"Schlachtschiff - Battleship: SMS Konig at sea with SMS Markgraf; B109 Torpedo Boat and Light Cruiser"

Original Painting in Water Colour with White Gouache Body Colour on Paper

Image size: 11 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches (30 x 45 cm)

Signed and dated '15 and inscribed SMS Konig, lower right

Framed in our 2 1/2 inch (6.5 cm) wide frame in silver over black with an off-white, acid-free mount

Sold to a Private Collection in the USA

SMS (Seiner Majestät Schiff) Konig was the lead ship of a class of four superb battleships built for the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine). She was completed at Wilhelmshaven Imperial Dockyard on the tenth of August, 1914.

The class were contemporary with the British Iron Duke class. They carried 12 inch guns, in contrast to the British 13 ½ inch armament, and were capable eventually of firing over 12 miles. Konig also carried secondary armament of 5.9 inch guns.

Konig cost £2,415,000 (compared to Iron Duke’s £1,845,000) and she was engineered to typically high German standards, with refinements including heating for her crew - something unknown in the Royal Navy at that time. She was 25,790 tons and measured 590 feet by 97. This was shorter and broader than Iron Duke and gave Konig greater stability.

Her armour like most German ships was heavier than that of similar British vessels and of high quality. Konig as flagship carried a maximum complement of 1178. Like all German battleships of the period she was coal fired with secondary oil firing. Her three turbines drove her three screws up to 21 knots operationally, although reported to have reached 25 knots.

SMS Konig had a very active career in different theatres. In 1916 she served as 3rd Battle Squadron flagship at the Battle of Skaggerak (Jutland) flying the flag of Rear Admiral Paul Behnke. During the battle Konig received 10 hits from 13 ½ and 15 inch shells and at one point was engaged with HMS Iron Duke.

In 1917 Konig was active in the Baltic and took part in the Battle of Moon Sound when she put a Russian battleship out of action. The final sortie, planned for October 1918, of the Hochseeflotte (High Seas Fleet) against the Grand Fleet was prevented by mutinies, the captain of Konig being shot and wounded and two officers killed. Mechanical problems meant Konig did not sail with the fleet on surrender and did not arrive for internment in Scapa Flow until December 1918.

On June 21st 1919 the Hochseeflotte (High Seas Fleet) scuttled itself. Konig, with most of the battleships, turned turtle and sank. During the 1920’s and 30’s most ships were salvaged and scrapped but three Konig class ships, Konig, Markgraf and Kronprinz Wilhelm were not salvaged. Some demolition took place in the 1960s but they remain upside down in Scapa Flow off the island of Cava. Konig lies in 130’ of water, the keel 66’ down. Now owned by the Orkney Islands Council, she and her sisters are underwater tourist attractions for scuba divers.

Ian Lowe’s studio at Scapa Flow is close to Konig’s final resting-place.

COMMISSIONING IAN LOWE

At Marine Artists.co.uk one of our main specialities is commissioning great marine and historical paintings forclients and collectorsall over the world

To commission your own painting from Ian Lowe, contact Charles Mayescm@marineartists.co.ukand we will post or email you a free pack of information including our short guides "Commissioning a Painting from Ian Lowe" and "Price Guide and Timescale"

Photographs & images:We make every effort to ensure that our photographs represent the paintings on our site faithfully but viewers must be aware that variations in colour and tone can occur according to the screen on which the image is viewed. Image is strictly artist's copyright - no reproduction without permission.