SMS G85

History
German Empire
Name	G85
Ordered	1914 Mobilization (Mob) order
Builder	Germaniawerft, Kiel, Germany
Launched	24 July 1915
Commissioned	14 December 1915
Fate	Sunk by HMS Swift during the Battle of Dover Strait, 21 April 1917
General characteristics
Class and type	V25-class torpedo boat
Displacement	1,051 tonnes
Length	83.5 m (274 ft)
Beam	8.33 m (27.3 ft)
Draught	3.74 m (12.3 ft) (fwd); 3.45 m (11.3 ft) (aft)
Speed	34.5 knots (63.9 km/h; 39.7 mph)
Range	1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement	83 officers and sailors
Armament	3 × 4.1 in (105 mm) guns 6 × 500 mm torpedo tubes 24 mines

SMS G85 was a 1913 Type Large Torpedo Boat (Großes Torpedoboot) of the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I, and the 40th ship of her class.

Construction

Built by Germaniawerft in Kiel, Germany, she was launched in December 1915. The "G" in G85 refers to the shipyard at which she was constructed.

Service

G85 was sunk in the Battle of Dover Strait on 21 April 1917 by HMS Swift. In this action, two groups of German destroyers set out to bombard Allied positions ashore at Dover, England and Calais, France. However, Swift intercepted G85 and sank her with a torpedo.

SMS G42 was also sunk in this action.

References

• Technical specs of the Großes Torpedoboot 1913 class