This vessel is one of the earliest German armoured cruisers. She was built specially for service abroad, and was formerly on the China station. She displaces 8,760 tons, is 410-ft. in length, and originally steamed at 20½ knots, but is now considerably slower. Her armament consists of two 9·4-in., ten 5·9-in., and ten 21-pounder guns, with four torpedo tubes, three of them submerged. The big guns are in single turrets placed at each end, whilst the secondary armament is mounted partly in small turrets, and partly in battery. There is only a 4-in. belt on the waterline, with 6-in. plating on the heavy turrets. The full fuel supply is 1,450 tons. Her complement numbers 567 officers and men. FÜRST BISMARCK. (Completed 1900.) This is the oldest armoured cruiser in service. She is at present being converted into a torpedo training ship, and may not have her full armament on board. The displacement is 10,750 tons, length 411-ft., speed 19 knots. She carries four 9·4-in., twelve 5·9-in., ten 21-pounders, and six torpedo tubes. The big guns are in two twin turrets. An 8-in. belt protects the waterline, and the main gun positions have plating of equal thickness. This vessel was completed in 1900, having taken more than four years to build. Her present fighting value is small. The complement is 594 officers and men. PROTECTED CRUISERS. KAISERIN AUGUSTA. (Completed 1893.) This is the oldest German protected cruiser in service. Launched in 1892, she has a displacement of 5,900 tons, and a speed of 20 knots. She is armed with twelve 5·9-in. quick-firing guns, and eight 21-pounders, with three torpedo tubes. There is a thick steel deck, which extends from bow to stern. The complement is 439 officers and men. VICTORIA LUISE. HERTHA. VINETA. HANSA. FREYA. (Completed 1898-99.) These are vessels of 5,600 tons displacement, and belong to the training squadron for cadets and boys. They can steam at about 19 knots, but the small coal capacity of 900 tons limits their radius of action. The armament consists of two 8·2-in. guns in single armoured turrets, six 5·9-in., and fourteen 21-pounder quick-firers with three torpedo tubes. Amidships there is a 4-in. protective deck, and armour of the same thickness protects the guns. A complement of 465 officers and men is carried. GEFION. (Completed 1894.) This is a protected cruiser of 3,700 tons, with a speed of about 19 knots, armed with ten 4·1-in. and six smaller quick-firers. There are no torpedo tubes. A complement of 296 officers and men is carried. HELA. (Completed 1896.) The “Hela” is a small cruiser of 2,000 tons, with a nominal speed of 20 knots. She is armed with two 21-pounder and four smaller guns, and has three torpedo tubes. There is a steel deck over boilers and machinery. The complement is 191 officers and men. GAZELLE. NIOBE. (Completed 1898-1901.)