Launched in 1897, the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse became the first true superliner of the modern era. The ship also was the first ship to have four funnels. Soon four funnels became a signal of strength and safety when crossing the ocean. Most ships of the day still relied partly on sails, or had multiple masts to switch to sails in the event of an emergency.
Built by the North German Lloyd Line, the ship was named to commemorate the first Emperor of Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm I. Entering service during a rather nationalistic chapter of history, the ship set the standard for naval strength. The launch of this ship set other nations scrambling, including Great Britain's decision to build the Lusitania and Mauretania, as well as the United States Navy Great White Fleet of 1907 at the direction of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Soon after entering the war hunting other ships for several months, the Kaiser lost a final battle with the British battleship HMS Highflyer in 1914 off the coast of Africa.
A Ship First of its Kind
The SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, all of 14,349 GRT, became the first superliner in service. Being the first ship with four funnels, the Kaiser became a symbol of safety and stability while crossing the Atlantic.
In 1889, Kaiser Wilhelm II visited the christening of the White Star Line's RMS Teutonic, the largest ship in service at the time and was mesmerized at the boat's size and opulence. In his effort to ensure German competitiveness on the oceans, he urged the his fleet be modernized.
Less than ten years later, built to be the pride of Germany, the Kaiser outclassed all other ships of the day, sparking an intense battle for fleet superiority, the era of the four funneled ocean liners.
Four Flyers
Between 1897 and 1907, the North German Lloyd line had launched four Kaiser Class vessels, including the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse of 1897, SS Kronprinz Wilhelm of 1901, SS Kaiser Wilhelm II of 1903, and SS Kronprinzessin Cecilie of 1907. Each an equally impressive and fast ship, the Four Flyers of Germany were providing express service across the Atlantic Ocean.
With all the prestige and success of being the first ocean liner, the Kaiser's career had a slight blemish. A collision with the RMS Orinoco near Cherbourg, France claimed the lives of five passengers aboard the Kaiser and 3 crew members aboard the Orinoco.
Victim of Rapid Innovation
Originally built to serve both elite Europeans and Americans as well as more traditional passengers, the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse set the bar for the levels of size, luxury, and speed of steamers. However, the SS Kaiser soon became out classed by both British and other German ships, NDL decided to refit into a 3rd class only transport ship.
Serving the burgeoning immigrant trade of migrants traveling to America, the Kaiser became profitable again. Fortunately for the Germans, the new spartan interiors of the ship allowed for quick reassignment during the outbreak of World War One.
World War I
Assigned to be a hunter, despite being outclassed and outgunned, the Kaiser sailed the oceans out to destroy enemy ships. Several successful encounters led to an adherence with the Rules of War, allowing several ships mainly consisting of women and children to escape unharmed, the Kaiser continued south.
After several strikes, the ship was approached and defeated by the HMS Highflyer while refueling along Africa's northwestern coast in 1914. The battle was fierce, and the Kaiser was faster, but the downtime of the refueling allowed the more powerful Highflyer to attack first. after holding her own for some time, the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse sank as a casualty of war.
The ship wreck was rediscovered in 1959 and removed for scrap.
SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse Ship Facts
Tonnage:
14,349 GRT
Length:
655'
Beam:
65' - 10"
Draft:
27' - 11"
Number of Decks:
6
Cruising Speed:
22.5 Knots (25.9 mph or 41.7 km/hr)
Line:
Shipyard:
AG Vulcan, Stettin Germany
Port of Registry:
Bremen
Maiden Voyage:
September 19, 1897
Years in Service:
1897 - 1914
Current Status:
Destroyed during battle of WWI, scrapped in 1952
SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse Frequently Asked Questions
What was the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse?
SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was a German ocean liner built by AG Vulcan in Stettin for North German Lloyd (Norddeutscher Lloyd) and launched in 1897. She was the first four-funnel liner and held the Blue Riband. She sailed from Bremerhaven to New York until World War I, when she was sunk by HMS Highflyer on 26 August 1914.
What happened to the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse?
She was converted to an auxiliary cruiser after Britain declared war in August 1914, then fought the British cruiser HMS Highflyer while refuelling at Río de Oro on the northwest coast of Africa on 26 August 1914. Germans say she was scuttled after running out of ammunition. The British say Highflyer’s gunfire sank her.
Where is the wreck of the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse?
She sank off Río de Oro, on the northwest African coast.
Did the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse win the Blue Riband?
Yes. In March 1898 she took the Blue Riband from Cunard’s Lucania with an average speed of 22.3 knots. Her records stood until 1900, when the Hamburg America liner Deutschland took them.
Why did the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse have four funnels?
She was the first liner with four funnels, a design that came to signal size and power. The boilers had only two uptake shafts, which branched to the four funnels.
Who was the ship named after?
She was named after Kaiser Wilhelm I, the first Emperor of Germany and the grandfather of Kaiser Wilhelm II, who christened her on 4 May 1897. “Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse” means “Emperor William the Great”.
What is the difference between the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, the Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Kronprinz Wilhelm?
They were sister ships in the Kaiser class, which North German Lloyd built from 1897 to 1907: Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse (1897), Kronprinz Wilhelm (1901), Kaiser Wilhelm II (1903) and Kronprinzessin Cecilie (1907). They were nicknamed the “Four Flyers”. The Kaiser Wilhelm II was a larger, later ship. There was also a German battleship named SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse.
How big was the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse?
She was about 649 ft (198 m) long overall, 66 ft (20.1 m) wide, and 14,349 gross tons. She was much smaller than the later Cunard liners.
How fast was the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse?
Her speed was about 22.5 knots. She averaged 22.3 knots on her Blue Riband crossing. Two triple-expansion steam engines rated at about 33,000 indicated horsepower drove her two propellers.
How many passengers did the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse carry?
She carried up to 1,506 passengers: 206 in first class, 226 in second class and 1,074 in third class. Her crew was 488 at completion and about 800 after a 1913 refit.
What did the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse do in World War I?
As an auxiliary cruiser under Captain Reymann, she sank three merchant ships (Tubal Cain, Kaipara and Nyanza), taking their crews aboard first, and spared the liners Galician and Arlanza. After the fight with HMS Highflyer, most of her crew were held at the Amherst internment camp in Nova Scotia.
When was the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse built and launched?
She was laid down in 1896 and launched on 4 May 1897. She left Bremerhaven on her maiden voyage on 19 September 1897, calling at Southampton on the way to New York.
Was a mayor of New York shot aboard the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse?
Yes. On 9 August 1910, New York mayor William Jay Gaynor was shot aboard the ship while embarking for a holiday.
What was the collision with the Orinoco?
On 21 November 1906, the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse collided with the British liner RMS Orinoco at Cherbourg, France. A court found her wholly responsible.
Last edited: October 2026