Talk:SMS Seeadler (1888)

Bark or Ship

The introduction now claims that the Seeadler was built as a bark (only fore-and-aft sails on the last mast). However, the image to the right shows a ship-rigged vessel (3 masts, with square sails on all masts). Was she re-rigged or is the text or (my interpretation of) the image in error? --Stephan Schulz 15:35, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

It seems this was fixed on 31st July 2006; but to answer the question, the picture I've seen of Seeadler (in "German Raiders" by Paul Schmalenbach) shows her side-on under full sail, as herself (black hull, IGN ensign, the name Seeadler on the side, (which is curious, to mind)), not as Pass of Balmaha, which the article picture shows: She has 3 masts, square-rigged on each, though with a fore-and-aft sail on the mizzen. So that would make her ship-rigged, not barque-rigged, no? Xyl 54 11:53, 29 May 2007 (UTC)

Yes, you are right. So based on the two photographs, it seems safe to call her a ship, not a bark (with ship being a safe bet anyways, as it also used as the more general term today). --Stephan Schulz 12:04, 29 May 2007 (UTC)

Voyage of the Seeadler

There is a much better description of her voyage on the WIKI page for her captain, Felix von Luckner, which should probabnly be brought here. Unless someone objects to this, I will attempt to do this in the next few days. Cosal

Cosal, I was thinking the same thing, SMS Seeadlers story is the most interesting of all WW1 stories, in my opinion. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.162.2.82 (talk) 22:00, 5 July 2009 (UTC)

This should be done as originally proposed in 2006. And this may seem like a minor thing--but the whole "accidental" death thing needs to go. The sailor killed deserves to be recognized as a casualty. He was killed when his ship was fired upon, period.Tuelj (talk) 20:15, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

It is now gone from the Luckner page. If the casualty should be mentioned, it should probably be in more detail, somewhere further down. Does anyone have the details? DanielDemaret (talk) 22:09, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

I saw it in a wiki article yesterday but I was doing research on all deceptive guerre de course. Might be in the article on merchant raiders. Just of it was Luckner fired on a ship's radio room and a steam pipe burst killing the sailor in question. In the US military that would be a combat action death. I'll try to find it.Tuelj (talk) 13:48, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

It was certainly both a casualty of war and a combat action death. And of course, it does not matter whether the casualty was a german or french sailor or shipsboy - it was still a casualty of war. The "accident" part that was mentioned was merely written because it was clear that Felix actively tried to avoid casualties. His men did not shoot at people, just as you confirmed. The point is not to try to glorify Felix, but to explain that this "pacifist streak" is the very thing that made him famous right until this day in Germany. Without this "detail", he might not even have been remembered today. DanielDemaret (talk) 16:00, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

True enough. I don't think Luckner should be vilified. Quite the opposite. I only object to the term "accidental." Actually I think verbiage like "amazingly with only one casualty..." or the like takes nothing away from either fellow.Tuelj (talk) 18:53, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Count von Luckner also mentions in his autobiography "The Sea Devil" (and other places) that this event is a mark on his recollections of an otherwise unblemished raiding career and that he regretted it all his life. Jopower (talk) 13:08, 24 February 2017 (UTC)

The final wreck of SMS Seeadler is not described and should be. According to Capt. von Luckner's official published accounts and others of the crew, she anchored off the reef at remote Mopelia July 31st for provisions and RnR. He says a tsunami struck nearly broadside on August 2, hurling the ship high onto the reef and hopelessly damaging the hull and rigging. If I recall my readings, the weather was generally good. The photo here of the wrecked Seeadler certainly looks the part since the tides there are mild and the ship was driven quite high on the reef, then over into the shallow lagoon (IF the pic was taken within a few days). The crew salvaged what they could for survival before escaping the island. However, a conflicting report says there was no tsunami and she dragged her anchor, possibly due to a squall. It's possible an earthquake would've been recorded, even at that early date, to compare to the records. As von Luckner was one of the most experienced sailing commanders of his time, I prefer to think a tsunami did the job since a typical squall and tide would not, but will bow to the facts. Jopower (talk) 13:08, 24 February 2017 (UTC)

Move

I've moved this page, to bring it in line with the other commerce raider pages; I trust that isn't too bold. Xyl 54 (talk) 17:15, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

Map of voyage

I added the map showing the route they took from German Wikipedia. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.14.248.137 (talk) 17:32, 21 October 2012 (UTC)

Speed

She must have been able to go faster than 9 knots in a stiff wind. 2A00:23C4:B607:CB01:3C2C:8EB9:84DD:7FBA (talk) 07:12, 18 August 2021 (UTC)

Pass of Balmaha

What does the name mean? I can find a harbour town called Balmaha on Loch Lomond, not too far from the legendary docks on the Clyde where these ships were built, but why would you need to get a pass from there? --BjKa (talk) 21:00, 16 November 2023 (UTC)

In the infobox is a field Namesake = Pass of Balmaha. Click the link. The article explains it. Srnec (talk) 03:31, 17 November 2023 (UTC)

Torpedoes

What is the source for Seeadler having torpedoes? In "Seeteufel", von Luckner explicitly states that the ship had no torpedoes, but that he bluffed about having them to force a British steamer to surrender. Trex4321 (talk) 21:21, 1 January 2024 (UTC)

Removed the mention of torpedoes. Trex4321 (talk) 14:56, 2 January 2024 (UTC)