SMS V48 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 German Empire |
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| Name | V48 |
| Ordered | 1914 Mobilization orders |
| Builder | AG Vulcan Stettin, Germany |
| Launched | 6 August 1915 |
| Commissioned | 10 December 1915 |
| Fate | Sunk at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | V25-class torpedo boat |
| Displacement | 1,188 t (1,169 long tons) deep load |
| Length | 83.1 m (272 ft 8 in) oa |
| Beam | 8.3 m (27 ft 3 in) |
| Draft | 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 33.5 knots (62.0 km/h; 38.6 mph) |
| Range | 2,050 nmi (3,800 km; 2,360 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
| Complement | 87 officers and sailors |
| Armament |
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The SMS V48 was a fast and powerful torpedo boat used by the Imperial German Navy during World War I. Torpedo boats were small, speedy warships designed to attack larger enemy ships using torpedo tubes. V48 was part of a group of ships called the 1913 Type Large Torpedo Boats, and it was the 24th ship built in this series.
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Building the V48 Warship
The V48 was built by the AG Vulcan Stettin shipyard in Germany. It was ordered on April 22, 1914, as part of Germany's plan to build more ships for the war. The ship was officially launched into the water on August 6, 1915.
It was then ready for duty on December 10, 1915. The "V" in V48 stood for the shipyard where it was built, which was Vulcan.
Size and Speed of the V48
The V48 was about 83.1 metres (272 ft 8 in) long from end to end. It was 8.3 metres (27 ft 3 in) wide, which is called its beam. The part of the ship that went under the water, its draft, was about 3.4 metres (11 ft 2 in) deep.
When fully loaded, the ship weighed about 1,188 tonnes (1,169 long tons), which is its displacement. Three oil-fired boilers created steam to power two special engines called steam turbines. These engines gave the V48 a top speed of 33.5 knots (62.0 km/h; 38.6 mph), which is very fast for a ship.
The V48 could carry 338 tonnes (333 long tons) of fuel oil. This allowed it to travel about 2,050 nautical miles (3,800 km; 2,360 mi) (nautical miles) at a speed of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) before needing to refuel.
Weapons and Crew
The V48 was armed with three 8.8 cm (3.5 in) guns. It also had six 500 mm (20 in) torpedo tubes. Two of these tubes were fixed at the front, and four were in two double mounts at the back.
The ship could also carry up to 24 mines, which are explosives placed in the water to damage enemy ships. In 1916, the smaller 8.8 cm (3.5 in) guns were replaced with three larger 10.5 cm (4.1 in) guns. The V48 had a crew of 87 officers and sailors.
V48 in Action: The Battle of Jutland
The V48 was part of the 3rd Flotilla, a group of ships, and specifically the 6th Half-Flotilla. It took part in the famous Battle of Jutland, a huge naval battle during World War I. This battle happened on May 31, 1916.
Torpedo Attack and Damage
During the battle, the 3rd Flotilla tried to launch a torpedo attack against large British warships called battlecruisers. The attack was not successful. As the German destroyers turned away, they exchanged fire with a damaged British destroyer named HMS Shark.
The V48 was hit by one or two 4-inch (102 mm) shells. These hits damaged the ship's engines, forcing the V48 to stop moving. Another German destroyer, G42, tried to pull the V48 to safety. However, they had to give up because of heavy gunfire from the British battle line.
The Sinking of V48
Later, the British battleship HMS Valiant fired a 6-inch (152 mm) shell into the V48. The V48 was eventually sunk by a 4-inch (102 mm) shell from an unknown British ship.
Sadly, 90 men on board the V48 were killed during this battle. Only one person, Hans Robert Tietje, survived. He spent 14 hours in the water before a Danish fishing boat rescued him.
