Graf von Götzen

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 13 Jan 2007 13:50

The German gunboat that still is in operation on Lake Tanganyika:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Liemba

Jan-Hendrik · Post by **Jan-Hendrik** » 14 Jan 2007 16:17

A few years ago I saw a docomentation in german TV about its weird fate , the transport to the Lake , its "life" once & today . Was really ain interesting one . I think that was on ARTE TV !

Yes , right , it was on ARTE TV :

http://www.zeit.de/archiv/2001/37/20013 ... .afrik.xml

Jan-Hendrik

Utrecht · Post by **Utrecht** » 08 Mar 2007 12:46

Spring 1916 the German Tanganjika fleet (which was reduced to only the Goetzen) was reinforced with the Wami and the Adjutant (a British captured steamer).

July 26, the Wami was sunk by a British steamer in what was the last engagement in WWI on Lake Tanganjika. What happened to the Adjudant? And who has more information about these two ships?

Seesoldat · Post by **Seesoldat** » 08 Mar 2007 16:03

A couple of years ago I hold a lecture about WWI on the East African lakes.

The sources tell us, that

"Graf Götzen" was scuttled on July, 27th

"Adjudant" was blown up on the yard of Kigoma, where it should have been refitted for service on July, 27th. Please remember that the ship was recaptured from the British - it was a former German steamer!

"Wami" was scuttled on July, 28th by Steuermann Wettstein

More information is available here: http://www.traditionsverband.de/ and "Magazin"/"Der I. Weltkrieg auf den Seen von Deutsch-Ostafrika"

Yours Markus

Utrecht · Post by **Utrecht** » 08 Mar 2007 17:18

I was wrong; the Wami was indeed scuttled, but while sinking a British steamer took it under fire.

So, originally the Adjutant was a German ship, than captured by the British and eventually recaptured. Interesting.

The last 3 German ships in Lake Tanganjika were all sunk by German hand. This was because the opposition was much faster and their guns had a longer range. Only the Goetzen had a chance to fight the British ships. But, in May 1916 the ship was stripped of its 105mm and 88mm guns as these were needed by the Schutztruppe. This decision was made by Von Lettow-Vorbeck. But whas this decision right? Now the Allies controled the Tanganjika they could start land operations from the lake banks. How usefull were the guns for the Schutztruppe?

Seesoldat · Post by **Seesoldat** » 09 Mar 2007 08:48

Dear Utrecht,

if you study the strategic position of Lettows forces in summer 1916, he made the decision to concentrate his forces along the eastern part of the central railway with the southeastern part of the colony as his backbone and the malaria infected Rufidji as a natural border.

Because of this the strategic value of lake Tanganjika was very low for him allthough it was very good for the enemy as far as transportation concerns. But with loosing your base - including the yard in Kigoma - time of operation was limited.

The scuttling of the vessels was necessary instead of beeing captured by the enemy. So he came to the conslusion to remove the guns for use in the following campaign. Unfotunately it was very difficult for his engineer corps to make them movable.

Markus

Jan-Hendrik · Post by **Jan-Hendrik** » 09 Mar 2007 09:01

Markus , great input !

I remember the situation of improving the Königsberg's guns only vague , maybe I have to dig out my Lochner again after all those years

Jan-Hendrik

Utrecht · Post by **Utrecht** » 09 Mar 2007 13:35

Seesoldat wrote:Dear Utrecht,

if you study the strategic position of Lettows forces in summer 1916, he made the decision to concentrate his forces along the eastern part of the central railway with the southeastern part of the colony as his backbone and the malaria infected Rufidji as a natural border.

Because of this the strategic value of lake Tanganjika was very low for him allthough it was very good for the enemy as far as transportation concerns. But with loosing your base - including the yard in Kigoma - time of operation was limited.

The scuttling of the vessels was necessary instead of beeing captured by the enemy. So he came to the conslusion to remove the guns for use in the following campaign. Unfotunately it was very difficult for his engineer corps to make them movable.

Markus

A very reasonable explanation. But, later the Allied columns advancing from the eastern borders of the lake kept the Schutztruppe busy.

''Unfotunately it was very difficult for his engineer corps to make them movable. ''

Does this mean they hardly used the guns?

Chris Dale · Post by **Chris Dale** » 09 Mar 2007 23:40

Jan-Hendrik wrote:
I remember the situation of improving the Königsberg's guns only vague , maybe I have to dig out my Lochner again after all those years

Jan-Hendrik

There's a new page on the Königsberg's guns at http://www.germancolonialuniforms.co.uk , with info and photos of the remianing guns today. Scroll down the main page to the title "Königsberg guns".

Cheers
Chris

Jan-Hendrik · Post by **Jan-Hendrik** » 10 Mar 2007 09:26

Thank you , Chris !

Jan-Hendrik