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SMS Dresden

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The '''SMS ''Dresden''''' was a German Empire German Kaiserliche Marine light cruiser of the Dresden class cruiser ''Dresden'' class, commissioned in 1908. It was the sister ship of the famous Commerce raiding commerce raider SMS Emden SMS ''Emden''. While the ''Emden'' still had traditional Steam engine triple-expansion engines, the ''Dresden'' was the first German cruiser to be equipped with the new Steam turbine Parsons turbines. Prior to World War I the ''Dresden'' had been stationed in the Caribbean for a year. During that time, she was instrumental in evacuating American nationals during the U.S. occupation of Veracruz, 1914. She also played a role in the departure of exiled president Victoriano Huerta, transporting him from Mexico to Kingston, Jamaica. At the outbreak of the war in 1914, the ''Dresden'' was preparing for the return journey to Germany. However, orders were changed to prepare for commerce raiding. The ''Dresden'' then headed for the South Atlantic Ocean Atlantic and went around Cape Horn, sinking British Empire British Cargo ship merchantmen along the way. In December, she made rendezvous with the German East Asia Squadron German East-Asiatic Squadron at Easter Island. In company with Maximilian von Spee Vice-Admiral von Spee's other ships - which were SMS Scharnhorst SMS ''Scharnhorst'', SMS Gneisenau SMS ''Gneisenau'', SMS Leipzig SMS ''Leipzig'', and SMS Nürnberg SMS ''Nürnberg'' - the ''Dresden'' participated in the victorious Battle of Coronel. Together with SMS ''Leipzig'' she damaged and forced the escape of the British cruiser HMS Glasgow (1909) HMS ''Glasgow''. Approximately one month later, SMS ''Dresden'' was the only German cruiser to escape at the disastrous Battle of the Falkland Islands, her turbine engines proving faster than her expansion-engined squadron mates. The ship then headed south back around Cape Horn to the maze of channels and bays in southern Chile. Until March 1915 the ship evaded Royal Navy searches while paralyzing British trade routes in the area. On March 8, the ''Dresden'' put into Cumberland Bay on the Chilean island of Más a Tierra (today known as Robinson Crusoe Island). Due to lack of supplies and parts for the worn-out engines, the ship ceased to be operational. Six days later, on March 14, 1915, British warships found the elusive German cruiser. After a few shots were fired, the ''Dresden'' ran up a white flag and sent the-then Lieutenant Wilhelm Canaris, who would become a famous Kriegsmarine admiral during the World War II Second World War, to negotiate with the British. However, this was just a ruse to buy time so the ''Dresden'' 's crew could abandon ship and scuttle her. At 11:15 AM the SMS ''Dresden'' slipped under the waves with her war ensign proudly flying. The ''Dresden'' 's complement of about 300 sailors were interned in Chile for the duration of the war, with about a third electing to remain and resettle in Chile at war's end. Today the wreck, which lies in about 60 metres (200 feet) of water, is gaining popularity with recreational Scuba divers, and is occasionally used by the Chilean Navy for diver training. On February 24, 2006, Chilean and German divers found and recovered the ''Dresden'''s shipbell. CS Forester's novel Brown on Resolution, and two subsequent movies, were inspired by the Dresden's escape and subsequent destruction. Forester's novel has a German warship escape the Battle of the Falkland Islands, and make its way to an isolated Pacific Island, to effect repairs. Category:World War I cruisers of Germany Dresden Category:German Imperial Navy ships Dresden fr:Dresden (marine allemande, 1908) ja:ドレスデン (巡洋艦)

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