Pfeil-class destroyer

The Pfeil-class destroyers were large torpedo boats of the Kaiserlich Marine. The first ship was built by Denkingen Co., completing in 1912. They served in the Great Sanctus War with mainly the High Seas Armada, taking part in numerous notable battles.

Background
The 24 large torpedo boats of the Pfeil were almost identical to their predecessors, the Bolzen class. In difference to those, the new class of boats had an increased number of torpedo tubes, giving them a larger offensive potential.

Their major disadvantage was their very bad seagoing capability, while their predecessors were no good seagoing ships already, the Pfeil was even worse.

A high number of these boats were lost during the Great Sanctus War, most of them because of mine hits, but several sunk after collisions with other ships. Of the few surviving ships, some were even used as auxiliary vessels during the War of the Bloody Hollows.

Design and Development
In 1911, the Kaiserlich Marine placed orders for a flotilla of 12 large torpedo boats as part of its shipbuilding program for that year, with one half flotilla of six ordered from Denkingen Co., and six from Loucherwerft. The 1911 large torpedo boats were smaller than those ordered in recent years in order to be more maneuverable and so work better with the fleets. The reduction in size resulted in the ships' seaworthiness being adversely affected.

The ships were 71.1 meters (233 ft 3 in) long overall and 70.2 meters (230 ft 4 in) at the waterline, with a beam of 7.6 meters (24 ft 11 in) and a draft of 3.11 meters (10 ft 2 in). The displacement was 569 tons (560 long tons) normal and 697 tons (686 long tons) deep load. Three coal-fired and one oil-fired water-tube boilers fed steam to two direct-drive steam turbines rated at 17,000 metric horsepower (17,000 shp; 13,000 kW), giving a design speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph). 107 tons (105 long tons) of coal and 78 tons (77 long tons) of oil were carried, giving a range of 1,190 nautical miles (2,200 km; 1,370 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) or 490 nautical miles (910 km; 560 mi) at 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph).

Armament consisted of two 88 mm (3.5 in) P/95 naval guns in single mounts fore and aft, together with four 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes with two 45 cm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes on the bow. Up to 18 mines could be carried. In 1916 the P/95 guns were replaced by more powerful 88 mm (3.5 in) P/16 guns. In 1921, the remaining vessels were rearmed with two 105 mm P/21 naval guns and two 50 cm torpedo tubes, and was fitted with new boilers, while their forecastle was extended rearwards, eliminating the exposed well-deck forward of the ship's bridge. The ships had a crew of 74 officers and other ranks.

General Characteristics
Dimensions: Weapons: Engines: Performance:
 * Displacement: 697–753 tons
 * Length: 71.1 m (233 ft 3 in)
 * Beam: 7.6 m (24 ft 11 in)
 * Draft: 3.11 m (10 ft 2 in)
 * Crew: 74 officers and sailors
 * 2 × 88 mm P/95 (upgraded to 88 mm P/16 in 1916, and again to 105 mm P/21 in 1921.)
 * 1 × 50 mm P/97
 * 2 × 45 cm torpedo tubes (upgraded to 50 cm in 1921.)
 * 4 × 50 cm torpedo tubes
 * Shafts: 2
 * Engines/turbines: 2
 * Type:
 * Water-tube boilers
 * Steam turbines
 * Total Performance: 15986–17109 shp
 * Speed: 32.9–34 kn
 * Range: 1050–1150 miles (1,689.81–1,850.75 km) at 17 kn; ~490 miles (788.58 km) at 29 kn