Service history Wiesbaden-class cruiser

wiesbaden ordered under contract name ersatz gefion , laid down @ ag vulcan shipyard in stettin in 1913 , launched on 20 january 1915, after fitting-out work commenced. commissioned high seas fleet on 23 august 1915, after being rushed through trials. ship saw 1 major action, battle of jutland on 31 may – 1 june 1916. ship badly damaged gunfire battlecruiser hms invincible. immobilized between 2 battle fleets, wiesbaden became center of hard-fought action saw destruction of 2 british armored cruisers. heavy fire british fleet prevented evacuation of ship s crew. wiesbaden remained afloat until hours of 1 june , sank sometime between 01:45 , 02:45. 1 crew member survived sinking; wreck located german navy divers in 1983.

frankfurt

frankfurt ordered under contract name ersatz hela , laid down @ kaiserliche werft shipyard in kiel in 1913 , launched on 20 march 1915. ships commissioned high seas fleet on 20 august 1915. frankfurt saw extensive action high seas fleet during world war i. served in north sea, , participated in bombardment of yarmouth , lowestoft , battles of jutland , second heligoland. @ jutland, lightly damaged british cruiser , crew suffered minor casualties. ship present during operation albion in baltic sea in october 1917. @ end of war, interned bulk of german fleet in scapa flow. when fleet scuttled in june 1919, frankfurt 1 of few ships not sunk. ceded navy war prize , expended bomb target in tests conducted navy , army air force in july 1921.