SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm

SMS "Kronprinz Wilhelm" (His Majesty's Ship "Crown Prince William") was a "König" class battleship in service with the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

She was originally named SMS "Kronprinz", but became the second ship to take the name "Kronprinz Wilhelm" when the Hilfkreuzer "Kronprinz Wilhelm", an auxiliary merchant cruiser, was confiscated by the United States in 1917. "Kronprinz" was the fourth and final member of the "König" class.

As one of the four most powerful ships in the German High Seas Fleet, "Kronprinz Wilhelm" played an important role in a number of operations, not least of which was her involvement in the Battle of Jutland. She was also instrumental in the German victory at the Battle of Moon Sound in October 1917.

The ship survived the war, only to be surrendered to the British at Scapa Flow, where she was scuttled along with the rest of the High Seas Fleet by her own crew on 21 June 1919. The "Kronprinz Wilhelm" capsized when sinking due to the presence of heavy deck armament. She lies on a 35 m deep seabed with the hull inverted with the keel at about 15-20 m deep. Large holes pierce the hull where salvaging for valuable metals took place. The location is a popular dive site, and the guns are visible near the seabed.

See also

* List of German Imperial Navy ships
* List of naval ships of Germany