B97 class destroyer (1915)

German Imperial Navy 8 large destroyers B97 to B112 1914-1939

The B97 were the largest German destroyers by far when commissioned in 1915, a true departure from standard designs of Hochseetorpedoboote. In a sense they were the first true “Zerstörer” of the Kaiserliches Marine, initially derived from a… 1912 project for the Russian Navy, related to the Novik-derived designs. They proved quite useful in the First World War and served throughout, one lost in action by 1915, five scuttled at Scapa Flow in 1919, one transferred to Italy and in service as Cesare Rossarol in the Regia marina until 1939.

Development

The short Story

The largest destroyers of the Kaiserliches Marine until the S-113 class in 1917 originated in the Russian Imperial Navy 1912 construction programme. The later was building Novik (launched 1911) after realizing after the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905 how muchc large fleet destroyers could have been useful. The admiralty obtained funds and placed orders for 22 large modern destroyers, intially called the Orfey-class destroyer for its Baltic Fleet. To speed delivery, machinery orders were placed overseas and especially in Germany. But with the First World War breaking out and now at war with Russia on 1 August, the delivery of these turbines sets was stopped.

Not to waste these, AG Vulcan shipyard in Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland) proposed to use these onboard large destroyers for the Imperial German Navy and promised deliveries within six months. The German naval staff under Hipper was at first unenthusiastic about this private venture proposal, not fitting in its own precious standard of much smaller Hochseetorpedoboote. This proposal would mean to completely redo the fleet’s flotillas organization and doctrine. But Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz was interested however in the larger design, and saw the potential of two flotillas of large fleet vessels to escort his latest dreadnoughts the north sea in winter or match equivalent Russian destroyers in the Baltic.

Willing to test the concept, and eased up by the new wartime emergency, he thus ordered at first four ships at Vulcan and Blohm & Voss, a pair each for fast deliovery as promised. Two more were ordered again from Blohm & Voss in October and a final two by January 1915. Thei large size was a true revolution and for them the Navy coined the term Zerstörer (destroyer) instead of Torpedoboote (torpedo boat). The two shipyards however built slightly different designs, but they were overall standardized for the armament and performances. They ended larger in light (standard) tonnage than the fully loaded displacement of a standard V25 class for example at 1,370 versus 1,188 tonnes for the latest in class. When fully loaded, the new destroyers were close to 1,900 tonnes, which was uncharted territory in Germany for that type of ship, but were a useful match for the new generation of Russian Destroyers of the Baltic Fleet, over 2,000 tonnes.
Construction was mostly given to Blohm & Voss (hence the “B”), delivering B97, 98, then B100 to 112, as fast as promised, the last commissioned in September 1915, and V99, V100 alone from Vulcan, Stettin. There was a gap in numeration for other ships in 101-108. Overall, these first destroyers in 1915 raised alarms both in the Baltic sea Fleet HQ and British Admiralty, urging the construction of larger destroyers.

The Long Story

The history of the first German destroyers is closely linked to developments for other navies. So by 1909, the Imperial Russian Navy after the disastrous Russo-Japanese war wanted a large destroyer featuring turbine propulsion for more than 30 knots to fill its reconstituted flotillas. Proposals were solicited from experienced foreign shipyards but the one selected as prototype (for a future production in Russia) was the 1,280-ton AG Vulcan design from Stettin. It had modern turbines and oil-fired boilers. The blueprints were ordered at the same time as AG Vulcan was contracted to supply the boiler and turbines. The funds provided by the Committee for the Strengthening of the Russian Fleet amounted to 2 million rubles. AG Vulcan was originally intended to build the ship directly, but naval yards lobbied the court to have a contract awarded to the Putilov Shipyard in St. Petersburg for Novik. Putilov however still maintained close ties with Blohm & Voss in Hamburg which also had large stake in the Russian yard.

The Novik prototype was a stunning success, as the workd’s largest and fastest destroyer in its day. The Russian Navzl staff, impressed ordered more than 30 more for the Baltic Fleet, 15 for the Black Sea Fleet from various shipyards by 1912, rsulting in several classes, the last still incomplete when the Revoltion started in 1917. Meanwhile Blohm & Voss, Schichau, and AG Vulcan still provided detailed planning and components like all propulsion systems to the contracted Russian shipyards for these early boats.
But when World War I broke out in 1914, Blohm & Voss had the propulsion systems ready for delivery to Putilov, Russo-Baltic Works in Reval: Two sets each for the next destroyers of the Leitenant Ilyin class and the Gavril class. With the machinery paid and undelivered, so now available but unfit for current Hochseetorpedoboote as too large, Blohm & Voss proposed to the Imperial Naval staff led by Von Tirpitz, that these turbine sets be installed in destroyers following these Russian plans developed by the company, and arguing that since these plans had been well worked out the ships themselves could be built fast, within six months. Von Tirpitz at the time as State Secretary of the Imperial Naval Office approved the idea and ordered four of these.

These first three-funnelled destroyers were larger, faster, and more heavily armed than any other hochseetorpedoboot and so for the first time, the term “destroyer” was applied to these. The same was also applied to the “Argentina boats” (G 101–104) completed by Germaniawerft and also seized before delivery. The bureau had files for these, as the “Torpedo Boat 1914R (Russia)” and “Torpedo Boat 1914A (Argentina).” B 97 was launched on December 15, 1914, followed by B 98 on January 2, 1915. B 97 was the first to enter service, on February 13, 1915, with B 98 following in March. The hulls for the two remaining propulsion systems were awarded to Hamburg-based Vulkanwerft shipyard and they ultimately differed slightly, as V 99 and V 100. However in their cased, they were not launched until February 9 and March 8, 1915, commissioned in April and June 1915.

By June 1915, the subsequent B 109 and B 110 already entered service, followed by the second batch of additional orders, B 111 and B 112 in August and September. Together with the four slightly smaller and slower Germania-built ext-Argentinian G 101 to G 104 at 1,116/1,734 t, they were all sent to recreat the elite 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla. Under the command of Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Schuur and later Oskar Heinecke (a future Kriegsmarine admiral) this flotilla became the most formidable destroyer fighting force of the Imperial Navy and was deployed accordingly. In terms of size, combat power, seaworthiness and endurance they only matched British flotilla leaders. But unlikle the latter which led flotillas of less capable destroyers, these Germans zerstorer were organized into full flotilla. It was seen from the very start as an elite unit, a new concept that did not existed in the Kaiserliches Marine or the British side either. They were seen as perfect for long range strikes independently from cruiser-covered forces, a self-contained combat unit for the Baltic preferrably (see below for their records).

Design of the class

Hull and general design

Blohm & Voss ships

The Blohm & Voss built ships measured 98 metres (321 ft 6 in) long overall (se close to the symbolic 100 meters) for 96 metres (315 ft) at the waterline. In beam they were 9.35 metres (30 ft 8 in) for a 1/10 ratio. The first two Blohm & Voss ships (B97-98) however had a draught of 3.42 metres (11 ft 3 in) versus later ships (B 109-112) had a draught of 3.39 metres (11 ft 1 in). Displacement was for all 1,374 tonnes (1,352 long tons) normal (or standard) and 1,843 tonnes (1,814 long tons) deep load. To compare, the last of the V25 superclass, the S49 class, displaced 1,074 t (1,057 long tons) for 79.6 m (261 ft 2 in) in lenght, 8.36 m (27 ft 5 in) in beam and 3.64 m (11 ft 11 in) in draft.

Vulcan ships

The two AG Vulcan-built ships, V 99 and V 100 were even closer to the symbolic 100 meters at just one meter shy, at 99 metres (324 ft 10 in) overall for a waterline length of 98 metres (321 ft 6 in) and a beam of 9.36 metres (30 ft 9 in) so slightly more than the B&V ships, and a draught of 3.60 metres (11 ft 10 in). They displaced less however at 1,350 tonnes (1,330 long tons) normal and 1,847 tonnes (1,818 long tons) deep load.

Profile from garlicdesign for shipbucket src

Now on the overall design layout, they were very different for their silhouette than previous ships, first off with their three funnels, unlike anything else in the Kaiserliches Marine inventory. They looked like stretched out regular destroyers. In other areas, they were “standard”: For example they kept the usual “toothbrush” style short forecastle and separate bridge. In the forward cutout were placed the usual single torpedo tubes, one forward and one aft.

The bridege istelf was the same as other Hochseetorpedoboote, with a streamined, narrow enclosed bridge, wings, and a top open bridge above with a searchlight and raked short foremast. Anotehr change was the placement of the main 8.8cm guns, with “Q” and “R” amidships placed between funnels, the first between the 1st and amidship funnel, and second between the latter and aftmost funnel. The latter were all raked but of unequal size, with the outer funnels smaller (exhausting one boiler each) and the amidship one larger, made of two truncated exhausts for a pair of boilers. They were all mounted longitudinally. The machinery space was unprotected and ran for 1/2 of the length amidship, as shown by the short portholes lines fore and aft.

Between the aftermost funnel and aft mainmast were located the two twin axial torpedo tubes with an intermediate platform and searchlight. Past the aft mainmast was located the quartedeck house with a another searchlight, secondary helmsman post and “X” deck gun. The design did not included extra, light caliber guns. It might be argued that these 8,8 cm were pretty small for such large ships, and they compared badly to the British M class equivalents that had three 4-inches or 100 mm guns. It might be argued the B97 were suoerior both the M, repeat M and even R-class destroyers as the 8.8 cm were four, and faster than the 4-in guns and the B97 had two more torpedo tubes. The stern had a cruiser style rounded poop.
They had also a large crew, with a full complement of 114 officers and 140 by the end of the war.

Powerplant

The B97 class were powered with a 40,000 metric hp rating (39,000 shp; 29,000 kW), which was almost twice as much as a V25 class (23,500 hp), thanks to two shafts, with 3-bladed fixed pitch propellers driven by two “Marine” steam turbines (the manufacturer depended on the yard’s choices), and four “Marine” boilers, same, instead of three in a standard V25 or S49 class TB. The net result, despite the additional displacement and larger size was a gain in top speed at 36 knots versus 34 at best. They matched or surpassed British destroyers and were a good match for contemporary large Russian Destroyers. The boilers were oil-fired and ran at 17–18.5 atm (250–272 psi; 1,720–1,870 kPa) working pressure. The two turbines developed each 20,000 horespower (15,000 kW)). So the design speed was 36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph) for the first four, 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) for the last four but on sea trials some reached 37.4 knots (69.3 km/h; 43 mph). This too, as well as their range and three funnels, was uncharted territory for the Navy.
The range, thanks to their oil bunkerage of 527 tonnes was between 2,250 nautical miles (4,170 km; 2,590 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) for the Vulcan ships and 2,620 nautical miles (4,850 km; 3,020 mi) at 20 knots for the last four Blohm & Voss ships. To compare, the S49 class carried 252 to 305 tonnes, so that was double in the first case. The S53 sub-class matched them in range however at 2450 nm at 14 knots.

Armament

The B97 class carried four 8.8 cm main guns instead of the usual three. The extra lenght and extra funnel allowed for a supplementary amidship gun to be installed. This meant one in chase or retreat and four on broadsides. In addition they also carried two more torpedoes, with an extra, second twin bank aft. Like other Hochseetorpedoboote they carried mines, but more due to the extra deck length.

8.8 cm/42 TK L/45 C/14

The B97 class destroyers had four 8.8cm/42 TK L/45 C/14 in single mounts, A, Q, R and X positions, which could fire a 9 kg (20 lb) HE shell at 11,790 m (12,890 yd) at a rate of 15 rounds per minute. Each gun was provided with 120 rounds. The 8,8-cm-Schnelladekanone SK L/45 was adopted on the mount MPL C/13. One was located on the forecastle, another aft amidship on the platform, and the last on deck aft close to the poop. The problem was water splash interference in heavy weather, especially for the forward gun, although they had a great arc of fire. They were unshielded for weight reasons, but wrapped in tarpaulins to limit corrosion when not in use. They could fire a large variety of rounds, Armor Piercing (AP) 10 kg (22 lb), High Explosive (HE) 9 kg (20 lb), High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) 9.5 kg (21 lb) and Illumination (ILLUM) 9.4 kg (21 lb).
8,8cm SK L/45 Specs

Specs 8.8 cm/42 TK L/45 C/14

Mass 2,500 kg (5,510 lb), 4 meters (13.2 ft) long.
Shell: unitary 10 kg (22.05 lb) 88 mm (3.5 in) HE
Breech: Vertical sliding-wedge
Rate of fire: 15 RPM at mv 650 m/s (2,130 ft/s)).
MPL C/13 range: −10°/+25°: 10,694 m (11,695 yd).

10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 C16

It was soon apparent this armament was a bit “light” and the ships were gradually all upgraded to 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45, far more capable against British destroyers. All mounts were substituted. They carried 70 shells per gun. These were low profile, long barrel guns also used widely by submarines. They were also present on many cruisers, of the Graudenz, Karlsruhe, Kolberg, Magdeburg, Pillau class, and the B97 class destroyers from the start.

Specs 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45

Caliber: 10.5 cm (4.1 in)
Weight: 1,450 kg (3,200 lb), barrel. Length: 4.725 m (15 ft 6 in). Width 2.1 m (6.9 ft).
Shell: Fixed Brass Casing 25.5 kg (56 lb), 17.4 kg (38 lb)
Breech Type: Horizontal sliding-block
Rate of Fire: Up to 15 rounds per minute
Muzzle Velocity: 710 m/s (2,300 ft/s)
Elevation MPL C/06: -10° to +30°. Maximum Range: 12,700 m (13,900 yd) at a 30° elevation

50cm Torpedo Tubes

As said above, the B97 class had an extra twin torpedo tubes bank aft amidship for six total, two single forward, two twin aft. They fired the 50cm G7 Torpedoes. There were no reloads. The twin tubes were not parallel but each was at an angle outwards from the other. By that stage, they all carried the G7, which succeeded to the G6 and G6D used by battleships and cruisers. The latter were designed in 1908 and active in 1911, capable of 35 knots for at best 8400 m at 27 knots. But work was performed on a better model, that was eventually adopted later. The G7 was easier and faster to set up, had better performances, and so were adopted in 1913. The G7 remained standard until 1934.

Specs

Weight 3,009 lbs. (1,365 kg), overall length 276 in (7,020 m).
Warhead 430 lbs (195 kg) Hexanite
Range and Speed 4,370 yards (4,000 m)/37 kts or 10,170 yards (9,300 m)/27 ks
Powerplant: Decahydronaphthalene (Decalin) Wet-Heater.

Mines

The B97 class carried up to 24 mines, that could have been either the mass-produced, small, “Elektrische Minen A” differing from the former pendulum-fired mines. WH 330 lbs. (150 kg) wet gun cotton charge. Or what the British called the “Type I” Moored Hertz horn contact mine (mass 560 lbs. (254 kg) for 31.5 inches (80 cm) Wet gun guncotton 180 lbs. (81.6 kg) WH) or the “Type II” (710 lbs. (322 kg), 31.5 inches (80 cm), Wet gun guncotton; 290 lbs. (131 kg)). Sixteen of them meant they were placed on two short rails of nine each at the poop deck.

The German torpedo boat/destroyer B98 (1915-1920) in a scale of 1:100 was built by Günther Seher and displayed at the Internationales Maritimes Museum Hamburg (facebook).

Reconstructed plans for the NTT 1/700 resing kit, B98. HD profile in preparation

2 views old illustration from Gordon Davies, Profile Publications

⚙ specifications
Displacement	1,374 t (1,352 long tons) normal, 1,843 t (1,814 long tons) deep load
Dimensions	98 x 9.35 x 3.39 m (321 ft 6 in x 30 ft 8 in x 11 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 shaft Steam turbines, 4 oil-fired Navy boilers 40,000 PS (39,000 shp; 29,000 kW)
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range	2,620 nmi (4,850 km; 3,020 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Armament	4× 8.8 cm SK L/45 naval guns, 6× 500 mm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes
Crew	114

Career of the B97 class

When the fist pair of B97 ships entered service in March 1915, they were deployed alongside the Germania-built ships in the North Sea.

The Riga Offensive

The next two, V99 and 100 were assigned under Rear Admiral Hopman, Commander of the Baltic Reconnaissance Forces, for the Gulf of Riga offensive. In the attempt to penetrate the Gulf of Riga on August 16, 1915 at dusk minesweepers worked to clear a safe passage through minefields. Then V 99 and V100 were ordered to spreahead the assault for a night torpedo attack on the Russian battleship Slava. At 18:30, both entered the Irbe Strait alongside the Courland coast, skirting known Russian minefields and at 20:00 they stumbled the two older Russian destroyers of the Okhotnik class leading to an exchange. The latter broke off the engagement and withdrew. They continued to Runö Island and the Fettel Peninsula on Ösel but failed to find Slava and returned via Arensburg bay (Ösel), dropping anchor. Around 02:00, southeast of Zerel, they spotted Ukraina-class destroyers and attacked them with torpedoes, which passed beneath them. The Ukraina class were also of the pre-Novik generation. They also withdrew and warned the Russian Baltic HQ about the presence of the Germans there.

At 04:15, V 99 then spotted an incoming Russian destroyer and prepared for attack. They eventually identify the lone destroyer as Novik herself, very much their Russian nemesis, based on the very same plans… Used as flotilla leader she was followed by three older Emir Bukharski class destroyers, Emir Bukharski, Finn, and Dobrovolets. V 99 took several gun hits (Novik and the Bukharski class had deadlier 102 mm guns) and fires broke out in the bow and amidships. She attempted to escape through the known Russian minefields near the Courland coast but struck two mines in the process and sank. At 05:00, V 100 tried to cover her escape under a smoke screen and soon, S 31, S 34, and V 108, which were behind also rushed to assist. They preceded the battleship SMS Posen which at a distance started to fire on Novik and her group. The latter seeing the immense columns of water caused by her 28 cm shells, withdrew. However rescue efforts proved futile. V99 sank on August 17 at 08:00 off Pissen with the loss of 21 men. V 100 rescued most of the crew, including 22 wounded men.
The engagement showed that these large destroyers were too lightly armed, and inferior to their Russian opponents. Consequently decision was taken to replaced their ordnance by more potent 10.5 cm L/45 guns on a newly developed mount, a process only completed by April 1916.

North Sea Brawl

On August 17, 1915 a skirmish occured for B97-98 the same day V99 sank in the Baltic. It opposed the II Torpedo Boat Flotilla returning from a sortie to Horns Reef, and falling on the minelayer HMS Princess Margaret (5,934 GRT) escorted by destroyers from the 10th and 4th Destroyer Flotillas attempting to lay a minefield near Amrumbank. B98 fired torpedoes in pitch-black night, calm seas, and missed Princess Margaret but struck instead the M-class HMS Mentor severing her bow. She managed to limp back to Harwich. On February 10, 1916 there was a sortie by the II Torpedo Boat Flotilla to the Dogger Bank, and a clash with minelayers. However, the Germans failed to correctly identify them, believing the Flower-class sloops were cruisers. HMS Arabis was sunk still, hit by a torpedo from V99.

Jutland

At the Battle of Jutland on May 31–June 1, 1916, the eleven available large destroyers of the II Torpedo Boat Flotilla operated within the reconnaissance forces under II.FdT (Commander, Torpedo Boats) flagship SMS Regensburg. B 109 and B 110 sailed with the light cruiser SMS Elbing, port side of the German battlecruiser squadron when spotted by HMS Galatea while inspecting a Danish steamer with Galatea and Phaeton opening fire. Elbing returned fire, scoring the first hit on Galatea from maximum range. They continued to sail alongside the battlecruisers and clashed with the British 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron. Chester and Acasta and Shark took hits and B 98 also took a hit, loosing her twin torpedo launcher (2 killed) 11 wounded. They were back to Kiel via the Skagerrak without much harm.

Baltic Operations 1917

B 98 attempting to tow out the disabled Grom after the battle of the Kassar Wiek
In October 1917, the High Seas Fleet detached units to occupy the Baltic islands at Saaremaa (Ösel) and Hiiumaa (Dagö), Muhu (Moon) in a joint amphibious landing operation. The “Special Baltic Sea Detachment” (Sonderverband Ostsee) included the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla with B 98 as the flotilla leader and the 4th Half-Flotilla with B 109 in the lead. B 97, B 110, B 111, and B 112and the 3rd Half-Flotilla (led by G 101) as well G 103, G 104, and V 100 made part of the unit. On October 12, 1917 they landed the initial assault in and around Tagga Bay, Ösel. They also provided artillery support.
The day after, there was a Russian reconnaissance of the Soelo Sound between Dagö and Ösel by large destroyers to block the narrow strait via a blockship and minefield. But they were detected on October 13. In all, eight Russian destroyers, with the minelayer Pripyat and steamer Laviya prepared as a blockship. She ran aground on a reef before reaching her scuttling position while Pripyat stopped their advanced against orders. The Russian destroyers attacked German minesweepers under forced back by SMS Emden. On October 14, the Germans attacked again Dagö with Kaiser and Emden anchored at the entrance for cover fire, and the destroyers thrusting into the Kassar Wiek. An exchange started from 19 km. Grom (Orfey class) was hit by a 12-inches dud. They withdrew.

German ships however ran aground, like G 103 hiting the seabed. The attack developed, split into four groups from 13:20 and a clash started with Russian destroyers from 11,000 meters, during which G 103 was damaged by gunfire. Grom and Sabijaka took heavy damage, Pobeditel and Konstantin lighter damage. After 20 minutes, they were supported by the armoured gunboats Khrabry and Khiwinetz plus seven additional destroyers from Moon Sound before a general withdrawal. Grom fell behindn, disabled by gunfire. Khrabry failed to tow her, as the towline snapped. but took on board her crew and departed the scene. B 98 tried to two her as trophy but she eventually sank at 15:10. At 15:35, the destroyers stropped the advanced and withdrew due to battleship and cruiser fire from Reva by ten minutes.
During the Pripjat laid a minefield in the Kassar Wiek so by October 15, the eastern exit of the Kassar Wiek was secured until take under fire from twelve Russian destroyers and other vessels. The Germans withdrew westward and B 98 struck a mine laid the previous night. Her bow was shattered.

B97 back in Libau with her shattered prow by a mine.

There were 14 dead, 5 wounded but her bulkhead hold and she was towed to Libau for repairs. V 100 became the new flagship for the remaining force at the northern Kassar Wiek but some ships ran aground and sustained damage: G 101, B 110, and B 112. On the 17th, a supply of 10.5 cm ammunition arrived and the engagement in Moon Sound rsumed under orders of Commodore Paul Heinrich on V 100 in a night sortie into the southern Moon Sound. On October 18, 1917, B 111 also struck a mine and lost her bow section, towed also to Libau (5 dead 16 injured). At Libau, B 98 and B 111 were fitted with makeshift wooden bows and regained Germany for full repairs. What remained from the 2nd Flotilla and Emden returned to Kiel and then the North Sea on October 23.

Operation Albion

In the sortie on December 11–12, 1917 the 3rd Half-Flotilla (G 101, G 103, G 104, V 100) off the Norwegian coast decimated a British convoy off Bergen. Only the escorting destroyer HMS Pellew survived. Partridge, four escort trawlers, six merchants went down. Emden and its DDs remained near Horns Reef. On December 14, they returned to Wilhelmshaven.

Action off Bergen and Fate

There were more sorties like on April 13, 1918 with Graudenz into the Skagerrak at Hanstholm. In the end, the remaining destroyers were interned at Scapa Flow from November 22, 1918, scuttled on June 21, 1919. But V 100 survived and she was handed over to France in 1921, scrapped. B 109, B 110, B 111, B 112 were raised in the winter of 1925/26 and scrapped. B 97 and B 98 were mail ships to Scapa Flow in 1918/19 and escaped the scuttling. Later sttill her ran aground and sank in Lopness Bay, Sanday. B 97 was handed over to Italy renamed Premuda and then Cesare Rossarol, active until 1939.

S.M.S. B 97

SMS B 97 was laid down at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg in mid-1914, lauched on 15 December 1914, commissioned on 13 February 1915. Entering service with the Kaiserliche Marine she was initially classified as a destroyer and assigned to the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla, taking part in the same operations as described above and took part in the major Battle of Jutland between May 31 and June 1, 1916, taking no hits. She also took part in the Baltic offensive. No logs so far. Postwar with the peace treaty she as attributed to Italy.

Cesare Rosarol
Postwar she was allocated to Italy as war reparation 1920. Commissioned in Italian Navy as Cesare Rossarol on 1 December 1924. She had been transferred to the Regia Marina along with Premuda and Ardimentoso as war reparations but was so large she was reclassified as a light scout cruiser, renamed “Cesare Rossarol” a name previously sported by a scout cruiser which struck mines two weeks before the war’s end, sinking with almost all hands. Between 1920 and 1924, the Esploratori Cesare Rossarol underwent extensive modifications at Pola. Her original armament was changed to three 120/45 mm guns, two 76/40 mm guns, two machine guns, and her original four 500 mm torpedo tubes. Her displacement when from 1,352 tons under normal load and 1,814 tons full load, to 1,163 tons and 1,774 tons FL. Also her forecastle was extended to the bridge, the masts were modified and she was repainted in Med colors, ligh azzuro grey and green hull. During the 1920s, Rossarol operated as part of the Scout Groups and the Light Naval Division and in 1929, she was reclassified as a destroyer. In 1931, she underwent further modifications with one boiler removed to make room for more fuel oil but output fell to 30,000 hp, speed to 32 knots. The torpedo armament changed as she receoved four 450 mm tubes instead of her former German 500mm. Later assigned the role of an experimental vessel at La Spezia, Rossarol was stricken from the naval register in January 1939 and scrapped, the last survivor of the B97 class.

S.M.S. B 98

SMS B 98 was ordered from Blohm & Voss, Hamburg in 1914, laid down somewhere in late 1914, launched on 2 January 1915 and completed on 24 March 1915. Her first commanding officer was Kapitänleutnant Theodor Hengstenberg. Later she was under command of Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Schuur and Oskar Heinecke, in the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla. On August 17, 1915, she was part of a sortie to Horns Reef, her unit spotting and engaging the British auxiliary minelayer Princess Margaret (5,934 GRT) escorted by destroyers from the 10th and 4th Destroyer Flotillas underway to mine the Amrumbank. Only B 98 fired torpedoes but missed Princess Margaret, struck instead the destroyer HMS Mentor and this was sufficient to abort the operation. Mentor lost her bow but managed to return to Harwich.
On February 10, 1916, the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla sortied to Dogger Bank, and stumbled upon British minelayers, converted Flower-class sloops which were mistook for as cruisers so they folded back. B98 was present at the Battle of Jutland, in the wing of the battlecruisers and so she was hit by a shell that destroyed her aft twin torpedo launcher, killed 2, wounded 11. Her unit was directed by Commodore Paul Heinrich aboard Regensburg. She saw sorties in 1916 and 1917, no contact.
In October 1917, B 98 was sent to the Baltic to cover an amphibious landing operation and occupy Ösel, Dagö, and Moon. On October 12, 1917 she was in the Kassar Wiek taking part in a angagement with Russian DDs starting at 13:20. Grom was badly hit and abandoned, evacuated. B 98 attempted to take her in tow but she sank at 15:10. On October 15, B 98 struck a Russian minefield laid the previous night, losing her bow with 14 KiA and 5 wounded. She was towed to Libau for repairs, fitted there with a makeshift wooden bow, proceeded to the Kiel shipyard under its own power for full repairs. After the end of the war, B 98 became a mail ship between Scapa Flow and Wilhelmshaven where was held captive the High Seas Fleet. She was back to Scapa Flow on June 22, 1919, just the day following the scuttling and immediately boarded by Royal Navy personnel. In February 1920, it was decided she would be scrapped, and slated to be taken to the Scottish Rosyth base but with a storm the tow line snapped, she drifted northward into Lopness Bay, Sanday, ran aground and sank. 100 years later, she still lies today. Her guns were removed in 1989 and the “Sanday’s Heritage Group” created a memorial to B 98 at Lopness Bay. One gun is on show at the Scapa Flow Museum at Lyness.

S.M.S. V 99

SMS V 99 was laid down at AG Vulcan, Stettin in late 1914, launched on 9 February 1915 and commissioned on 20 April 1915. Fate: Mined following engagement with Russian destroyers in the Battle of the Gulf of Riga on 17 August 1915 and Damaged in combat with the Russian destroyer Novik. She sank off Miķeļtornis (Latvia) with some sources stating she was scuttled and/or blown up by her own crew to prevent capture after loosing all power. Missing Logs, in research.

S.M.S. V 100

SMS V 100 was laid down at AG Vulcan, Stettin in late 1914, launched on 8 March 1915 and commissioned on 17 June 1915. Missing Logs, in research. Fate: Scuttled at Scapa Flow 21 June 1919. Salvaged 1919 and scrapped 1921.

S.M.S. B 109

SMS B 109 was laid down at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg in late 1914, launched on 11 March 1915 and commissioned on 8 June 1915. Missing Logs, in research. Fate: Scuttled at Scapa Flow 21 June 1919. Salvaged and scrapped 1926.

S.M.S. B 110

SMS B 110 was laid down at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg in late 1914, launched on 31 March 1915 and commissioned on 26 June 1915. Missing Logs, in research. Fate: Scuttled at Scapa Flow 21 June 1919. Salvaged 1925, scrapped 1926.

S.M.S. B 99

SMS B 111 was laid down at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg in late 1914, launched on 8 June 1915 and commissioned on 10 August 1915. Missing Logs, in research. Fate: Scuttled at Scapa Flow 21 June 1919. Salvaged and scrapped 1926.

S.M.S. B 112

SMS B 112 was laid down at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg in late 1914, launched on 17 June 1915 and commissioned on 3 September 1915. Missing Logs, in research. Fate: Scuttled at Scapa Flow 21 June 1919. Salvaged and scrapped 1926.