Battleship · 1914–1919 · Orkney, United Kingdom
SMS Markgraf
SMS Markgraf is a German battleship built in 1914 and scuttled in 1919; the wreck lies at 24–43 metres off Orkney, United Kingdom.
Often called the jewel of Scapa Flow, the Markgraf is the deepest and best-preserved of the three battleships still resting on the seabed. The reward is a warship that still looks like a warship: intact bow, stern, and rudders convey the sheer scale of a 175-metre dreadnought that once carried over a thousand men into the maelstrom at Jutland.
Because the superstructure caught on the seabed before she could roll fully, much of the underside architecture remains visible rather than crushed.
- Type
- BattleshipGerman
- Year built
- 1914AG Weser, Bremen
- Lost
- June 21st, 1919Scuttled
- Casualties
- 0World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet
- Length
- 175.4 m29.5 m beam
- Depth
- 24–43 m
- Location
- Orkney, United KingdomScapa Flow
4 of 7 facts above are cited in Sources below.
Deeper than 139 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
- Lives lost: 0 shown; range in sources 0–2. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).
History and LossLost June 21st, 1919 · Scuttled · World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet · Orkney, United Kingdom.
Third ship of the Konig class. Armed with 10 x 30.5cm guns, 14 x 15cm guns. Fought at the Battle of Jutland. Interned at Scapa Flow after the Armistice and scuttled on orders of Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter.
Never raised for scrapping.
Built 1914 by AG Weser, Bremen; 5 years in service. Lost June 21st, 1919, scuttled during World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet.
Condition of the WreckLargely intact, lying almost completely upturned — superstructure preventing full rollover, in 24–43 m.
Intactness
Best-preserved of the three remaining battleships. Bow, stern, and rudders largely intact. Superstructure visible beneath the hull. The immense size of the vessel is immediately evident.
Notable Features
- Intact bow and stern
- Rudders
- Gun turret barbettes
- Superstructure visible beneath hull
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
- AG Weser, Bremen
- 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
- 3.17° 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
- Largely intact
- Orientation
- Almost completely upturned — superstructure preventing full rollover
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
- Historic Environment Scotland (Canmore)canmore.org.uk · Official record11 facts
- Historic Environment Scotland (Canmore, NRHE)inspire.hes.scot · Official record10 facts
- UK Hydrographic Officedatahub.admiralty.co.uk · Official record4 facts
- greec.free.frgreec.free.fr · Secondary source10 facts
- Scapa Flow Wrecksscapaflowwrecks.com · Secondary source9 facts
- hmdb.org (archived)hmdb.org · Secondary source4 facts
- militaer-wissen.de (archived)militaer-wissen.de · Secondary source3 facts
- divers-guide.comdivers-guide.com · Secondary source2 facts
- orkneystays.comorkneystays.com · Secondary source2 facts
- scubago.comscubago.com · Secondary source2 facts
- blog.historicenvironment.scotblog.historicenvironment.scot · Secondary source1 fact
- countryfile.comcountryfile.com · Secondary source1 fact
- revisionist.netrevisionist.net · Secondary source1 fact
- scapaflow1919.comscapaflow1919.com · Secondary source1 fact
- Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org · Background reading5 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 6 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 Markgraf?
SMS Markgraf is the wreck of a battleship, off Orkney, United Kingdom, at 43 metres. SMS Markgraf was scuttled in 1919.
How deep is the SMS Markgraf?
SMS Markgraf lies at 24 to 43 metres, Cava Sound, Scapa Flow.
How did the SMS Markgraf sink?
SMS Markgraf 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 Markgraf protected?
Yes. SMS Markgraf is protected: scheduled monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (Historic Environment Scotland).