The four-funnel superliner that defined an era of maritime speed and German national pride

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Launched in 1897, the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was the first superliner to feature four funnels, a design choice that became a global symbol of speed and safety. This German vessel challenged British maritime dominance, captured the prestigious Blue Riband, and pioneered luxury travel before meeting a dramatic wartime end.

Commissioned by Norddeutscher Lloyd to consolidate German influence at sea, the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was built in Stettin and launched on 4 May 1897. Emperor Wilhelm II, who had long admired the size and potential of British liners like the RMS Teutonic, championed the project. The ship was a marvel of its time, featuring four funnels—though only two were strictly necessary for her boilers—which passengers associated with superior safety and strength. Her interiors, designed by Johann Poppe in a Baroque revival style, introduced unprecedented luxury, including suites with private parlors and baths.

The liner achieved international fame in March 1898 by winning the Blue Riband for the fastest North Atlantic crossing, with an average speed of 22.3 knots. This victory signaled a shift in maritime supremacy, ending decades of British dominance. To maintain her competitive edge, the ship was later equipped with Marconi wireless telegraphy in 1900, becoming the first liner to utilize such technology. Despite her prestige, technological advancements in steamship design eventually rendered the Kaiser class outdated, leading to her conversion into an all-third-class vessel in 1913 to serve the lucrative immigrant market.

At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the liner was requisitioned as an auxiliary cruiser. While she initially operated with a degree of chivalry, her career was cut short on 26 August 1914, during the Battle of Río de Oro. After engaging the British cruiser HMS Highflyer and exhausting her ammunition, the ship was scuttled by her crew. While the Germans maintained that the ship was destroyed by internal explosives to prevent capture, the British claimed their gunfire caused her demise. Her wreck remained largely undisturbed until its identification was confirmed by the Moroccan Ministry of Culture in October 2013.

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