saw the destruction of {{HMS|Indefatigable|1909|2}}, shortly after 17:00,{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=94–95}} and {{HMS|Queen Mary||2}}, less than half an hour later.{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=100–101}} By this time, the German battlecruisers were steaming south in order to draw the British ships towards the main body of the High Seas Fleet. At 17:30, {{lang|de|König}}{{'}}s crew spotted both I Scouting Group and the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron approaching. The German battlecruisers were steaming to starboard, while the British ships steamed to port. At 17:45, Scheer ordered a two-point turn to port to bring his ships closer to the British battlecruisers, and a minute later at 17:46, the order to open fire was given.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=110}}

Between 17:48 and 17:52, {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, {{lang|de|Kronprinz}}, {{lang|de|Friedrich der Grosse}}, and all eight battleships of I Squadron opened fire on several ships of the [[2nd Light Cruiser Squadron]]; {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, {{SMS|Ostfriesland||2}}, and {{SMS|Nassau||2}} engaged {{HMS|Southampton|1912|6}}, though only {{lang|de|Nassau}} managed to score a hit on the cruiser.{{sfn|Campbell|p=54}} In the span of eight minutes, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} fired eleven salvos at ''Southampton'' without success.{{sfn|Campbell|p=99}} The 2nd LCS then moved back out of range, having largely escaped unscathed.{{sfn|Campbell|p=54}} At 17:58, Scheer ordered the fleet to maximum speed; the greater speed of the {{lang|de|König}}s caused the distance between {{lang|de|Kaiser}} and {{lang|de|König}} to rapidly increase. At 18:05, ''Southampton'' again came into range, and {{lang|de|Kaiser}} opened fire. {{lang|de|Kaiser}} fired four salvos at a range of {{convert|12000|m|yd|abbr=on}}, though again without scoring any hits. After three minutes of firing, {{lang|de|Kaiser}}{{'}}s guns again fell silent.{{sfn|Campbell|pp=98–99}}

[[File:SMS Kaiser illustration.jpg|thumb|Illustration of {{lang|de|Kaiser}} underway]]

Starting at 18:10, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} began firing on the 5th Battle Squadron battleship {{HMS|Malaya||2}}; in the span of 25 minutes, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} fired 27 salvos at an average range of {{convert|17300|m|yd|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Campbell|p=104}} The British destroyers {{HMS|Nestor|1915|2}} and {{HMS|Nomad||2}}, which had been disabled earlier in the engagement, lay directly in the path of the advancing High Seas Fleet.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=114}} Shortly before 18:30, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} and her three sister ships opened fire on ''Nomad'' with their secondary batteries. The hail of 15-cm shells smothered the ship; a fire was started and one shell detonated the ship's forward ammunition magazine. ''Nomad'' sank stern first at 18:30. ''Nestor'' was meanwhile destroyed by the battleships of I Squadron.{{sfn|Campbell|p=101}}

Shortly after 19:00, the German cruiser {{SMS|Wiesbaden||2}} had become disabled by a shell from the British battlecruiser {{HMS|Invincible|1907|2}}; Rear Admiral Behncke in {{lang|de|König}} attempted to maneuver III Squadron to cover the stricken cruiser.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=137}} Simultaneously, the British 3rd and 4th Light Cruiser Squadrons began a [[torpedo]] attack on the German line; while advancing to torpedo range, they smothered {{lang|de|Wiesbaden}} with fire from their main guns. The eight III Squadron battleships fired on the British cruisers, but even sustained fire from the battleships' main guns failed to drive off the British cruisers.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=138}} The armored cruisers {{HMS|Defence|1907|2}}, {{HMS|Warrior|1905|2}}, and {{HMS|Black Prince|1904|2}} joined in the attack on the crippled {{lang|de|Wiesbaden}}.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=139}} Between 19:14 and 19:17, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} and several other battleships and battlecruisers opened fire on ''Defence'' and ''Warrior''.{{sfn|Campbell|p=152}} ''Defence'' was struck by several heavy caliber shells from the German dreadnoughts. One salvo penetrated the ship's ammunition magazines and, in a massive explosion, destroyed the cruiser.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=140}}

As ''Warrior'' limped away to the west, the {{sclass|Queen Elizabeth|battleship|2}}s of the 5th Battle Squadron joined the Grand Fleet as it entered the battle from the north. However, {{HMS|Warspite|03|2}} was forced to haul out of line to the south, towards the oncoming German fleet.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=141}} ''Warspite'' came under intense fire from the approaching German battleships; {{lang|de|Kaiser}} scored a hit on ''Warspite'' that damaged her steering gear and forced her to steam in a circle, out of control.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|pp=11–12}} After completing two full circles and sustaining 13 heavy hits, ''Warspite'' came back under control and rejoined the squadron. However, by 20:00 the steering gear had again failed, so the ship was forced to withdraw from the engagement.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=143}}

By 20:15, the German fleet had faced the Grand Fleet for a second time and was forced to turn away; in doing so, the order of the German line was reversed. {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was now the fifth ship from the rear of the German line, ahead of only the four {{lang|de|König}}-class battleships.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=172}} {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was hit twice in quick succession by heavy-caliber shells, at 20:23 and three minutes later.{{sfn|Campbell|p=206}} The [[List of British ordnance terms#Common Pointed|Common Pointed, Capped]], shells came from the {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} guns of {{HMS|Agincourt|1913|2}}. One shell penetrated the upper deck and landed in a hammock stowage compartment below the No. 7 casemate; the shell failed to explode and instead broke up on impact, starting a small fire that was quickly put out. The other shell probably exploded outside the ship.{{sfn|Campbell|p=245}}

Shortly before 21:30, {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, {{lang|de|Prinzregent Luitpold}}, and {{SMS|Markgraf||2}} spotted British light forces approaching. The German ships opened fire at a range of around {{convert|7300|m|yd|abbr=on}} with both their main and secondary armament. The light cruiser {{HMS|Calliope|1914|2}} was badly damaged, which forced the British ships to withdraw.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=191}} At around 23:30, the German fleet reorganized into the night cruising formation. {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was the twelfth ship, in the center of the 24-ship line.{{sfn|Campbell|p=275}}

After a series of night engagements between the leading battleships and British destroyers, the High Seas Fleet punched through the British light forces and reached Horns Reef by 04:00 on 1&nbsp;June.{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=246–247}} The German fleet reached Wilhelmshaven a few hours later; the I Squadron battleships took up defensive positions in the outer [[roadstead]] and {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, {{lang|de|Kaiserin}}, {{lang|de|Prinzregent Luitpold}}, and {{lang|de|Kronprinz}} stood ready just outside the entrance to Wilhelmshaven.{{sfn|Campbell|p=320}} The remainder of the battleships and battlecruisers entered Wilhelmshaven, where those that were still in fighting condition replenished their stocks of coal and ammunition.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=263}} The two shell hits suffered by {{lang|de|Kaiser}} had been largely ineffectual, wounding only one crewmember.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=298}}

==== Subsequent operations ====
On 18 August, Admiral Scheer attempted a repeat of the 31 May operation; the two serviceable German battlecruisers—{{SMS|Moltke||2}} and {{SMS|Von der Tann||2}}—supported by three dreadnoughts, were to bombard the coastal town of [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]] in an attempt to draw out and destroy Beatty's battlecruisers. The rest of the fleet, including {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, would trail behind and provide cover.{{sfn|Massie|p=682}} The British were aware of the German plans and sortied the Grand Fleet to meet them, leading to the [[action of 19 August 1916]]. By 14:35, Admiral Scheer had been warned of the Grand Fleet's approach and, unwilling to engage the whole of the Grand Fleet just eleven weeks after the decidedly close call at Jutland, turned his forces around and retreated to German ports.{{sfn|Massie|p=683}}

Another fleet advance followed on 18–20 October, though it ended without encountering any British units. Two weeks later, on 4 November, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} took part in an expedition to the western coast of Denmark to assist two [[U-boat]]s—{{SMU|U-20|Germany|2}} and {{SMU|U-30|Germany|2}}—that had become stranded there. On 1 December, the High Seas Fleet was reorganized; {{lang|de|Kaiser}} and her sisters were transferred to the newly created IV Battle Squadron, with {{lang|de|Kaiser}} as the [[flagship]]. In 1917, the policy of [[unrestricted submarine warfare]] was reinstated; the surface units of the German navy were therefore tasked with covering the departures and arrivals of the U-boats. As a result, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} spent most of the year on picket duty in the [[German Bight]]. In May 1917, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} went into the dock for periodic maintenance.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 1)|p=11}}

==== Operation Albion ====
{{main|Operation Albion}}
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1970-074-34, Besetzung der Insel Ösel, Truppenanlandung.jpg|thumb|German troops landing at Ösel|alt=A small white boat filled with soldiers passes in front of a large warship with three tall funnels and several smaller transport ships.]]

In early September 1917, following the German Army's conquest of the Russian port of [[Riga]], the Navy decided to eliminate the Russian naval forces that still held the [[Gulf of Riga]]. The {{lang|de|Admiralstab}} (the Navy High Command) planned an operation to seize the Baltic island of [[Saaremaa|Ösel]], and specifically the Russian gun batteries on the [[Sõrve Peninsula|Sworbe peninsula]].{{sfn|Halpern|p=213}} On 18 September, the order was issued for a joint operation with the army to capture Ösel and [[Muhu|Moon]] islands; the primary naval component was organized into a Special Unit, which comprised the flagship, {{lang|de|Moltke}}, along with [[IV Battle Squadron]] of the High Seas Fleet. IV Squadron was composed of V and VI Divisions. V Division included the four {{lang|de|König}}-class ships, and was by this time augmented with the new battleship {{SMS|Bayern||2}}. VI Division consisted of the five {{lang|de|Kaiser}}-class battleships. Along with 9 light cruisers, 3 torpedo boat flotillas, and dozens of [[naval mine|mine]] warfare ships, the entire force numbered some 300 ships, supported by over 100 aircraft and 6 zeppelins. The invasion force amounted to approximately 24,600 officers and enlisted men.{{sfn|Halpern|pp=214–215}} Opposing the Germans were the old Russian pre-dreadnoughts {{ship|Russian battleship|Slava||2}} and {{ship|Russian battleship|Tsesarevich||2}}, the [[armored cruiser]]s {{ship|Russian cruiser|Bayan|1907|2}}, {{ship|Russian cruiser|Admiral Makarov||2}}, and {{ship|Russian cruiser|Diana||2}}, 26 destroyers, and several torpedo boats and gunboats. The garrison on Ösel numbered some 14,000 men.{{sfn|Halpern|p=215}}

On 24 September, {{lang|de|Kaiser}} left Kiel, bound for the [[Putziger Wiek]], where she rendezvoused with several other battleships. From there, the ship went to [[Liepāja|Libau]], which she reached on 10 October. Two days later, on the morning of 12 October, {{lang|de|Kaiser}}, joined by her sisters {{SMS|Kaiserin||2}} and {{SMS|Prinzregent Luitpold||2}}, opened fire on the Russian shore batteries at Cape Hundsort. On 14 October {{lang|de|Kaiser}} engaged the Russian destroyer {{ship|Russian destroyer|Grom||2}} and disabled the ship's engine with a single hit. {{lang|ru|Grom}} was captured and taken in tow, but she quickly foundered. {{lang|de|Kaiser}} then bombarded Russian positions on Cape Toffri on 16 October.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=12}}

By 20 October, the fighting on the islands was winding down; Moon, Ösel, and Dagö were in German possession. The previous day, the {{lang|de|Admiralstab}} had ordered the cessation of naval actions and the return of the dreadnoughts to the High Seas Fleet as soon as possible.{{sfn|Halpern|p=219}} On 31 October {{lang|de|Kaiser}} and the rest of the Special Unit were detached from the operation and sent back to Kiel, which they reached by 2 November. {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was back in the North Sea on 7 November.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=12}}

==== Final operations ====
{{lang|de|Kaiser}} and {{lang|de|Kaiserin}} were assigned to security duty in the Bight on 17 November; they were tasked with providing support to II Scouting Group (II SG) and several minesweepers.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=12}} Two British light cruisers, {{HMS|Calypso|D61|2}} and {{HMS|Caledon|D53|2}}, attacked the minesweepers and II SG in the [[Second Battle of Helgoland Bight]].{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=60}} {{lang|de|Kaiser}} and her sister intervened and hit one of the light cruisers.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=12}} The two ships briefly engaged the battlecruiser {{HMS|Repulse|1916|2}}, but neither side scored any hits{{sfn|Konstam|p=35}} and the German commander failed to press the attack.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=12}}

On 2 February 1918, the light cruiser {{SMS|Stralsund||2}} struck a mine; {{lang|de|Kaiser}} was among those ships that sortied to escort the damaged cruiser back to port. The ship was also present during the fleet advance on 23–24 April.{{sfn|Staff (Vol. 2)|p=12}} The operation was intended to intercept a heavily escorted British convoy to Norway on 23–25 April, though the operation was canceled when the battlecruiser {{lang|de|Moltke}} suffered mechanical damage.{{sfn|Massie|pp=748–749}} In the final months of the war, Captain [[Hermann Bauer]] took command of the ship; his period in command lasted from August to November.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=17}}

{{lang|de|Kaiser}} was to have taken part in a [[Naval order of 24 October 1918|final fleet action]] days before the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|Armistice]], an operation which envisioned the bulk of the High Seas Fleet sortieing from their base in Wilhelmshaven to engage the British Grand Fleet. In order to retain a better bargaining position for Germany, Admirals Hipper and Scheer intended to inflict as much damage as possible on the British navy, whatever the cost to the fleet.{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=280–281}} Consequently, on 29 October 1918, the order was given to depart from Wilhelmshaven to consolidate the fleet in the [[Jade Estuary|Jade]] roadstead, with the intention of departing the following morning. However, starting on the night of 29 October, sailors on {{SMS|Thüringen||2}} mutinied.{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=281–282}} The unrest spread to other battleships, which forced Hipper and Scheer to cancel the operation.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=282}}

=== Fate ===
{{main|Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow}}
[[File:Internment at Scapa Flow.svg|thumb|400px|Map of the scuttled ships showing {{lang|de|Kaiser}} (#18); <span class="plainlinks">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120817040012/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/92/Internment_at_Scapa_Flow.svg click]</span> for a larger view|alt=A map designating the locations where the German ships were sunk]]

Following the capitulation of Germany in November 1918, most of their fleet ships were interned in the British naval base in [[Scapa Flow]] under the command of Rear Admiral [[Ludwig von Reuter]].{{sfn|Tarrant|p=282}} Prior to the departure of the German fleet, Admiral Adolf von Trotha made clear to Reuter that he could not allow the Allies to seize the ships, under any conditions.{{sfn|Herwig|p=256}} The fleet rendezvoused with the British light cruiser {{HMS|Cardiff||2}}, which led the ships to the Allied fleet that was to escort the Germans to Scapa Flow. The massive flotilla consisted of some 370 British, American, and French warships.{{sfn|Herwig|pp=254–255}} Once the ships were interned, their guns were disabled through the removal of their breech blocks.{{sfn|Herwig|p=255}} The fleet remained in captivity during the negotiations that ultimately produced the [[Versailles Treaty]].{{sfn|Herwig|p=256}}

A copy of ''[[The Times]]'' informed Reuter that the Armistice was to expire at noon on 21 June 1919, the deadline by which Germany was to have signed the peace treaty. Reuter came to the conclusion that the British intended to seize the German ships after the Armistice expired. Unaware that the deadline had been extended to the 23rd, Reuter ordered the ships to be sunk.{{efn|name=armistice expiry|There is some contention as to whether Reuter was aware that the Armistice had been extended. Admiral [[Sydney Fremantle]] stated that he informed Reuter on the evening of the 20th, though Reuter claims he was unaware of the development. For Fremantle's claim, see {{harvnb|Bennett|p=307}}. For Reuter's statement, see {{harvnb|Herwig|p=256}}.}} On the morning of 21 June, the British fleet left Scapa Flow to conduct training maneuvers, and at 11:20 Reuter transmitted the order to his ships.{{sfn|Herwig|p=256}} {{lang|de|Kaiser}} sank at 13:24; the ship was raised in 1929 and [[ship breaking|broken up]] for scrap in [[Rosyth]] starting in 1930.{{sfn|Gröner|p=26}}

== Notes ==
===Footnotes===

{{notes}}

===Citations===

{{reflist|20em}}

== References ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{cite book
  | last = Bennett
  | first = Geoffrey
  | author-link = Geoffrey Bennett (historian)
  | year = 2005
  | title = Naval Battles of the First World War
  | publisher = Pen & Sword Military Classics
  | location = Barnsley
  | isbn = 978-1-84415-300-8
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Bennett}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Campbell
  | first = John
  | year = 1998
  | title = Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting
  | publisher = Conway Maritime Press
  | location = London
  | isbn = 978-1-55821-759-1
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Campbell}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last1 = Campbell
  | first1 = N. J. M.
  | last2 = Sieche
  | first2 = Erwin
  | chapter = Germany
  | pages = 134–189
  | editor1-last = Gardiner
  | editor1-first = Robert
  | editor2-last = Gray
  | editor2-first = Randal
  | year = 1986
  | title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921
  | publisher = Conway Maritime Press
  | location = London
  | isbn = 978-0-85177-245-5
  | name-list-style=amp
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Campbell & Sieche}}
  | url=https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse_z3o0
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Dodson
  | first = Aidan
  | author-link = Aidan Dodson
  | year = 2016
  | title = The Kaiser's Battlefleet: German Capital Ships 1871–1918
  | publisher = Seaforth Publishing
  | location = Barnsley
  | isbn = 978-1-84832-229-5
  | ref = {{sfnRef|Dodson}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Grießmer
  | first = Axel
  | year = 1999
  | language = de
  | title = Die Linienschiffe der Kaiserlichen Marine: 1906–1918; Konstruktionen zwischen Rüstungskonkurrenz und Flottengesetz
  | trans-title = The Battleships of the Imperial Navy: 1906–1918; Constructions between Arms Competition and Fleet Laws
  | publisher = Bernard & Graefe Verlag
  | location = Bonn
  | isbn = 978-3-7637-5985-9
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Grießmer}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last1 = Gröner
  | first1 = Erich
  |author-link1=Erich Gröner
  | last2 = Jung
  | first2 = Dieter
  | last3 = Martin
  | first3 = Maass
  | year = 1990
  | title = German Warships: 1815–1945
  | volume = I: Major Surface Vessels
  | publisher = Naval Institute Press
  | location = Annapolis
  | isbn = 978-0-87021-790-6
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Gröner}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Halpern
  | first = Paul G.
  | year = 1995
  | title = A Naval History of World War I
  | publisher = Naval Institute Press
  | location = Annapolis
  | isbn = 978-1-55750-352-7
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Halpern}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Herwig
  | first = Holger
  | year = 1998
  | orig-year = 1980
  | title = "Luxury" Fleet: The Imperial German Navy 1888–1918
  | publisher = Humanity Books
  | location = Amherst
  | isbn = 978-1-57392-286-9
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Herwig}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last1 = Hildebrand
  | first1 = Hans H.
  | last2 = Röhr
  | first2 = Albert
  | last3 = Steinmetz
  | first3 = Hans-Otto
  | year = 1993
  | title = Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe: Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart
  | trans-title=The German Warships: Biographies − A Reflection of Naval History from 1815 to the Present
  | volume = 5
  | language=de
  | publisher = Mundus Verlag
  | location = Ratingen
  | isbn=978-3-7822-0456-9
  | ref = {{sfnRef|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz}}
  |name-list-style=amp
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Konstam
  | first = Angus
  | title = British Battlecruisers 1939–45
  | year = 2003
  | location = Oxford
  | publisher = Osprey Books
  | isbn = 978-1-84176-633-1
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Konstam}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Massie
  | first = Robert K.
  | author-link = Robert K. Massie
  | year = 2003
  | title = [[Castles of Steel|Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea]]
  | publisher = Ballantine Books
  | location = New York City
  | isbn = 978-0-345-40878-5
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Massie}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Staff
  | first = Gary
  | year = 2010
  | title = German Battleships: 1914–1918
  | volume = 1: Deutschland, Nassau and Helgoland Classes
  | publisher = Osprey Books
  | location = Oxford
  | isbn = 978-1-84603-467-1
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Staff (Vol. 1)}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Staff
  | first = Gary
  | year = 2010
  | title = German Battleships: 1914–1918
  | volume = 2: Kaiser, König And Bayern Classes
  | publisher = Osprey Books
  | location = Oxford
  | isbn = 978-1-84603-468-8
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Staff (Vol. 2)}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Tarrant
  | first = V. E.
  | year = 2001
  | orig-year = 1995
  | title = Jutland: The German Perspective
  | publisher = Cassell Military Paperbacks
  | location = London
  | isbn = 978-0-304-35848-9
  | ref ={{sfnRef|Tarrant}}
  }}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
  | last1 = Dodson
  | first1 = Aidan
  | last2 = Cant
  | first2 = Serena
  | title = Spoils of War: The Fate of Enemy Fleets after the Two World Wars
  | year = 2020
  | publisher = Seaforth Publishing
  | location = Barnsley
  | isbn = 978-1-5267-4198-1
  }}

{{Kaiser class battleship}}
{{1919 shipwrecks}}
{{Featured article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaiser (1911)}}
[[Category:Kaiser-class battleships]]
[[Category:1911 ships]]
[[Category:World War I battleships of Germany]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kiel]]
[[Category:World War I warships scuttled at Scapa Flow]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1919]]