SMS Von der Tann

[[File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-61-52, Großer Kreuzer "SMS von der Tann".jpg|thumb|{{lang|de|Von der Tann}} in 1911|alt=A large gray warship with four large gun turrets and two tall funnels sits idly in harbor.]]

[[File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-61-52, Großer Kreuzer "SMS von der Tann".jpg|thumb|{{lang|de|Von der Tann}} in 1911|alt=A large gray warship with four large gun turrets and two tall funnels sits idly in harbor.]]

The [[keel]] for {{lang|de|Von der Tann}} was laid down on 21 March 1908, and the ship was [[ceremonial ship launching|launched]] nearly a year later on 20 March 1909. General [[Luitpold Freiherr von und zu der Tann-Rathsamhausen]], a nephew of the ship's namesake and then the commander of [[III Royal Bavarian Corps]], christened the ship at the launching ceremony.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=50}} In May 1910, {{lang|de|Von der Tann}} sailed from the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg to receive her final fitting-out in the {{lang|de|[[Kaiserliche Werft Kiel|Kaiserliche Werft]]}} (Imperial Dockyard) at [[Kiel]]. The German Navy was chronically short of crews at the time, so dockyard workers had to bring the ship to Kiel. On 1 September 1910, the ship was [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the German Navy, with a crew composed largely of men from the dreadnought {{SMS|Rheinland||2}}. Her first commander was {{lang|de|[[Kapitän zur See]]}} (''KzS''–Captain at Sea) [[Robert Mischke]]. During sea trials, she reached an average speed of {{convert|27|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} over a six-hour period, with a top speed of {{convert|28.124|kn}} with the engines at maximum output.{{sfn|Staff 2006|p=9}}{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=49}}

The [[keel]] for {{lang|de|Von der Tann}} was laid down on 21 March 1908, and the ship was [[ceremonial ship launching|launched]] nearly a year later on 20 March 1909. General [[Luitpold von der Tann-Rathsamhausen]], a nephew of the ship's namesake and then the commander of [[III Royal Bavarian Corps]], christened the ship at the launching ceremony.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=50}} In May 1910, {{lang|de|Von der Tann}} sailed from the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg to receive her final fitting-out in the {{lang|de|[[Kaiserliche Werft Kiel|Kaiserliche Werft]]}} (Imperial Dockyard) at [[Kiel]]. The German Navy was chronically short of crews at the time, so dockyard workers had to bring the ship to Kiel. On 1 September 1910, the ship was [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the German Navy, with a crew composed largely of men from the dreadnought {{SMS|Rheinland||2}}. Her first commander was {{lang|de|[[Kapitän zur See]]}} (''KzS''–Captain at Sea) [[Robert Mischke]]. During sea trials, she reached an average speed of {{convert|27|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} over a six-hour period, with a top speed of {{convert|28.124|kn}} with the engines at maximum output.{{sfn|Staff 2006|p=9}}{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=49}}

{{lang|de|Von der Tann}} was sent to South America after completing her trials, departing Germany on 20 February 1911. She stopped in the [[Canary Islands]] on the way. She visited [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, arriving there on 14 March, where she was visited by the Brazilian president, [[Hermes da Fonseca]], before continuing on to [[Itajaha]] on 23 March. During this period, she cruised with the German [[light cruiser]] {{SMS|Bremen||2}}, which was in the area. From there, she continued to [[Bahía Blanca]], Argentina on 27 March, where many of her crew went ashore to visit the city. She stayed there until 8 April when she left for [[Salvador, Bahia|Bahia]], Brazil, which she reached six days later. From there, Mischke and his staff made a visit to [[Buenos Aires]] on 30 March. On 17 April, she departed for home, arriving back in Wilhelmshaven on 6 May.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=50}}{{sfn|Dodson|p=80}} The primary purpose of the cruise was to obtain armament contracts from South American countries by impressing them with what was "widely advertised as the fastest and most powerful warship then afloat."{{sfn|Livermore|p=41}}

{{lang|de|Von der Tann}} was sent to South America after completing her trials, departing Germany on 20 February 1911. She stopped in the [[Canary Islands]] on the way. She visited [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, arriving there on 14 March, where she was visited by the Brazilian president, [[Hermes da Fonseca]], before continuing on to [[Itajaha]] on 23 March. During this period, she cruised with the German [[light cruiser]] {{SMS|Bremen||2}}, which was in the area. From there, she continued to [[Bahía Blanca]], Argentina on 27 March, where many of her crew went ashore to visit the city. She stayed there until 8 April when she left for [[Salvador, Bahia|Bahia]], Brazil, which she reached six days later. From there, Mischke and his staff made a visit to [[Buenos Aires]] on 30 March. On 17 April, she departed for home, arriving back in Wilhelmshaven on 6 May.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz|p=50}}{{sfn|Dodson|p=80}} The primary purpose of the cruise was to obtain armament contracts from South American countries by impressing them with what was "widely advertised as the fastest and most powerful warship then afloat."{{sfn|Livermore|p=41}}