World War I SMS Kurfürst Friedrich Wilhelm

map showing ottoman defenses @ dardanelles in 1915

in summer of 1914, world war broke out in europe, though ottomans remained neutral. on 3 august 1914, barbaros hayreddin began refit @ constantinople—german engineers inspected , other ottoman warships in dockyard , found them in state of severe disrepair. owing state of tension, repairs not effected, , ammunition, coal, , other supplies loaded. november, actions of german battlecruiser goeben, had been transferred ottoman navy, resulted in declarations of war russia, france, , great britain. between 1914–15, of ship s guns removed , employed coastal guns shore defenses protecting dardanelles. in meantime, used floating artillery battery @ nara naval base, along sister turgut reis. during stint, ships immobilized, threat british submarines grew, steam kept in boilers allow them move quickly.

barbaros hayreddin returned constantinople on 11 march 1915; ottoman high command had decided both ships not needed @ times. on next several months, 2 ships alternated trips constantinople. on 25 april, 2 battleships bombarded british landings on first day of gallipoli campaign. after firing fourteen shells, fifteenth detonated in right gun barrel in center turret, destroying gun. after shell exploded inside 1 of turgut reis s guns in june, both battleships withdrawn. on 7 august, british landed more troops @ suvla bay, prompting high command send barbaros hayreddin support ottoman defenses there. in addition, loaded large quantity of ammunition resupply fifth army fighting in gallipoli campaign. next day, while en route area single torpedo boat escort, intercepted british submarine hms e11 off bolayır in sea of marmara. submarine hit barbaros hayreddin single torpedo; capsized 7 minutes later, remained afloat few minutes before slipped below waves. ship sank loss of 21 officers , 237 men. rest of crew picked escort , second torpedo boat patrolling area.