Three stamps, 10, 15 and 20pf values, were issued by East Germany to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Kiel Naval Mutiny. The vessels shown are the Friederich der Grosse, 10 pf., Prinz Regent Luitpold, 15 pf , and Koenig, 20 pf., the sailors on the stamps being the ringleaders of the mutiny in the ships shown behind them. Both sailors were shot. The 20 pf shows parading seamen passing the last battleship to hoist the Red Flag, the S.M.S. Koenig. This ship was gallantly defended by her officers and they became a part of German naval history.
The Friederich der Grosse and Prinz Regent Luitpold were "Kaiser" class warships, having a length of 564 ft., a beam of 95 ft. and displacement 24,380 tons. They were triple-screw, turbine-driven battleships of 30,000-35,000 hp, with a speed of 21-23 knots. Armament consisted of ten 12 in., 14 5.9 in., 12 4.1 in. guns and three 3.4 in. anti-aircraft guns. Each carried five 19.7 in. torpedo tubes, and complement was 1,088 men. In 1914 the Friederich der Grosse was flagship of the commander-in-chief, the Prinz Regent Luitpold being a unit of the Third Battle Squadron. Both battleships fought at Jutland and both were surrendered and interned at Scapa Flow in 1918, and scuttled in 1919.
S.M.S. Koenig gave her name to a class of battleships built as the German reply to the British "Queen Elizabeth" class. Their length was 580 ft., beam 97 ft. and displacement 25,390 tons. Triple screws were driven by turbines developing 35,000 h.p. to give a speed of 23 knots. Armament consisted of ten 12 in., 14 5.9 in., 12 4 in. and four 3.4 in. anti-aircraft guns. The Koenig fought at Jutland, surrendered in 1918 and was scuttled in 1919.
Sea Breezes SG E1027, E1028