German Cruiser Karlsruhe

German Cruiser Karlsruhe

Karlsruhe was a light cruiser of the German K class which was in service during the interwar period and World War II. The other ships in this class was the German cruiser Königsberg and the German cruiser Köln. The K class were the first cruisers of the German navy to employ electric arc welding techniques and newly designed triple 15 cm (5.9 in) gun turrets were installed. Karlsruhe served as a training vessel for most of its service time and was out of service and in overhaul when World War II started in September 1939, but was recommissioned the following November. In April 1940 she sailed for Norway as part of the German invasion force and landed troops in Kristiansand, after which she was torpedoed by HMS Truant on 9 April and severely damaged. The crew transferred to accompanying torpedo boats and the ship was finally sunk by two German torpedoes.