View source for V1-class destroyer

{{Short description|Class of Imperial German Navy torpedo boats}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=SMS V 5.jpg
|Ship caption=SMS ''V5'' underway
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''V1'' class
|Builders=
|Operators=*{{Navy|German Empire}}
*{{Navy|Greece|royalnavy|name=Royal Hellenic Navy}}
*{{Navy|France}}
|Class before=
|Class after=
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=
|In service range=   
|In commission range=  
|Total ships building= 
|Total ships planned=26
|Total ships completed=26
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=8
|Total ships retired=18
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption= 
|Ship type=[[Destroyer]]
|Ship displacement=570 tonnes
|Ship length={{convert|70.2|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|7.6|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught={{convert|3.1|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship speed={{convert|32|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship complement= 74 men and officers
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*2 × [[8.8 cm SK L/30 naval gun|{{convert|8.8|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}}]]/30 guns
*4 × {{convert|50|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s
|Ship armour=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

The German '''''V1''-class torpedo boats''' was a class of 26 large [[torpedo boats]] in service with the [[Imperial German Navy]], [[Reichsmarine]], [[Kriegsmarine]] and [[Royal Hellenic Navy]] in the early 20th century.

==Design==
In 1911, the Imperial German Navy placed orders for a flotilla of twelve torpedo boats as part of its shipbuilding programme for that year, with one half [[flotilla]] of six ordered from [[AG Vulcan Stettin|AG Vulcan]], and six from [[Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft|Germaniawerft]].{{efn|The Imperial German Navy's practice was to split a year's orders into half-flotillas of six torpedo boats from different builders, to differing detailed design.<ref name="conways06 p164">{{Harvnb|Gardiner|Gray|1985|p=164}}</ref>}} The 1911 torpedo boats were smaller than those ordered in recent years in order to be more manoeuvrable and so work better with the fleet, which resulted in the numbering series for torpedo boats being restarted. The reduction in size resulted in the ships' seaworthiness being adversely affected,<ref name="conways06 p167">{{Harvnb|Gardiner|Gray|1985|p=167}}</ref> with the 1911 torpedo boats and the similar craft of the 1912 programme acquiring the disparaging nickname "Admiral Lans' cripples".<ref name="conways06 p164"/>

The six Vulcan-built ships, the ''V1'' class,{{efn|The "V" in ''V1'' denotes the shipyard at which the ship was built.<ref name="conways06 p164"/>}}  ship was {{convert|71.1|m|ftin}} [[length overall|long overall]] and {{convert|70.2|m|ftin}} [[waterline length|at the waterline]], with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|7.6|m|ftin}} and a [[Draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|3.11|m|ftin}}. [[Displacement (ship)|Displacement]] was {{convert|569|t|LT}} normal and {{convert|697|t|LT}} deep load. Three coal-fired and one oil-fired [[water-tube boiler]]s fed steam to two direct-drive [[steam turbine]]s rated at {{convert|17000|PS|shp kW}}, giving a design speed of {{convert|32|kn}}.<ref name="Grov2 p51">{{Harvnb|Gröner|1983|p=51}}</ref> {{convert|107|t|LT}} of coal and {{convert|78|t|LT}} of oil were carried, giving a range of {{convert|1190|nmi}} at {{convert|17|kn}} or {{convert|490|nmi}} at {{convert|29|kn}}.<ref name="conways06 p167"/>

Armament consisted of two [[8.8 cm SK L/30 naval gun|{{convert|8.8|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}}]]/30 naval guns{{efn|In Imperial German Navy gun nomenclature, the L/30 denotes the length of the gun. In this case, the L/30 gun is 30 [[Caliber (artillery)|caliber]], meaning that the gun is 30 times as long as it is in diameter.}} in single mounts fore and aft, together with four 50&nbsp;cm (19.7&nbsp;in) [[torpedo tube]]s with one reload torpedo carried. Up to 18 [[Naval mine|mine]]s could be carried.<ref name="conways06 p167"/><ref name="Grov2 p51"/> Crew was 74 officers and other ranks.<ref name="conways06 p167"/>

==Ships==
===Imperial German Navy===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width="60px"|Vessel
!width="100px"|Launched
!width="100px"|Completed
!style="border-right:1px solid black;" |Fate
|-
| {{SMS|V1||2}}
| 11 Sep 1911
| 12 Jan 1912
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; stricken from the Fleet list, 27 Mar 1929; scrapped, Wilhelmshaven.
|-
| {{SMS|V2||2}}
| 14 Oct 1911
| 28 Mar 1912
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; stricken from the Fleet list, 18 Nov 1929; scrapped, Wilhelmshaven.
|-
| {{SMS|V3||2}}
| 15 Nov 1911
| 2 May 1912
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; stricken from the Fleet list, 18 Nov 1929; scrapped, Wilhelmshaven.
|-
| {{SMS|V4||2}}
| 23 Dec 1911
| 15 Jun 1912
| sunk 03.20 hrs, 1 Jun 1916 during the [[Battle of Jutland]] {{Coord|55|36|N|6|37|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS V4}} (18 killed).
|-
| ''V5'' (i)
| 22 May 1912
| '''-'''
| Sold to Greece, Jul 1912 as {{ship|Greek destroyer|Keravnos||2}}; laid up 1919 and scrapped, 1921.
|-
| ''V6'' (i)
| 29 Feb 1912
| '''-'''
| Sold to Greece, Jul 1912 as {{ship|Greek destroyer|Nea Genea||2}}; laid up 1919 and scrapped, 1921.
|-
| {{SMS|G7||2}}
| 7 Nov 1911
| 30 Apr 1912
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; Training vessel, 1936; re-designated ''T 107'', 23 Apr 1939; to USSR, 1945 as ''Poražajuščij'', later hulked; scrapped, 1957.
|-
| {{SMS|G8||2}}
| 21 Dec 1911
| 6 Aug 1912
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; Training vessel, 1936; re-designated ''T 108'', 23 Apr 1939;  to UK, 6 Jan 1946; scrapped 1946.
|-
| {{SMS|G9||2}}
| 31 Jan 1912
| 25 Sep 1912
| mined and sunk 04.15 hrs 3 May 1918 in {{Coord|55|14|N|6|19|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS G9}} (31 killed).
|-
| {{SMS|G10||2}}
| 15 Mar 1912
| 28 Aug 1912
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; Training vessel, 1936; re-designated ''T 110'', 23 Apr 1939; sunk, 5 May 1945 in the River Trave, [[Lübeck]].
|-
| {{SMS|G11||2}}
| 23 Apr 1912
| 8 Aug 1912
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; Training vessel, 1936; re-designated ''T 111'', 23 Apr 1939; bombed and sunk, 3 Apr 1945 in Scheerhafen, [[Kiel]].
|-
| {{SMS|G12||2}}
| 15 Juli 1912
| 17 Oct 1912
| damaged in collision with  {{SMS|V1||2}}, 06.00 hrs 8 Sep 1915 in {{Coord|55|25|N|7|28|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS G12}} and sunk following a torpedo explosion (47 killed).
|}

'''1912 Program''' (VII Flotilla)
On completion, these vessels formed the VII Torpedo Boat Flotilla of the High Seas Fleet.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width="60px"|Vessel
!width="100px"|Launched
!width="100px"|Completed
!style="border-right:1px solid black;" |Fate
|-
| {{SMS|S13|1911|2}}
| 7 Dec 1911
| 2 Jul 1912
| sunk 08.56 hrs 6 Nov 1914 in {{Coord|54|0|N|8|22|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS S13}} following a torpedo explosion (9 killed).
|-
| {{SMS|S14|1912|2}}
| 2 Mar 1912
| 1 Nov 1912
| sunk by internal explosion, 19 Feb 1915 in the [[Jade]] in{{Coord|53|40|N|8|5|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS S14}} (11 killed); raised, 1915 and scrapped, Wilhelmshaven.
|-
| {{SMS|S15|1912|2}}
| 23 Mar 1912
| 1 Nov 1912
| mined 21 Aug 1917 in the English Channel in {{Coord|51|15|N|2|55|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS S15}}; removed from service as beyond repair, 20 Sep 1917 and scrapped, Ghent.
|-
| {{SMS|S16|1912|2}}
| 20 Apr 1912
| 1 Oct 1912
| mined and sunk 18.15 hrs, 20 Jan 1918 in {{Coord|54|41|N|2|55|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS S16}} (80 killed).
|-
| {{SMS|S17|1912|2}}
| 22 Jun 1912
| 7 Dec 1912
| mined and sunk 16 May 1917 in {{Coord|53|34|N|5|56|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS S17}} (25 killed).
|-
| {{SMS|S18|1912|2}}
| 10 Aug 1912
| 12 Jan 1913
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; collided with battleship {{SMS|Hannover||2}} off Rugen, 23 May 1922 (10 killed); repaired; stricken from Fleet list, 1929; sold 31 Mar 1931 and scrapped, Kiel, 1935.
|-
| {{SMS|S19|1912|2}}
| 17 Oct 1912
| 29 Mar 1913
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; stricken from Fleet list, 1929; sold 31 Mar 1931; scrapped, Kiel, 1935.
|-
| {{SMS|S20|1912|2}}
| 4 Dec 1912
| 1 Nov 1913
| sunk in action with {{HMS|Centaur|1916|6}}, 04.00 hrs 5 Jun 1917 off Flanders Coast in {{Coord|51|28|N|2|48|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS S20}} (49 killed).
|-
| {{SMS|S21|1913|2}}
| 11 Jan 1913
| 20 Jun 1913
| rammed and sunk by {{SMS|Hamburg}} 21 Apr 1915 in {{Coord|53|47|N|08|09|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS S21}} (36 killed).
|-
| {{SMS|S22|1913|2}}
| 15 Feb 1913
| 23 Jul 1913
| mined and sunk 21.35 hrs 26 Mar 1916 in {{Coord|53|46|N|5|4|E|elevation= |dim= |name=SMS S22}} (76 killed).
|-
| {{SMS|S23|1913|2}}
| 29 Mar 1913
| 1 Nov 1913
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; renumbered ''T 123'' 16 Mar 1932; renamed ''Komet'', 23 Apr 1939; control vessel for radio-controlled target vessel {{SMS|Hessen||2}}; the fate since November 1944 is unknown.
|-
| {{SMS|S24|1913|2}}
| 28 Jun 1913
| 27 Aug 1913
| surrendered to the UK at Cherbourg, 28 Apr 1920; stranded on the south coast, 1920; later scrapped.
|}

'''1912 Supplementary order'''
Replacements for the two vessels sold to Greece in 1912. 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width="60px"|Vessel
!width="100px"|Launched
!width="100px"|Completed
!style="border-right:1px solid black;" |Fate
|-
|-
| {{SMS|V5||2}} (ii)
| 25 Apr 1913
| 17 Jul 1913
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; deleted from Fleet list, 18 Nov 1929; scrapped, Wilhelmshaven.
|-
| {{SMS|V6|1913|2}} (ii)
| 28 Feb 1913; 
| 17 May 1913
| to Reichsmarine, 1919; deleted from Fleet list, 27 Mar 1929; scrapped, Wilhelmshaven
|}

== History ==
The ships were ordered from Germany in 1912. The ships ''V1'' through ''V4'' served as V-class destroyers in the [[Imperial German Navy]]. The ships that served in the [[Greek Navy]] had been assigned German numbers ''V5'' and ''V6'', but were purchased before entering service in the German Navy, from the German shipyard [[Stettiner Vulcan AG|Vulcan AG]] in [[Stettin]], when the [[Balkan Wars]] were under-way (they were replaced in the German service with another ''V5'' and ''V6''). They were the first ships of the fleet that had [[steam turbine]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/dfg_history1_en.asp |title=Hellenic Navy website |access-date=2010-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208043257/http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/dfg_history1_en.asp |archive-date=2010-12-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:German-V-class-destroyers-silhouette.gif|thumbnail|left|Silhouette of the ''V1'' class]]

Later, during [[World War I]], [[Greece]] belatedly entered the war on the side of the [[Triple Entente]] and, due to Greece's neutrality the two ex-German V-class ships were seized by the [[Allies of World War I|Allies]] in October 1916, taken over by the [[France|French]] in November and served in the [[French Navy]] from 1917–18. By 1918, they were back on escort duty under Greek colors, mainly in the [[Aegean Sea]].<ref>[http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/greek_navy.htm  battleships and cruisers website]</ref>

The two ships were stricken in 1919 and scrapped in 1922.
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
{{notelist}}

==Citations==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==References==
*{{cite book|editor-last1=Gardiner|editor-first1=Robert|editor-last2=Gray|editor-first2=Randal|title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-245-5}}
*{{cite book|last=Gröner|first=Erich|title=Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815–1945: Band 2: Torpedoboote, Zerstörer, Schnelleboote, Minensuchboote, Minenräumboote|year=1983|publisher=Bernard & Graefe Verlag|location=Koblenz, Germany|isbn=3-7637-4801-6|language=German}}

{{V1 class destroyer}}
{{WWI German ships |state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:V class destroyers}}
[[Category:Destroyer classes]]
[[Category:V1-class destroyers| ]]