AlanD Posted 3 January , 2018 Share Posted 3 January , 2018 Reading a file at Kew in October regarding some Mauser pistols that were taken from a German war ship that was captured in 1914. I can find reference to German merchant ships that were seized in British harbors or waters in August 1914, but nothing about German fighting ships that were captured in 1914. Does anyone have any details of German Navy fighting ships that were captured in 1914? Regards AlanD Sydney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knotty Posted 3 January , 2018 Share Posted 3 January , 2018 Hi AlanD I need to have this confirmed, but I'm pretty sure the light cruiser SMS Magdeburg ran aground somewhere in the Black Sea area and the attempt to scuttle her failed. In turn she was "captured" by the Russian navy who were happy to let the Admiralty have any papers, charts etc. and anything else confiscated from her. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 3 January , 2018 Share Posted 3 January , 2018 Knotty, That was near Finland in the Baltic Sea (not Black Sea). Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prussian Posted 3 January , 2018 Share Posted 3 January , 2018 (edited) Hello! Check the word "interniert" (interned) under "Verbleib" (whereabout): https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Schiffe_der_Kaiserlichen_Marine like the "Hilfskreuzer Berlin" The page is only in german language Edited 3 January , 2018 by The Prussian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeCeeCee Posted 3 January , 2018 Share Posted 3 January , 2018 You may find your answer in the early commerce raiding operations in the waters of the South Atlantic, South Pacific and Indian seas. Such as the cruiser of the SMS Cap Trafalgar, an Armed Merchant Cruiser and the cruiser SMS Emden, both sunk in 1914. In the case of the Cap Trafalgar, she met with a gunboat early on and weapons were transferred across to bolster the bigger ships armament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knotty Posted 3 January , 2018 Share Posted 3 January , 2018 1 hour ago, AOK4 said: That was near Finland in the Baltic Sea (not Black Sea) Hi Jan Thanks for the correction, much appreciated. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix C Posted 5 January , 2018 Share Posted 5 January , 2018 Warship means naval vessel? I think the governor's yacht in the Bismarck archipelago qualifies as a warship. Captured in 1914. A German auxiliary gunboat was captured on the African Lakes. The other little naval ships overseas were interned and scuttled. China, Africa, Tsingato stations, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanD Posted 6 January , 2018 Author Share Posted 6 January , 2018 7 hours ago, Felix C said: Warship means naval vessel? I think the governor's yacht in the Bismarck archipelago qualifies as a warship. Captured in 1914. A German auxiliary gunboat was captured on the African Lakes. The other little naval ships overseas were interned and scuttled. China, Africa, Tsingato stations, etc. Yes, by warship I do mean a German naval ship as opposed to a merchant ship which would be unlikely to have a quality of Mauser pistols on board. Regards AlanD Sydney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wexflyer Posted 6 January , 2018 Share Posted 6 January , 2018 Lots of Mauser pistols to be seen in Irish museums, and they weren't captured from the Germans... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James A Pratt III Posted 7 January , 2018 Share Posted 7 January , 2018 It could be the Mauser pistols were part of a merchant ships cargo when captured. I would also like to point out that firearms were carried on merchant ships back then so the crews could defend themselves. pirates were a problem of the coast of China back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix C Posted 7 January , 2018 Share Posted 7 January , 2018 Does this link help? http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311983.2015.1073656 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanD Posted 13 January , 2018 Author Share Posted 13 January , 2018 Good information, thank you. Regards AlanD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darloboy Posted 20 April , 2020 Share Posted 20 April , 2020 A number of Auxiliary warships were captured in Kamerun in 1914, Soden and Hertzogin Elizabeth were both taken into the Royal Navy. Also in the colony a number of German merchant ships were captured and handed over to UK shipping lines, it is possible that the officers on these ships had side-arms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now