"SMS Iltis – a gunboat, the Pope and a stand-off" Topic

… in the Pacific

"The new German Empire was proclaimed in 1871 and in the two decades that followed – before it embarked in the late 1890s on construction of the second-largest navy in the world – the Imperial navy was a small one. Its ships were however active in many parts of the globe. This was in support of efforts to establish colonies overseas and to protect German commercial interests in the Far East.One of the vessels so involved was the small gunboat SMS Iltis (1880) which was to have a very active career – one which included such a surprising event as a confrontation between Germany and Spain that was only solved by Papal intervention.

Commissioned in 1880, the Iltis was a typical small gunboat of a type common in many navies of the time and suited to interventions in remote colonial areas. Of 560 tons and 155 ft overall she had a single 142 hp engine that gave her a maximum speed of eight knots. Considered to be a good sea boat, the Iltis carried a barquentine rig – a significant advantage when operating far from coaling stations. To minimise drag when under sail her propeller could be hoisted. She was more than adequately armed for what was expected of her – two 125 mm and two 87mm breech-loaders, supplemented by two 37 mm revolvers (essentially like overgrown hand guns). She carried a crew of 85. The Iltis's first assignment was to Germany's "East Asia Station" and she was to remain in eastern waters for almost five years. As Germany had no naval base in the Far East at that time the Iltis seems to have mainly operated out of the British possession of Hong Kong…."
Main page

link

Amicalement
Armand

Good boat.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

And another excellent 'what if' joins the list!