SMS Mainz was a Kolberg-class light cruiser of the German Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) during the First World War. She had three sister ships, SMS Kolberg, Cöln, and Augsburg. She was built by the AG Vulcan shipyard in Stettin; her hull was laid down in 1908 and she was launched in January 1909. She was commissioned into the High Seas Fleet in October 1909. She was armed with a main battery of twelve 10.5 cm SK L/45 guns and had a top speed of 25.5 kn (47.2 km/h; 29.3 mph).
After her commissioning, she served with the II Scouting Group, part of the reconnaissance forces of the High Seas Fleet. She was assigned to patrols off the island of Heligoland at the outbreak of World War I in early August 1914. At the Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914, the German patrol forces were attacked by superior British forces, including five battlecruisers and several light cruisers. Mainz was initially stationed in support of the forces on the patrol line. She attempted to reinforce the beleaguered German forces, and encountered a much stronger force of British cruisers and destroyers. They scored several damaging hits with gunfire and a torpedo that disabled Mainz and prompted her commander to abandon ship. The British rescued 348 men from the crew before the ship rolled over and sank. Eighty-nine men were killed in the battle, including her commanding officer.
SMSMainz was a Kolberg-class light cruiser of the German Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) during the First World War. She had three sister ships, SMS Kolberg...
SMS Von der Tann was the first battlecruiser built for the German Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy), as well as Germany's first major turbine-powered...
Franz von Hipper, with Germany losing light cruisers SMSMainz, Cöln and Ariadne, and destroyer SMS V187 along with 1,200 casualties, including Rear Admiral...
First World War, the lead ship of her class. She had three sister ships, SMSMainz, Cöln, and Augsburg. She was built by the Schichau-Werke; her hull was...
Wolfgang von Tirpitz, was taken prisoner of war after the sinking of SMSMainz in the Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914. His daughter Ilse...
Kapitän zur See Friedrich Tiesmeyer was in command of the light cruiser SMSMainz (October 1909 – January 1910) of the Imperial Navy, at that time holding...
breaking her in two. 90 of those aboard were lost. 90 Navy 1914 Germany SMSMainz – On 28 August, in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the German cruiser...
SMS Magdeburg ("His Majesty's Ship Magdeburg") was a lead ship of the Magdeburg class of light cruisers in the German Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy)...
SMS Zenta was the lead ship of the Zenta class of protected cruisers built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the late 1890s. The class included two other...
Seekadett and completed his training aboard the SMS Victoria Louise. During World War I he was serving on SMSMainz, which sank during the Battle of Helgoland...
SMS V187 was a S-138-class large torpedo boat of the Imperial German Navy. She was built by the AG Vulcan shipyard at Stettin between 1910 and 1911 and...
ship would later be credited with torpedoing the German light cruiser SMSMainz at the Battle of Heligoland Bight during the first month of World War...
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