History
Service and demise
The German battlecruiser SMS Lützow was commissioned in 1916, replacing the old cruiser Kaiserin Augusta, and joining the I. Scouting Group (I. Aufklärungsgruppe). Despite this fleet's reputation as an active German force during World War I, the Lützow saw little action during the first few months of it, until it was put to the test during the Battle of Jutland on 31 May and 1 June 1916, serving as the famous German admiral Franz von Hipper's flagship.
Wikimedia Commons
Photograph of the SMS Lützow, c. 1916.
The vessel proved its worth, sinking the British HMS Invincible and perhaps also the HMS Defence. However, having been hit by an estimated 24 heavy-caliber shell hits during the course of the battle, the ship was unable to make the return voyage and was sunk deliberately by a German submarine, after its remaining crew had been evacuated.
Bundesarchiv
The SMS Derfflinger, to which the SMS Lützow was a sister ship, was also heavily damaged during the Battle of Jutland, yet managed to return to port for repairs.
Description
Wikimedia Commons
Line Drawing of the Derfflinger class cruiser. Source: Jane's fighting ships 1919.
| Master | Franz von Hipper |
|---|---|
| Length | 690.3 feet (210.4 m) |
| Draft | 30.2 feet (9.2 m) |
| Beam | 95.1 feet (29 m) |
Status
The wreck of the SMS Lützow is known to have been commercially salvaged by a German firm in 1960. Further evidence of this action was found by marine archaeologist Innes McCartney, who relocated the wreck in 2000-2001, finding it in bad condition, lying upside down on the seabed. Still, much of the ship has remained recognisable. As a war grave, the shipwreck, along with the other Jutland wrecks, is protected under the Protection of Military Remains Act from 1986.
In 2015 it was spotted by the survey vessel HMS Echo during regular work in the area, some eight miles from her last recorded position.
Periscope Publishing
A cage lamp lying at the site of the SMS Lützow.
Innes McCartney
The mount of one of the SMS Lützow's 5.9 inch guns.
References
- SMS Lützow - Wikipedia.
Wikipedia. - HOME.
- McCartney, I. (2017).
1 The Battle of Jutland’s Heritage under Threat: The extent of commercial salvage on the shipwrecks as observed 2000-2016.
Mariner's Mirror, vol. 103. - Jane's Fighting Ships.