Battleship · 1914–1919 · Orkney, United Kingdom
SMS Konig
Also known as SMS König.
SMS Konig, a German battleship built in 1914 and scuttled in 1919, lies at 24–40 metres off Orkney, United Kingdom.
Ravaged by decades of industrial salvage, the Konig offers something none of the other Scapa battleships can: a cross-section through the guts of a WWI dreadnought. Where Metal Industries tore away hull plating and superstructure in the 1960s, the armoured citadel now stands exposed — twelve inches of dovetail-jointed steel that once protected the magazines.
Seven casemate guns lie upside down on the seabed along the starboard side like fallen dominoes.
- Type
- BattleshipGerman
- Year built
- 1914Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven
- Lost
- June 21st, 1919Scuttled
- Casualties
- 0World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet
- Depth
- 24–40 m
- Location
- Orkney, United KingdomScapa Flow
4 of 6 facts above are cited in Sources below.
Deeper than 131 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
History and LossLost June 21st, 1919 · Scuttled · World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet · Orkney, United Kingdom.
Lead ship of the Konig-class dreadnoughts. Armed with 10 x 30.5cm guns. Fought at the Battle of Jutland. Scuttled on orders of Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter as part of the mass scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet.
Extensively salvaged by Metal Industries (Nundy's) between 1963 and 1965.
Built 1914 by Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven; 5 years in service, also recorded as SMS König. Lost June 21st, 1919, scuttled during World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet.
Condition of the WreckBroken, lying inverted — bows pointing north, in 24–40 m.
Intactness
Most damaged of the three battleships due to extensive salvage. Large parts of hull and bow swept away. Salvage damage has exposed internal areas including the armoured citadel with 12-inch dovetail-jointed steel casing.
Notable Features
- Barbette of A turret
- Anchor capstan at collapsed bow
- Seven casemate guns on seabed along starboard side
- Exposed internal machinery
- Armoured citadel with 12-inch steel casing
- Large debris field
Regulations and RestrictionsProtected site · Permit required.
This is a legally protected site. Scheduled monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (Historic Environment Scotland). A permit is required to dive this site. Diving permit required from Orkney Islands Council Harbours department.
No artefact removal — scheduled monument.
Additional Details17 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Nationality
- German
- Flag
- German Empire
- Builder
- Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven
- Propulsion
- Steam turbine
- Loss date
- June 21st, 1919
- Conflict / event
- World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet
- Latitude
- 58.89° N
- Longitude
- 3.15° W
- Water body
- Scapa Flow
- Protection regime
- Scheduled Monument / Scapa Flow Historic Marine Protected Area
- Artefact restrictions
- No artefact removal — scheduled monument
- Restrictions
- Diving permit required from Orkney Islands Council Harbours department
- War grave
- No
- Protected
- Yes
- Permit required
- Yes
- Condition
- Broken
- Orientation
- Inverted — bows pointing north
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
- Historic Environment Scotland (Canmore, NRHE)inspire.hes.scot · Official record10 facts
- Historic Environment Scotland (Canmore)canmore.org.uk · Official record9 facts
- UK Hydrographic Officedatahub.admiralty.co.uk · Official record4 facts
- Scapa Flow Wrecksscapaflowwrecks.com · Secondary source9 facts
- blog.historicenvironment.scotblog.historicenvironment.scot · Secondary source5 facts
- technicalparameters.eutechnicalparameters.eu · Secondary source5 facts
- militaer-wissen.de (archived)militaer-wissen.de · Secondary source3 facts
- shipindex.orgshipindex.org · Secondary source3 facts
- orkneystays.comorkneystays.com · Secondary source2 facts
- Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org · Background reading4 facts
Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.
- Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Historic Environment Scotland.
- Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.
A further 7 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.
Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SMS Konig?
SMS Konig is the wreck of a battleship, off Orkney, United Kingdom, at 40 metres. SMS Konig was scuttled in 1919.
How deep is the SMS Konig?
SMS Konig lies at 24 to 40 metres, Cava Sound, Scapa Flow.
How did the SMS Konig sink?
SMS Konig was scuttled on June 21st, 1919 during World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet, off Orkney, United Kingdom. No lives were lost.
Is the SMS Konig protected?
Yes. SMS Konig is protected: scheduled monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (Historic Environment Scotland).