SMS Nautilus was a German minelaying cruiser built for the Kaiserliche Marine in the 1900s, the lead ship of the Nautilus class. The ship was built by AG Weser, with her keel laying taking place in December 1905. She was launched in August 1906 and commissioned in March 1907. Nautilus initially carried 186 naval mines and a battery of eight 8.8 cm (3.5 in) guns, but she was later modified to carry 205 mines and, in 1918, numerous light weapons to support amphibious operations.
Nautilus passing under the Levensau High Bridge in the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal shortly after entering service
Model of Albatross; Nautilus had a clipper bow and a superstructure deck from the conning tower to the main mast
The Nautilus class was a pair of minelaying cruisers built by the Imperial German Navy. Nautilus was laid down in 1905 and completed by 1907, and SMS Albatross was laid down in 1907, and completed in 1908. Both ships were built by the AG Weser shipyard in Bremen, but to slightly different designs. Nautilus had a clipper bow, while Albatross had a bow similar to contemporary German light cruisers. The ships were armed with a battery of 8.8 cm (3.5 in) guns and had a capacity of 168–288 naval mines.
Nautilus passing under the Levensau High Bridge in the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal shortly after entering service
Model of Albatross; Nautilus had a clipper bow and a superstructure deck from the conning tower to the main mast
Albatross in port
Albatross beached after the Battle of Åland Islands
