Barbarossa-class ocean liner
The Barbarossa class was a series of large passenger ships with plenty of cargo space that the (NDL ) was built for the Reichspostdampfer Service North German Lloyd in Germany. The first four ships were provided for the Australia service and the first to be built in Germany vessels over 10,000 GRT. Another four ships were ordered for the East Asia - service. We also held an enlarged version for Australia service of the NDL and two improved ships for Hapag, both of which were never used on a Reichspostdampfer line. All ships were twin screw steamer with two funnels and two masts.
Use NDL
Australia - line
On the Reichspostdampfer line to Australia the first four steamers of the Barbarossa class Frederick the Great, Barbarossa, Queen Luise and Bremen came from 1896 /97 on the application. On November 11, 1896, Frederick the Great started as Reichspostdampfer from Bremerhaven on her maiden voyage via Suez to Sydney. On this main route led them through 14 round trips; the last began on 21 January 1914. thus Frederick the Great was the first and last ship of this class of NDL on the Australia route. The ships of this class went, especially in autumn and winter to Australia. The remaining runs were later the generals class served by older imperial post steamers and the ships of the class cities.
From 1900 the enlarged half-sister ship Grosser still was added elector. on this route, the largest ship was used there until the end of their service life. Between November 1900 and January 1912, the Great Elector, however, resulted in only nine round trips through to Australia. She was the largest passenger ship used to Australia in this period, and remained so until 1913, when the Blue Funnel liner Ulysses ( 14,449 GRT) was used.
East Asia Line
A second series of four steamers came 1899/1901 for the Reichspostdampfer line to East Asia in service that was operated at the time not only from the NDL but also on the Hapag. The NDL began King Albert and Princess Irene and the Hapag Hamburg and Jiaozhou Bay. End of 1903, the joint service was abandoned. The Jiaozhou Bay remained in 1904 as Princess Alice at the NDL. As of May 1910, the Princess Alice came only to East Asia for use. When war broke out she was on her way to Hong Kong.
1913 is the Queen Luise have performed the transportation fee for the soldiers employed in Qingdao.
Two other very similar ships were built in 1901 sister ships Moltke and Blücher HAPAG that were given with regard to the participation in the Reichspostdampfer line to East Asia in order, but there were never used.
North Atlantic service
The Queen Luise began on March 26, 1897 on her maiden voyage to New York, she started off as the first ship of the Barbarossa class. She made over the years eleven Travel Bremerhaven - New York. On April 4, 1897, the Frederick the Great drove, on 24 May, the Barbarossa first time to New York. On June 5, 1897, the Bremen launched from Bremerhaven on her maiden voyage via Southampton to New York City.
All sister ships (including the East Asia ships) came on this route regularly used, especially in the summer months, as few passengers traveled in this time to Australia. On June 30, 1900, the Bremen was heavily damaged along with two other Lloyd steamers at a major fire the Hobokenpier in New York.
After repair and remodeling at the AG Vulcan Stettin Bremen Bremen her New York Travel adopted on October 12, 1901 at re. She had been extended in the course of repair and had enlarged passenger facilities. The North German Lloyd used the term Bremen class, which included all of its twin-screw Salon Postdampfer different design: This class was for a luxurious, comfortable crossing that can not be at the rate of two to three days faster Atlantic liners of the NDL- "Four Schonstein Quartet " oriented.
As of March 1912 was the use of the ships at other U.S. ports, the Queen Louise made three trips to Baltimore. The Barbarossa went to Galveston, and also at least three times to Baltimore and Frederick the Great led there by their last peace journey.
Mediterranean - USA - Service
On this line the NDL sat from 1903 to 1914 a little by five ships of the Barbarossa class. On April 16, 1903, King Albert was first used by Genoa Naples to New York and then remained mainly on this line until their last tour, which began on 11 June 1914. On April 30, 1903 the sister ship Princess Irene was first used between Genoa and New York. The two original ships East Asia King Albert and Princess Irene were from 1903 to 1914, the main carrier of this line. Beginning with the old Hohenzollern ( last on May 21, 1906) used the NDL was able to with this line immediately secure the largest share (24%) of the traffic with Italian Emigration.
Three more of Barbarossa Steamer NDL were also occasionally used on this route, the Queen Louise for the first time on February 25, 1904 ( last on May 25, 1911), the Barbarossa first time on March 16, 1906 (18 trips to the 6th November 1913 ) and Frederick the Great the first time on March 22, 1907 (16 trips until July 25, 1912) and probably also in 1911 the Great Elector.
To this was then on May 15, 1909 of the much larger Berlin.
In the service of Hapag
The Hamburg was in 1900 the first ship of this class in the service of Hapag on the East postal service in cooperation with the North German Lloyd ( NDL). The Hamburg remained as a single ship in the Hapag while the sister ship of Jiaozhou Bay has been delivered to the NDL.
The Hamburg was also used in 1904 to New York, from 1905 between Genoa and New York and cruises. So they reversed in winter 1910/1911 ran between New York and Havana, Cuba. for example, took place on June 2, 1904. During the winter 1904/1905 the Hamburg was rebuilt on the Reiherstieg shipyard and adapted to the changing trading area.
The modified sister ship Moltke and Blücher were used in the same way. The Moltke made 34 round trips to New York and 77 round trips on the route from the Mediterranean to the United States.
The Blücher led by more cruises, including a 81 -day to Tierra del Fuego. 1912 was rebuilt the ship, which to the Río de la Plata in conjunction with the HSDG Steamer Cap Fine Terre ( 14,503 GRT) should now be used. On June 26, 1912, the Blücher took on this service.
Appearances in American services
In 1917, the United States entered the war lying in the U.S. sphere of German ships were seized. Six ships of the Barbarossa class came into the service of the U.S. Navy and transported troops to Europe and after the ceasefire back in the United States.