WRECKS - SMS KÖLN Home
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The SMS Köln was a cruiser type Dresden II-class of 5'531 tonnes for a length of 155m, 14m at the beam and a draught of 6m. She was powered by two triple stage turbines which drove their own propeller bringing her to a maximum speed of 29 knots. Her armament consisted of 120 mines, height 150mm canons, two 85mm canons and four 600mm torpedo tubes. She needed a crew of 559 men and officers.
HISTORY
Launched on the 5th of October 1916 from the Blohm & Voss shipyard at Hamburg as SMS Köln replacing the Köln sunk during the battle of Heligoland Bigth on the 28th of August 1914. She was commissioned in January 1918 and joined the Fleet as a unit of the Second Scouting Group. She patrolled in Heligoland Bigth escorting U-boats. The Köln was ordered to internment and arrived in the bay of Scapa Flow. On the 21st of June 1919 at 13h50, SMS Köln disappeared beneath the surface after receiving her last order to scuttle.
DIVE SITE
Site : the Köln lies in the bay of Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands.
Co-ordinates : 58 deg 53,32 north / 03 deg 08,27 west
Depth : the starboard side of the hull lies at 20m and the deepest part is on port side at 35m.
THE DIVE
The wreck of the SMS Köln is considered to be one of the best dives in the bay of Scapa Flow. She is practically intact to the exception of the bow canons, the propellers and her anchors salvaged in the early days. The bow is in excellent state and the mooring chains are still hooked on the capstans (as the Brummer). Just aft the canon turret has been salvaged and we get straight to the control tower coated with her 96mm steal protective shield with its viewing slits (to the difference of the Brummer, the tower was built straight in the structure of the deck but today most of the shield has rusted away leaving the tower isolated and well visible on the deck). Aft again the superstructures are in good state.The stern is the most damaged part from the salvage and is not of big interest.
DIFFICULTY
The major difficulty is the cold water. BEWARE upon penetration silt can rapidly change the visibility. Nitrox 32 would be the gas of choice for this dive.
Ocean Zone Divers
Best viewed 1024x768
Last Updated
FACTS