Service History
Kaiser Karl der Grosse joined the German fleet in February 1902. On 31 August 1902, the fleet conducted the annual summer training maneuvers. Kaiser Karl der Grosse was assigned to the "hostile" force, as were several of her sister-ships. The "hostile" force was first tasked with preventing the "German" squadron from passing through the Great Belt in the Baltic. Kaiser Karl der Grosse and several other battleships were then tasked with forcing an entry into the mouth of the Elbe River, where the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal and Hamburg could be seized. The "hostile" flotilla accomplished these tasks within three days.
In 1903, the fleet, which was composed of only one squadron of battleships, was reorganized as the "Active Battle Fleet." Kaiser Karl der Grosse remained in the I Squadron along with her sister ships and the newest Wittelsbach-class battleships, while the older Brandenburg-class ships were placed in reserve in order to be rebuilt.
In 1905 the fleet was rearranged; Kaiser Karl der Grosse and her sister SMS Kaiser Wilhelm II remained in the I Squadron, while their sisters were moved to the II Squadron. The German Navy in 1905 consisted of four divisions of three battleships each, with two divisions per squadron. This was supported by a cruiser division, composed of two armored cruisers and six protected cruisers. In September 1906, Karl der Grosse and the rest of the fleet conducted major training maneuvers in the Baltic. During the exercises, the fleet traveled to Swinemünde to conduct a goodwill operation with the British Channel Fleet, which was anchored in the port at the time.
In 1908, the ship was assigned to the II Division of the I Squadron of the High Seas Fleet, along with three of her sister-ships. The ships of her class were rebuilt between 1908 and 1910, though Kaiser Karl der Grosse did not receive this treatment. However, in 1910, the new dreadnought battleships were beginning to come into service with the fleet. Thoroughly obsolete compared to the new "all-big-gun" battleships, Kaiser Karl der Grosse was then decommissioned and placed into reserve. By 1914, the ship had been assigned to the V Squadron of the Reserve Fleet, alongside her four sisterships and the battleship Wettin.
Read more about this topic: SMS Kaiser Karl Der Grosse
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