SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm

Type: The SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm was a Konig class battleship and was 575 feet long had a 97 foot beam with a draught of 30 foot, her top speed was 23 knots. There were three other Konig class battleships, the SMS Konig, the SMS Grober Kurfurst, and the SMS Markgraf Her armament consisted of five twin turrets with 12 inch guns which were all placed on the centre line with super firing pairs fore and aft with the fifth turret stuck in between the funnels but still at the same height as the aft super firing one. Either side of her massive hull was fourteen 5.9 inch guns arranged in Barbettes, with another six 3.45 inch guns and an array of anti aircraft batteries, She also had 5 submerged torpedo tubes.

Picture:

Wreck Information : This is a big wreck and if you are diving a single you should ask the skipper to shot the bit of the wreck you want to dive. The Kronprinz Wilhelm sits upside down on a flat seabed with most of the superstructure crushed into the wreck. The stern section it is easy to locate the twin rudders with the propeller shafts. The two masts of the vessel can still be seen on the seabed. The seabed all around is littered with wreckage as is the area towards the bows. She is a big wreck and it takes many dives to get to know her. If its dark its a good idea to put a strobe 2 m above the highest point of the wreck on the shot line so you dont have to use an SMB.

Harbour / slip: Stromness

Travel directions: Northlinkferries 0845 6000 449. Photographic ID is required on the ferry now

Parking directions: In the car park opposite to the car ferry entrance.

Distance from harbour: 6.3Nm

Lat / Long: 58.53.39N 03.09.46W East side of Cava

Chart: Admiralty Chart 35, Scapa Flow and Approaches

Depth: 38m and the keel is at 12m. Great for Nitrox

Tides: Tide tables

Dive Boat: The Karin Jean Elaine Sharon Rose Sunrise Gaelic rose Invincible Halton Valkyrie