View source for SMS Blücher

{{Use shortened footnotes|date=October 2022}}
{{Short description|Armored cruiser of the German Imperial Navy}}
{{other ships|List of ships named Blucher}}
{{for|the earlier sailing corvette|SMS Blücher (1877)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image   = File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-61-11, Großer Kreuzer "SMS Blücher".jpg
| Ship image size = 300px
| Ship caption = SMS {{lang|de|Blücher}} in 1912
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Class before={{sclass|Scharnhorst|cruiser|4}}
|Class after=None
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = [[German Empire]]
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|German Empire|naval}}
| Ship name = {{lang|de|Blücher}}
| Ship namesake = {{SMS|Blücher|1877}}
| Ship builder = [[Kaiserliche Werft Kiel|Kaiserliche Werft]], [[Kiel]]
| Ship laid down = 21 February 1907
| Ship launched = 11 April 1908
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = 1 October 1909
| Ship fate = Sunk during the [[Battle of Dogger Bank (1915)|Battle of Dogger Bank]], 24 January 1915
| Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = [[Armored cruiser]]
| Ship displacement =
*[[Normal displacement|Normal]]: {{cvt|15842|t|LT|lk=on}}
*[[Full-load displacement|Full load]]: {{cvt|17500|t|LT}}
| Ship length = {{cvt|161.8|m|ftin}} [[Length overall|overall]]
| Ship beam   = {{cvt|24.5|m|ftin}}
| Ship draft  = {{cvt|8.84|m|0}}
| Ship power  = 
* 18 × [[water-tube boiler]]s
* {{cvt|38,323|PS|ihp|lk=on}}
| Ship propulsion =
*  3 × [[triple-expansion steam engine]]s
*  3 × screw [[propeller]]s
| Ship speed = {{convert|25.4|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range =
* {{convert|6600|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn}}
* {{convert|3350|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|18|kn}}  
| Ship complement =
*  41 officers
* 812 sailors
| Ship armament =
* 12 × [[21 cm SK L/45|{{convert|21|cm|in|1|abbr=on}}]] SK L/45 guns
*  8 × [[15 cm SK L/45|15&nbsp;cm (5.9&nbsp;in) SK L/45 gun]]s
* 16 × [[8.8 cm SK L/45 naval gun|8.8&nbsp;cm (3.5&nbsp;in) SK L/45 gun]]s
*  4 × {{convert|45|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s  
| Ship armor =
*[[Belt armor]]: {{convert|6|-|18|cm|in|1|abbr=on}}
*[[Casemate]]s: {{convert|14|cm|in|1|abbr=on}}
*[[Barbette]]s: {{convert|18|cm|in|0|abbr=on}}
*[[Gun turret|Turrets]]: {{convert|6|-|18|cm|in|1|abbr=on}}
*[[Conning tower]]: {{convert|8|-|25|cm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''SMS {{lang|de|Blücher}}'''{{efn|name=SMS}} was the last [[armored cruiser]] built for the German {{lang|de|[[Kaiserliche Marine]]}} (Imperial Navy) in the late 1900s. She was designed in response to the latest British armored cruisers, but the British had already begun work on the {{sclass|Invincible|battlecruiser|1}}s, which marked a significant increase in firepower over earlier armored cruisers. {{lang|de|Blücher}} was armed with a [[main battery]] of twelve {{cvt|21|cm}} guns, compared to the eight {{cvt|30.5|cm|0}} guns of the British ships. {{lang|de|Blücher}} entered service after the ''Invincible''s were [[ship commissioning|commissioned]], and as a result, was obsolescent at the start of her career.

{{lang|de|Blücher}} was built at the [[Kaiserliche Werft Kiel|Kaiserliche Werft]] shipyard in [[Kiel]] between 1907 and 1909, and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 1 October 1909. The ship initially served in the [[I Scouting Group]] for most of her career after entering service in 1910, but in late 1911 was transferred to serve as a gunnery [[training ship]], where she remained until the outbreak of [[World War I]] in August 1914. She then returned to I Scouting Group, operating primarily in the [[North Sea]] against British forces. She took part in the operation to [[Raid on Yarmouth|bombard Yarmouth]] and the [[raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby]] in November and December 1914, respectively.

At the [[Battle of Dogger Bank (1915)|Battle of Dogger Bank]] on 24 January 1915, {{lang|de|Blücher}} was slowed significantly after being hit by gunfire from the British battlecruiser squadron under the command of Vice Admiral [[David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty|David Beatty]]. Rear Admiral [[Franz von Hipper]], the commander of the German squadron, decided to abandon {{lang|de|Blücher}} to the pursuing enemy ships in order to save his more valuable battlecruisers. Under heavy fire from the British ships, she was sunk, and British destroyers began recovering the survivors. However, the destroyers withdrew when a German [[zeppelin]] began bombing them, mistaking the sinking {{lang|de|Blücher}} for a British battlecruiser. The number of casualties is unknown, with figures ranging from 747 to around 1,000. {{lang|de|Blücher}} was the only warship lost during the engagement.

== Background ==
[[File:SMS Scharnhorst by Arthur Renard.jpg|thumb|left|{{SMS|Scharnhorst}}, a predecessor to {{lang|de|Blücher}}]]

The Second [[German Naval Laws|Naval Law]] in Germany, passed in 1900, planned for a total of fourteen [[armored cruiser]]s{{efn|Armored cruisers were vessels that generally possessed [[belt armor|side armor]] intended to serve on foreign stations, as a fast wing of a fleet of [[battleship]]s, or to attack or protect merchant shipping. Side armor differentiated them from large [[protected cruiser]]s that only incorporated an armor [[deck (ship)|deck]] for defense against enemy fire.{{sfn|Dodson 2018|p=7}}}}—referred to as {{lang|de|Grosse Kreuzer}} (large cruisers). These vessels were designed for several tasks: to engage the reconnaissance forces of rival navies, as well as fight in the [[line of battle]]. They were also needed to serve in the [[German colonial empire]] to protect economic interests abroad. The German armored cruiser program had begun in the late 1890s with {{SMS|Fürst Bismarck||2}}, and included a number of iterative designs including {{SMS|Prinz Heinrich||2}} and the {{sclass|Prinz Adalbert|cruiser|5}}, {{sclass|Roon|cruiser|5}}, and {{sclass|Scharnhorst|cruiser|4}}es. Each new design incorporated incremental improvements over the last, such as increased speed, additional or more powerful guns, and more effective armor plating.{{sfn|Staff|p=3}}{{sfn|Dodson 2016|pp=50–51, 56, 58, 65–68}} In general, the German armored cruisers received less armor protection than their opposite numbers in the British fleet. As a result, they compared unfavorably with their British contemporaries.{{sfn|Lyon|p=249}}

Throughout the 1890s and early 1900s, development of the armored cruiser in foreign navies followed a similar pattern. And each development spurred further competition from rival powers, such as that [[Argentine–Chilean naval arms race|between Argentina and Chile]] between 1895 and 1902, and perennial competition between the major European navies.{{sfn|Dodson 2018|pp=58–62, 66, 68–74}} Beginning in the early 1900s, Admiral [[John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher|Jackie Fisher]], then the [[First Sea Lord]] of the British [[Royal Navy]], concluded that future construction should not include [[battleship]]s or armored cruiser, but a new [[capital ship]] that combined the best properties of both types. This new vessel, which would come to be known as the [[battlecruiser]], would carry the same large-caliber armament of the battleship but would have the same high speed of the armored cruiser.{{sfn|Sondhaus|p=199}}

German naval construction in the period was governed by the Naval Law, which had been originally passed in 1898 and amended once in 1900. Under its terms, vessels as old as the converted [[ironclad warship|ironclads]] {{SMS|König Wilhelm||2}} and the two {{sclass|Kaiser|ironclad|0}} ships, which had been rebuilt into armored cruisers in the 1890s. According to the time-table laid out in the law, these old ships would not be due to be replaced until 1910. A second amendment, passed in 1906, provided for an increase to twenty large cruisers, which meant that construction would begin on the first vessel immediately.{{sfn|Dodson 2016|pp=43, 51, 58–59, 71}}

==Design==
[[File:SMS Blucher sketch by Oscar Parkes.jpg|thumb|left|Sketch of {{lang|de|Blücher}} underway by [[Oscar Parkes]]]]

Development of the next German armored cruiser, which was to follow the {{lang|de|Scharnhorst}} class, began in early 1905; at that time, the Germans were not aware of Fisher's thinking on future developments of the type.{{sfn|Dodson 2016|p=77}} The latest class of British armored cruisers, the {{sclass|Minotaur|cruiser|4||1906}}, were known to be armed with {{cvt|9.2|in|cm}} guns, and it was believed that later classes would carry six or eight of these guns.{{sfn|Herwig|p=45}} The German design staff produced a pair of designs in response, "A" and "B", which were in most respects improved {{lang|de|Scharnhorst}}-class cruisers. "A" adopted the same armament of eight {{cvt|21|cm}} guns, while "B" opted for a [[main battery]] of twelve 21&nbsp;cm guns in six twin [[gun turret]]s, four of which were [[wing turret]]s. Both variants had significantly improved armor protection compared to {{lang|de|Scharnhorst}}, including a 20% increase to the belt thickness.{{sfn|Dodson 2016|p=77}} 

Because the new cruiser would be ordered under the provisional name "E",{{efn|name=provisional names}} both versions were renamed "E1" and "E2", respectively, as they were developed further. Additional boilers were added to increase speed, using as many as five [[funnel (ship)|funnels]] to vent the boilers. The cost of "E2" prompted a third variant, which eliminated the wing turrets in favor of [[casemate]] mountings for three guns per side (but leaving the fore and aft turrets). Another variant, "E5", carried a main armament of eight 21&nbsp;cm guns, retaining the fore and aft turrets, with the remainder in single-gun wing turrets. In May, "E6" kept "E5"'s layout, but replaced the ten-gun {{cvt|15|cm}} [[secondary armament|secondary battery]] for eight {{cvt|17|cm}} guns. Two further versions, "E7" and "E8", were broadly similar, but "E7" was slightly smaller, and "E8" reverted to the 15&nbsp;cm secondary battery.{{sfn|Dodson 2016|p=77}}

Consideration was given to a larger {{cvt|24|cm|0}} SK L/45 gun for the main battery, but it was found to be too large and expensive, so all further work kept the 21&nbsp;cm main armament. In September, "E9" was introduced, which was significantly larger than previous ships. It would have carried twelve 21&nbsp;cm guns as in the "E2" design. "E10" and "E11" quickly followed the same month, the changes mostly related to the number of secondary guns and the spacing of the main battery turrets on the basis of experience gained during the [[Russo-Japanese War]] that had recently ended. At the end of the month, proposal "E15" had settled on the characteristics that would be incorporated into the ship that was built. Further experimentation was carried out between September 1905 and March 1906, which produced a series of designs from "E17" to "E23", but they were deemed to be too expensive. In the meantime, "E15" was refined further into the definitive proposal "E16B", which was half of a [[knot (unit)|knot]] faster than "E15" and trunked the four funnels of the earlier design into two larger funnels.{{sfn|Dodson 2016|p=77}}

The {{lang|de|[[Reichstag (German Empire)|Reichstag]]}} authorized funds for the new ship,{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=134}} which was to be named {{lang|de|Blücher}} after the earlier screw [[corvette]] of [[SMS Blücher (1877)|the same name]],{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=101}} on 26 May 1906, along with the first two {{sclass|Nassau|battleship|2}}s, in accordance with the 1906 amendment to the Naval Law. Though the ship would be much larger and more powerful than previous armored cruisers, {{lang|de|Blücher}} retained that designation in an attempt to conceal its more powerful nature.{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=134}} [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]] signed the construction order on 21 June, though work would not begin until early 1907. By that time, Fisher's battlecruisers, the first of which were the {{sclass|Invincible|battlecruiser|4}}, were nearing [[ceremonial ship launching|launching]], and the details of their armament became known. It was too late to alter the design (in part because it would have entailed significant cost increases over the funds already authorized), and so construction proceeded as planned. Though the German ship's 21&nbsp;cm armament was clearly outclassed by the eight {{cvt|30.5|cm|0}} guns of the ''Invincible''s in terms of power, the guns had similar maximum effective ranges, and {{lang|de|Blücher}} had better armor protection. According to the historian [[Aidan Dodson]], {{lang|de|Blücher}} was "...overall a far better balanced design" compared to ''Invincible''.{{sfn|Dodson 2016|p=77}} 

=== General characteristics ===

{{lang|de|Blücher}} was {{convert|161.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[Length at the waterline|long at the waterline]] and {{convert|161.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|long overall]]. The ship had a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|24.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and with the [[anti-torpedo net]]s mounted along the sides of the ship, the beam increased to {{convert|25.62|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. {{lang|de|Blücher}} had a [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{cvt|8.84|m|0}} forward, but slightly less aft, at {{convert|8.56|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The ship [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|15842|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} at her designed weight, and up to {{convert|17500|t|LT|abbr=on}} at [[full-load displacement|full load]]. Her [[hull (watercraft)|hull]] was constructed with both transverse and longitudinal steel frames and she had thirteen [[watertight compartment]]s and a [[double bottom]] that ran for approximately 65&nbsp;percent of the length of the hull. The ship had a raised [[forecastle]] deck that extended for the first third of the length of the hull, where it stepped down to [[main deck]] level. Her [[superstructure]] consisted of a large [[conning tower]] forward with a [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]] atop, and a smaller conning position further aft. She was fitted with a pair of light pole [[mast (sailing)|masts]] for signaling and observation purposes.{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

Documents from the German naval archives generally indicate satisfaction with {{lang|de|Blücher}}<nowiki>'</nowiki>s minor [[ship motions|pitch]] and gentle motion at sea.{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}} However, she suffered from severe roll, and with the rudder [[Rudder#Boat rudders details|hard over]], she heeled over up to 10&nbsp;degrees from the vertical and lost up to 55&nbsp;percent of her speed. {{lang|de|Blücher}}{{'}}s [[metacentric height]] was {{convert|1.63|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The ship had a standard crew of 41 officers and 812 enlisted men, with an additional 14 officers and 62 sailors when she served as a squadron [[flagship]]. She carried a number of smaller vessels, including two [[picket boat]]s, three barges, two [[Launch (boat)|launches]], two [[yawl]]s, and one [[dinghy]].{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

=== Propulsion ===

{{lang|de|Blücher}} was equipped with three vertical, 4-cylinder [[triple-expansion steam engine]]s. Each engine drove a [[screw propeller]], the center screw being {{convert|5.3|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} in diameter, while the outer two screws were slightly larger, at {{convert|5.6|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} in diameter. The ship had a single [[rudder]] with which to steer. The three engines were segregated in individual engine rooms. Steam was provided by eighteen coal-fired, marine-type [[water-tube boiler]]s, which were also divided into five [[fire room|boiler rooms]]. The boilers were vented through a pair of large [[funnel (ship)|funnels]], one directly aft of the foremast and the other directly amidships. Electrical power for the ship was supplied by six turbo-generators that provided up to 1,000&nbsp;kilowatts, rated at 225&nbsp;[[volt]]s.{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

The ship had a designed maximum speed of {{convert|24.5|kn}} from {{convert|32000|PS|ihp|lk=on}}. During her initial speed trials, she achieved {{convert|25.4|kn}} from {{cvt|38323|PS|ihp}};{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}} this was the highest power ever achieved by a [[reciprocating engine]] warship.{{sfn|Friedman 1978|p=91}} The ship was designed to carry {{convert|900|t|LT|abbr=on}} of coal, though voids in the hull could be used to expand the fuel supply to up to {{convert|2510|t|LT|abbr=on}} of coal. This provided a cruising radius of {{convert|6600|nmi|lk=in}} at a cruising speed of {{convert|12|kn}}. When she increased speed to {{convert|18|kn}}, her range fell to {{convert|3250|nmi|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

=== Armament ===
[[File:SMS Blucher line-drawing.png|thumb|Line-drawing of {{lang|de|Blücher}}, showing the disposition of the main battery and armor protection]]
{{lang|de|Blücher}} was equipped with twelve [[21 cm SK L/45|{{cvt|21|cm}}]] SK L/45{{efn|name=gun nomenclature}} quick-firing guns in six twin turrets, one pair fore and one pair aft, and two pairs in wing turrets on either side of the [[superstructure]]. The guns were supplied with a total of 1,020 shells, or 85 rounds per gun.{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}} Each shell weighed {{cvt|238|lb|kg|order=flip}}, and was fired using a {{cvt|77.3|lb|kg|order=flip}} propellant charge that provided a [[muzzle velocity]] of {{cvt|900|m/s}}. The propellant was stored in brass cartridges, unlike the silk bags used in many other navies, so the turrets were more resistant to ammunition fires. The guns could be depressed to −5° and elevated to 30°, providing a maximum range of {{convert|19100|m|yd|abbr=on}}. Their rate of fire was 6 rounds per minute per gun.{{sfn|Friedman 2011|p=142}}{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=140}}

The ship had a secondary battery of eight [[15 cm SK L/45|{{cvt|15|cm}} quick-firing guns]] mounted in casemates,{{sfn|Staff|p=6}} four centered amidships on either side of the vessel.{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}} These guns could engage targets out to {{convert|13500|m|yd|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=140}} They were supplied with 1320 rounds, for 165 shells per gun.{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}} The shells were {{convert|45.3|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}},{{sfn|Staff|p=6}} and were loaded with a {{convert|13.7|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} RPC/12 [[propellant]] charge in a brass cartridge. The guns fired at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|835|m|ft|abbr=on}} per second, at a rate of seven rounds per minute.{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=140}}{{sfn|Friedman 2011|pp=143–144}}

{{lang|de|Blücher}} was also armed with sixteen [[8.8 cm SK L/45 naval gun|{{cvt|8.8|cm}} SK L/45]] quick-firing guns, placed in both casemates and pivot mounts. Four of these guns were mounted in casemates near the bridge, four in casemates in the bow, another four in casemates at the stern, and the remaining four were mounted in pivot mounts in the rear superstructure. They were supplied with a total of 3,200 rounds, or 200 shells per gun,{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}} and could fire at a rate of 15 shells per minute. Their [[high explosive]] shells weighed {{convert|10|kg|lb|abbr=on}},{{sfn|Staff|p=6}} and were loaded with a {{cvt|5.13|lb|kg|order=flip}} propellant charge.{{sfn|Friedman 2011|p=147}} The guns had a maximum range of {{convert|10700|m|yd|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Staff|p=6}}

{{lang|de|Blücher}} was also equipped with four {{cvt|45|cm|1}} [[torpedo tube]]s. One was placed in the bow, one in the stern, and the other two were placed on the [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]], all below the waterline. The ship carried a total of 11 torpedoes.{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}} The torpedoes carried a {{convert|110|kg|lb|abbr=on}} warhead and had two speed settings, which affected the range. At {{convert|32|kn}}, the weapon had a range of {{convert|2000|m|yd|abbr=on}} and at {{convert|36|kn}}, the range was reduced to {{convert|1500|m|yd|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Staff|p=6}}

=== Armor ===

As with other German capital ships of the period, {{lang|de|Blücher}} was equipped with [[Krupp cemented armor]]. The armored [[deck (ship)|deck]] was between {{convert|5|-|7|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} in thickness; more important areas of the ship were protected with thicker armor, while less critical portions of the deck used the thinner armor.{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}} The [[armored belt]] was {{convert|18|cm|in|abbr=on}} thick in the central portion of the ship where propulsion machinery, ammunition [[magazine (artillery)|magazines]], and other vitals were located, and tapered to {{convert|8|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} in less important areas of the hull. The belt tapered down to zero at either end of the ship. Behind the entire length of the belt armor was an additional {{convert|3|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} of [[teak]]. The armored belt was supplemented by a {{convert|3.5|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} [[torpedo bulkhead]],{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}} though this only ran between the forward and rear [[centerline (nautical)|centerline]] gun turrets.{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=151}}

The forward [[conning tower]] was the most heavily armored part of the ship. Its sides were {{convert|25|cm|in|abbr=on}} thick and it had a roof that was 8&nbsp;cm thick. The rear conning tower was significantly less well armored, with a roof that was 3&nbsp;cm thick and sides that were only {{convert|14|cm|in|abbr=on}} thick. The central [[armored citadel|citadel]] of the ship was protected by {{convert|16|cm|in|abbr=on}} armor. The main battery turrets were 8&nbsp;cm thick in their roofs, and had 18&nbsp;cm sides. The 15&nbsp;cm turret casemates were protected by 14&nbsp;cm of armor.{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

== Service history ==

[[File:SMS Blucher.PNG|thumb|SMS {{lang|de|Blücher}} pre-war, circa 1913–1914|alt=A large gray warship sits in harbor, wispy smoke billows lazily from two smoke stacks]]

{{lang|de|Blücher}} was launched on 11 April 1908, and General [[Colmar Freiherr von der Goltz]] gave a speech at the ceremony; the great-granddaughter of [[Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher]], the namesake of the original corvette {{lang|de|Blücher}}, christened the vessel. The new cruiser was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the fleet on 1 October 1909, under the command of {{lang|de|[[Kapitän zur See]]}} (KzS—Captain at Sea) [[Curt von Rössing]]. Lengthy [[sea trials]] followed, and the ship was not ready for active service until 27 April 1910. Though the German fleet was short of modern armored cruisers—the ''Prinz Heinrich'' and ''Prinz Adalbert'' classes were obsolescent, and the ''Scharnhorst''s had been sent to the [[East Asia Squadron]]—''Blücher'' was intended to serve as a [[training ship]] for naval gunners. But because the German battlecruisers, beginning with {{SMS|Von der Tann||2}}, had not yet entered service, ''Blücher'' was sent to serve briefly with [[I Scouting Group]] of the [[High Seas Fleet]]. She became the group flagship, serving under {{lang|de|[[Vizeadmiral]]}} (Vice Admiral) [[August von Heeringen]]. The unit at that time included the armored cruiser {{SMS|Gneisenau||2}}, the two ''Roon''-class cruisers, and six [[light cruiser]]s. ''Blücher'' and the other ships participated in training exercises with the fleet over the summer months and then cruised in Norwegian waters. In October, KzS [[Georg Scheidt]] relieved Rössing as the ship's captain.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|pp=98–100}}

For most of 1911, ''Blücher'' remained with I Scouting Group, and she won the Kaiser's {{lang|de|Schiesspreis}} (Shooting Prize) for excellent gunnery among the fleet's large cruisers. That year, KzS [[Heinrich Trendtel]] temporarily commanded the ship from April to late September. On 28 September, Heeringen transferred his flag to ''Von der Tann'', which had recently entered service. ''Blücher'' was accordingly transferred to the {{lang|de|Inspektion der Schiffsartillerie}} (Naval Artillery Inspectorate), and she came under the command of KzS [[Waldemar Pieper]]. In November, she briefly returned to operate with the High Seas Fleet during its winter cruise. The ship thereafter sailed to [[Kiel]] for an annual overhaul that included modifications to make the ship more suitable for gunnery training.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|pp=98, 101}}

''Blücher'' sailed from German waters in company with the [[pre-dreadnought battleship]] {{SMS|Elsass||2}} in early April 1912 to conduct long-range shooting trials in the [[Faroe Islands]]. The experiements were carried out from 10 to 21 April with the permission of the Danish government. The two ships returned to Kiel on 24 April. ''Blücher'' thereafter operated with the fleet during training exercises that lasted from 6 May to 2 June. On 2 September, she joined [[II Scouting Group]] for the annual autumn maneuvers. She served as the group flagship, which also included the armored cruiser {{SMS|Friedrich Carl|1902|2}}, four light cruisers, and the new battlecruiser {{SMS|Goeben||2}}, which was then still on her sea trials. The exercises concluded on 22 September, after which ''Blücher'' returned to training duties.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=101}}

In early March 1913, ''Blücher'' cruised in the [[North Sea]] to conduct shooting practice at sea, as opposed to the sheltered waters of the western Baltic, where she typically operated. During this period, she used [[Cuxhaven]] and [[Helgoland]] as bases. She returned to fleet service on 13 May for a short training period that concluded at the end of the month. On 29 May, while on the way back to the Baltic, she [[ship grounding|ran aground]] off the island of [[Romsø]] in the [[Great Belt]]. The other vessels of the Naval Artillery Inspectorate were sent to assist ''Blücher'', and on 1 June, the light cruiser {{SMS|Augsburg||2}} was able to pull her free. It was initially unclear if the ship's engines and propellers were operable, so ''Augsburg'', the light cruiser {{SMS|Stuttgart||2}}, and the pre-dreadnought {{SMS|Wettin||2}} took ''Blücher'' under tow. She eventually got underway under her own power, however, and proceeded to Kiel for repairs. A [[court-martial]] sentenced Pieper to three days' confinement to his quarters for "negligence in the performance of his duties, and the navigator received six days of confinement, but neither man received more serious charges. ''Blücher'' saw no further peacetime operations with the High Seas Fleet. In October, {{lang|de|[[Fregattenkapitän]]}} (Frigate Captain) Alexander Erdmann took command of the ship; he was to be the vessel's final captain.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|pp=98, 101–102}}

===World War I===
The ship was anchored off [[Sonderburg]] on 28 June 1914 for celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the victories of the [[Second Schleswig War]]. That day, [[Archduke Franz Ferdinand]] of [[Austria-Hungary]] was [[assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand|assassinated in Sarajevo]], Bosnia. The murder of Ferdinand and his wife sparked a dramatic increase in tensions between the major European powers that culminated in the [[July Crisis]], and ultimately, the outbreak of [[World War I]] on 28 July. Initially, however, the German naval command viewed war as unlikely, and ''Blücher'' was sent into [[dry dock]] in Kiel for periodic maintenance. Work on the ship was soon accelerated, particularly after Germany declared war on France on 3 August, and she was back in service on 5 August. {{lang|de|[[Grossadmiral]]}} (Grand Admiral) [[Prince Henry of Prussia (1862–1929)|Prince Heinrich of Prussia]], the commander of naval forces in the Baltic Sea, requested ''Blücher'' be assigned to his command to lead his reconnaissance forces, but the {{lang|de|[[Admiralstab]]}} (Admiralty Staff) rejected the request and instead assigned the ship to I Scouting Group. She joined the unit on 8 August, and at that time, the unit was commanded by {{lang|de|[[Konteradmiral]]}} (KAdm—Rear Admiral) [[Franz von Hipper|Franz Hipper]]. I Scouting Group included the battlecruisers {{lang|de|Von der Tann}}, {{SMS|Moltke||2}}, and the flagship {{SMS|Seydlitz||2}}.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=102}}

Nevertheless, ''Blücher''{{'}}s first wartime operation took place in the Baltic, when in early September she was temporarily transferred to Heinrich's command.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=102}} On 3 September, {{lang|de|Blücher}}, along with seven pre-dreadnought battleships of the IV Squadron, five cruisers, and 24 destroyers sailed into the Baltic in an attempt to draw out a portion of the Russian fleet and destroy it. The light cruiser ''Augsburg'' encountered the armored cruisers {{ship|Russian cruiser|Bayan|1911|2}} and {{ship|Russian cruiser|Pallada|1906|2}} north of Dagö (now [[Hiiumaa]]) island. The German cruiser attempted to lure the Russian ships back towards {{lang|de|Blücher}} so that she could destroy them, but the Russians refused to take the bait and instead withdrew to the [[Gulf of Finland]]. On 9 September, the operation was terminated without any major engagements between the two fleets.{{sfn|Halpern|p=185}} ''Blücher'' thereafter returned to the North Sea and rejoined I Scouting Group.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=102}}

On 2 November 1914, {{lang|de|Blücher}}—along with the battlecruisers {{lang|de|Moltke}}, {{lang|de|Von der Tann}}, and {{lang|de|Seydlitz}}, and accompanied by four light cruisers, left the [[Jade Bight]] and steamed towards the English coast.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=30}} The flotilla arrived off [[Great Yarmouth]] at daybreak the following morning and [[Raid on Yarmouth|bombarded the port]], while the light cruiser {{SMS|Stralsund||2}} laid a minefield. The British submarine {{HMS|D5||6}} responded to the bombardment, but struck one of the mines laid by {{lang|de|Stralsund}} and sank. Shortly thereafter, Hipper ordered his ships to turn back to German waters. On the way, a heavy fog covered the [[Heligoland Bight]], so the ships were ordered to halt until visibility improved and they could safely navigate the defensive minefields. The armored cruiser {{SMS|Yorck||2}} made a navigational error that led her into one of the German minefields. She struck two mines and quickly sank; only 127 men out of the crew of 629 were rescued.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=30}}

==== Bombardment of Scarborough, Hartlepool, and Whitby ====

{{main|Raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby}}
[[File:SMS Blucher circa 1914.png|thumb|left|{{lang|de|Blücher}} during World War I]]

Admiral [[Friedrich von Ingenohl]], commander of the High Seas Fleet, decided that another raid on the English coast should be carried out in the hopes of luring a portion of the [[Grand Fleet]] into combat where it could be destroyed.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=30}} At 03:20, [[Central European Time|CET]] on 15 December 1914, {{lang|de|Blücher}}, {{lang|de|Moltke}}, {{lang|de|Von der Tann}}, the new battlecruiser {{SMS|Derfflinger||2}}, and {{lang|de|Seydlitz}}, along with the light cruisers {{lang|de|Kolberg}}, {{lang|de|Strassburg}}, {{lang|de|Stralsund}}, {{lang|de|Graudenz}}, and two squadrons of torpedo boats left the Jade estuary.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=31}} The ships sailed north past the island of Heligoland, until they reached the Horns Reef lighthouse, at which point the ships turned west towards Scarborough. Twelve hours after Hipper left the Jade, the High Seas Fleet, consisting of 14 [[dreadnought]]s and eight [[pre-dreadnought]]s and a screening force of two armored cruisers, seven light cruisers, and 54 torpedo boats, departed to provide distant cover for the bombardment force.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=31}}

On 26 August 1914, the German light cruiser {{SMS|Magdeburg||2}} had run aground in the Gulf of Finland; the wreck was captured by the Russian navy, which found code books used by the German navy, along with navigational charts for the North Sea. These documents were then passed on to the Royal Navy. [[Room 40]] began decrypting German signals, and on 14 December, intercepted messages relating to the plan to bombard Scarborough.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=31}} The exact details of the plan were unknown, and it was assumed that the High Seas Fleet would remain safely in port, as in the previous bombardment. Vice Admiral [[David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty|David Beatty]]'s four battlecruisers, supported by the 3rd Cruiser Squadron and the [[1st Light Cruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Light Cruiser Squadron]], along with the [[2nd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|2nd Battle Squadron]]'s six dreadnoughts, were to ambush Hipper's battlecruisers.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=32}}

On the night of 15/16 December, the main body of the High Seas Fleet encountered British destroyers. Fearing the prospect of a nighttime torpedo attack, Ingenohl ordered the ships to retreat.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=32}} Hipper was unaware of Ingenohl's reversal, and so he continued with the bombardment. Upon reaching the British coast, Hipper's battlecruisers split into two groups. {{lang|de|Seydlitz}}, {{lang|de|Moltke}}, and {{lang|de|Blücher}} went north to shell Hartlepool, while {{lang|de|Von der Tann}} and {{lang|de|Derfflinger}} went south to shell Scarborough and Whitby. Of the three towns, only Hartlepool was defended by coastal artillery batteries.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=33}} During the bombardment of Hartlepool, {{lang|de|Seydlitz}} was hit three times and {{lang|de|Blücher}} was hit six times by the coastal battery. {{lang|de|Blücher}} suffered minimal damage, but nine men were killed and another three were wounded.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=33}} By 09:45 on the 16th, the two groups had reassembled, and they began to retreat eastward.{{sfn|Scheer|p=70}}

[[File:Scheer's illustration of I SG disposition 16 Dec. 1916 en.SVG|thumb|300px|The High Seas Fleet's disposition on the morning of 16 December|alt=Map showing the locations of the British and German fleets; the German light cruisers pass between the British battleship and battlecruiser forces while the German battlecruisers steam to the northeast. The German battleships lie to the east of the other ships.]]

By this time, Beatty's battlecruisers were in position to block Hipper's chosen egress route, while other forces were en route to complete the encirclement. At 12:25, the light cruisers of the II&nbsp;Scouting Group began to pass through the British forces searching for Hipper.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=34}} One of the cruisers in the [[2nd Light Cruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|2nd Light Cruiser Squadron]] spotted {{lang|de|Stralsund}} and signaled a report to Beatty. At 12:30, Beatty turned his battlecruisers towards the German ships. Beatty presumed that the German cruisers were the advance screen for Hipper's ships, but the battlecruisers were some {{convert|50|km|nmi mi|abbr=on}} ahead.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=34}} The 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron, which had been screening for Beatty's ships, detached to pursue the German cruisers, but a misinterpreted signal from the British battlecruisers sent them back to their screening positions.{{efn|name=signal misinterpretation}} This confusion allowed the German light cruisers to escape and alerted Hipper to the location of the British battlecruisers. The German battlecruisers wheeled to the northeast of the British forces and made good their escape.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=34}}

Both the British and the Germans were disappointed that they failed to effectively engage their opponents. Ingenohl's reputation suffered greatly as a result of his timidity. The captain of {{lang|de|Moltke}} was furious; he stated that Ingenohl had turned back "because he was afraid of eleven British destroyers which could have been eliminated ... Under the present leadership we will accomplish nothing."{{sfn|Tarrant|p=35}} The official German history criticized Ingenohl for failing to use his light forces to determine the size of the British fleet, stating: "He decided on a measure which not only seriously jeopardized his advance forces off the English coast but also deprived the German Fleet of a signal and certain victory."{{sfn|Tarrant|p=35}}

==== Battle of Dogger Bank ====

{{main|Battle of Dogger Bank (1915)}}
[[File:SMS Blücher.PNG|thumb|{{lang|de|Blücher}} underway|alt=A light gray warship steaming at high speed; thick black smoke pours out of the two funnels.]]

In early January 1915 the German naval command found out that British ships were conducting reconnaissance in the [[Dogger Bank]] area. Admiral Ingenohl was initially reluctant to attempt to destroy these forces, because the I Scouting Group was temporarily weakened while {{lang|de|Von der Tann}} was in drydock for periodic maintenance. KAdm&nbsp;[[Richard Eckermann]]—the Chief of Staff of the High Seas Fleet—insisted on the operation, and so Ingenohl relented and ordered Hipper to take his battlecruisers to the Dogger Bank.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=36}}

On 23 January, Hipper sortied, with {{lang|de|Seydlitz}} in the lead, followed by {{lang|de|Moltke}}, {{lang|de|Derfflinger}}, and {{lang|de|Blücher}}, along with the light cruisers {{lang|de|Graudenz}}, {{lang|de|Rostock}}, {{lang|de|Stralsund}}, and {{lang|de|Kolberg}} and 19 torpedo boats from V Flotilla and II and XVIII Half-Flotillas. {{lang|de|Graudenz}} and {{lang|de|Stralsund}} were assigned to the forward screen, while {{lang|de|Kolberg}} and {{lang|de|Rostock}} were assigned to the starboard and port, respectively. Each light cruiser had a half-flotilla of torpedo boats attached.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=36}}

Again, interception and decryption of German wireless signals played an important role. Although they were unaware of the exact plans, the cryptographers of Room 40 were able to deduce that Hipper would be conducting an operation in the Dogger Bank area.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=36}} To counter it, Beatty's [[1st Battlecruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battlecruiser Squadron]], Rear Admiral [[Gordon Moore (Royal Navy officer)|Gordon Moore]]'s [[2nd Battlecruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|2nd Battlecruiser Squadron]] and Commodore [[William Goodenough]]'s [[Grand Fleet#2nd Light Cruiser Squadron|2nd Light Cruiser Squadron]] were to rendezvous with Commodore [[Reginald Tyrwhitt]]'s [[Harwich Force]] at 08:00 on 24 January, approximately {{convert|30|nmi|km mi|abbr=on}} north of the Dogger Bank.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=36}}

At 08:14, {{lang|de|Kolberg}} spotted the light cruiser {{HMS|Aurora|1913|2}} and several destroyers from the Harwich Force.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=38}} ''Aurora'' challenged {{lang|de|Kolberg}} with a searchlight, at which point {{lang|de|Kolberg}} attacked ''Aurora'' and scored two hits. ''Aurora'' returned fire and scored two hits on {{lang|de|Kolberg}} in retaliation. Hipper immediately turned his battlecruisers towards the gunfire, when, almost simultaneously, {{lang|de|Stralsund}} spotted a large amount of smoke to the northwest of her position. This was identified as a number of large British warships steaming toward Hipper's ships.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=38}} Hipper later remarked:

{{Blockquote |
The presence of such a large force indicated the proximity of further sections of the British Fleet, especially as wireless intercepts revealed the approach of 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron ... They were also reported by {{lang|de|Blücher}} at the rear of the German line, which had opened fire on a light cruiser and several destroyers coming up from astern ... The battlecruisers under my command found themselves, in view of the prevailing [East-North-East] wind, in the windward position and so in an unfavourable situation from the outset ...{{sfn|Tarrant|p=38}}
}}

Hipper turned south to flee, but was limited to {{convert|23|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on}}, which was {{lang|de|Blücher}}<nowiki>'</nowiki>s maximum speed at the time.{{efn|name=coal quality}} The pursuing British battlecruisers were steaming at {{convert|27|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on}}, and quickly caught up to the German ships. At 09:52, {{HMS|Lion|1910|2}} opened fire on {{lang|de|Blücher}} from a range of approximately 20,000&nbsp;yards (18,000&nbsp;m); shortly after, {{HMS|Princess Royal|1911|2}} and {{HMS|Tiger|1913|2}} began firing as well.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=38}} At 10:09, the British guns made their first hit on {{lang|de|Blücher}}. Two minutes later, the German ships began returning fire, primarily concentrating on ''Lion'', from a range of {{convert|18000|yd|m|abbr=on}}. At 10:28, ''Lion'' was struck on the waterline, which tore a hole in the side of the ship and flooded a coal bunker.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=39}} At around this time, {{lang|de|Blücher}} scored a hit with a 21&nbsp;cm shell on ''Lion''{{'}}s forward turret. The shell failed to penetrate the armor, but had concussion effect and temporarily disabled the left gun.{{sfn|Goldrick|p=263}} At 10:30, {{HMS|New Zealand|1911|2}}—the fourth ship in Beatty's line—came within range of {{lang|de|Blücher}} and opened fire. By 10:35, the range had closed to {{convert|17500|yd|m|abbr=on}}, at which point the entire German line was within the effective range of the British ships. Beatty ordered his battlecruisers to engage their German counterparts.{{efn|name=counterparts}}

By 11:00, {{lang|de|Blücher}} had been severely damaged after being pounded by numerous heavy shells from the British battlecruisers. However, the three leading German battlecruisers, {{lang|de|Seydlitz}}, {{lang|de|Derfflinger}}, and {{lang|de|Moltke}}, had concentrated their fire on ''Lion'' and scored several hits; two of her three dynamos were disabled and the port side engine room had been flooded.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=40}} At 11:48, {{HMS|Indomitable|1907|2}} arrived on the scene, and was directed by Beatty to destroy the battered {{lang|de|Blücher}}, which was already on fire and listing heavily to port. One of the ship's survivors recounted the destruction that was being wrought:

[[File:'The last of Blücher' RMG PW1765.tiff|thumb|left|A painting of {{lang|de|Blücher}} afire and listing badly]]

{{Blockquote |
The shells ... bore their way even to the stokehold. The coal in the bunkers was set on fire. Since the bunkers were half empty, the fire burned merrily. In the engine room a shell licked up the oil and sprayed it around in flames of blue and green ... The terrific air pressure resulting from [an] explosion in a confined space ... roar[ed] through every opening and [tore] its way through every weak spot ... Men were picked up by that terrific air pressure and tossed to a horrible death among the machinery.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=40}}
}}

The British attack was interrupted due to reports of U-boats ahead of the British ships. Beatty quickly ordered evasive maneuvers, which allowed the German ships to increase the distance from their pursuers.{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=40–41}} At this time, ''Lion''{{'}}s last operational dynamo failed, which reduced her speed to {{convert|15|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on}}. Beatty, in the stricken ''Lion'', ordered the remaining battlecruisers to "Engage the enemy's rear", but signal confusion caused the ships to target {{lang|de|Blücher}} alone.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=42}} She continued to resist stubbornly; {{lang|de|Blücher}} repulsed attacks by the four cruisers of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron and four destroyers. However, the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron flagship, ''Aurora'', hit {{lang|de|Blücher}} twice with torpedoes. By this time, every main battery gun turret except the rear mount had been silenced. A volley of seven more torpedoes was launched at point-blank range; these hits caused the ship to capsize at 13:13.{{sfn|Schmalenbach|p=180}} ''Blücher'' remained afloat, upside down, for several minutes before sinking.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=103}} In the course of the engagement, {{lang|de|Blücher}} had been hit by 70–100&nbsp;large-caliber shells and several torpedoes.{{sfn|Schmalenbach|p=180}}

As the ship was sinking, British destroyers steamed towards her in an attempt to rescue survivors from the water. However, the German [[zeppelin]] ''L5'' mistook the sinking {{lang|de|Blücher}} for a British battlecruiser, and tried to bomb the destroyers, which withdrew.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=42}} Figures vary on the number of casualties; Paul Schmalenbach reported 6 officers of a total of 29 and 275 enlisted men of a complement of 999 were pulled from the water, for a total of 747 men killed.{{sfn|Schmalenbach|p=180}} The official German sources examined by [[Erich Gröner]] stated that 792 men died when {{lang|de|Blücher}} sank,{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}} while James Goldrick referred to British documents, which reported only 234 men survived from a crew of at least 1,200.{{sfn|Goldrick|p=279}} The historians Hans Hildebrand, Albert Röhr, and Hans-Otto Steinmetz concur with Gröner's total of 792 deaths, but state that there were 260 survivors.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=103}} Erdmann was among those who had been rescued, though he later died of pneumonia while in British captivity.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=42}} A further twenty men would also die as prisoners of war.{{sfn|Schmalenbach|p=180}}

[[File:Bluecher sinkend.jpg|thumb|The sinking {{lang|de|Blücher}} rolls over on her side|alt=The burning hull of a ship on its side; water pours from holes punched by enemy projectiles. The keel is splitting from the intense strain.]]
[[File:Remembrance stele SMS Bluecher, Nordfriedhof, Kiel, Germany.jpg|thumb|Remembrance stele SMS ''Blücher'', Nordfriedhof, Kiel, Germany]]

The concentration on {{lang|de|Blücher}} allowed {{lang|de|Moltke}}, {{lang|de|Seydlitz}}, and {{lang|de|Derfflinger}} to escape.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=41}} Hipper had originally intended to use his three battlecruisers to turn about and flank the British ships, in order to relieve the battered {{lang|de|Blücher}}, but when he learned of the severe damage to his flagship, he decided to abandon the armored cruiser.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=42}} Hipper later recounted his decision:

{{Blockquote |
In order to help the {{lang|de|Blücher}} it was decided to try for a flanking move ... But as I was informed that in my flagship turrets C and D were out of action, we were full of water aft, and that she had only 200 rounds of heavy shell left, I dismissed any further thought of supporting the {{lang|de|Blücher}}. Any such course, now that no intervention from our Main Fleet was to be counted on, was likely to lead to further heavy losses. The support of the {{lang|de|Blücher}} by the flanking move would have brought my formation between the British battlecruisers and the battle squadrons which were probably behind.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=42}}
}}

By the time Beatty regained control over his ships, having boarded ''Princess Royal'', the German ships had too great a lead for the British to catch them; at 13:50, he broke off the chase.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=42}} [[Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Kaiser Wilhelm II]] was enraged by the destruction of {{lang|de|Blücher}} and the near sinking of {{lang|de|Seydlitz}}, and ordered the High Seas Fleet to remain in harbor. Eckermann was removed from his post and Ingenohl was forced to resign. He was replaced by Admiral [[Hugo von Pohl]].{{sfn|Tarrant|p=43}} Beyond the loss of the ship itself and the resulting command changes, the death of so many men negatively impacted the fleet, as ''Blücher'' was crewed by a large number of highly trained artillery specialists.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=103}}

== Footnotes ==
===Notes===

{{notelist
| notes =

{{efn
| name = SMS
| "SMS" stands for "{{lang|de|[[Seiner Majestät Schiff]]}}" ({{langx|en|His Majesty's Ship}}).
}}

{{efn
| name = provisional names
| German warships were ordered under provisional names. For new additions to the fleet, they were given a single letter; for those ships intended to replace older or lost vessels, they were ordered as "{{lang|de|Ersatz}} (name of the ship to be replaced)". See: {{Harvard citation no brackets|Dodson 2016|pp=8–9}}
}}

{{efn
| name = gun nomenclature
| In Imperial German Navy gun nomenclature, "SK" ({{lang|de|Schnelladekanone}}) denotes that the gun is quick firing, while the L/45 denotes the length of the gun. In this case, the L/45 gun is 45 [[Caliber (artillery)|caliber]], meaning that the gun's barrel is 45 times as long as the diameter of its bore. See: {{Harvard citation no brackets|Grießmer|p=177}}.
}}

{{efn
| name = signal misinterpretation
| Beatty had intended to retain only the two rearmost light cruisers from [[William Goodenough|Goodenough]]'s squadron, but {{HMS|Nottingham|1913|6}}{{'}}s signalman misinterpreted the signal, thinking that it was intended for the whole squadron, and thus transmitted it to Goodenough, who ordered his ships back into their screening positions ahead of Beatty's battlecruisers.
}}

{{efn
| name = coal quality
| Throughout the war, the German Navy suffered from a chronic shortage of high-quality coal. Consequently, its ships' engines could not operate at maximum performance. For example, at the [[Battle of Jutland]], the battlecruiser {{SMS|Von der Tann||2}}, which had a maximum speed of {{convert|27.5|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on}}, was limited to {{convert|18|kn|abbr=on}} for a significant length of time as a result of this problem. See: {{Harvard citation no brackets|Philbin|pp=56–57}}.
}}

{{efn
| name = counterparts
| Thus, ''Lion'' on {{lang|de|Seydlitz}}, ''Tiger'' on {{lang|de|Moltke}}, ''Princess Royal'' on {{lang|de|Derfflinger}}, and ''New Zealand'' on {{lang|de|Blücher}}.
}}

}}

===Citations===

{{reflist|20em}}

== References ==
{{Commons category}}

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  | year = 1971
  | title = SMS Blücher
  | journal = [[Warship International]]
  | volume = VIII
  | issue = 2
  | pages = 171–181
  | publisher = Naval Records Club
  | location = Toledo
  | issn = 	0043-0374
  | ref = {{sfnRef|Schmalenbach}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Scheer
  | first = Reinhard
  | author-link = Reinhard Scheer
  | year = 1920
  | title = Germany's High Seas Fleet in the World War
  | publisher = Cassell
  | location = London, New York
  | url= https://archive.org/details/germanyshighseaf00sche
  | oclc = 2765294
  | ref = {{sfnRef|Scheer}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  |last= Sondhaus
  |first= Lawrence
  |title= Naval Warfare 1815–1914
  |location= London
  |publisher=Routledge
  |year= 2001
  |isbn= 978-0-415-21478-0
  |ref={{sfnref|Sondhaus}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Staff
  | first = Gary
  | year = 2006
  | title = German Battlecruisers: 1914–1918
  | publisher = Osprey Books
  | location = Oxford
  | isbn = 978-1-84603-009-3
  | ref = {{sfnRef|Staff}}
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Tarrant
  | first = V. E.
  | year = 2001
  | orig-year = 1995
  | title = Jutland: The German Perspective
  | publisher = Cassell Military Paperbacks
  | location = London
  | isbn = 978-0-304-35848-9
  | ref = {{sfnRef|Tarrant}}
  }}

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{{WWI German ships}}
{{January 1915 shipwrecks}}
{{Featured article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blucher}}
[[Category:1908 ships]]
[[Category:Cruisers of the Imperial German Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kiel]]
[[Category:World War I cruisers of Germany]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1915]]
[[Category:World War I shipwrecks in the North Sea]]