Name Greif Acquired 1915 Fate sunk 29 February 1916 Launched 1914 Draft 7.5 m | Builder Neptun Commissioned 23 January 1916 Displacement 9900 tons normal Length 132 m | |
 | ||
SMS Greif was a German cargo steamship that was converted into a merchant raider for the Imperial German Navy.
Built as Guben, she was a 4,962 GRT steel-hulled ship owned by the German-Australian Line (DADG), Hamburg. She was converted for naval service at Kaiserliche Werft Kiel in 1915 and commissioned as Greif on 23 January 1916. She sailed from the Elbe port of Cuxhaven on 27 February 1916 under the command of Fregattenkapitän Rudolf Tietze (born 13 September 1874). The Royal Navy had learned of Greif's sailing and was waiting in the North Sea.
Greif was disguised as the Norwegian Rena bound for Tønsberg, Norway when intercepted by the 15,620 GRT armed merchant cruiser Alcantara on the morning of 29 February 1916. Alcantara closed to 2000 yards and slowed to lower a boarding cutter when Greif hoisted the German battle ensign, increased speed, and opened fire. Alcantara returned fire with her six 6-inch (150 mm) guns and two 3-pounders. Range was never more than 3000 yards.
Alcantara was hit by a torpedo amidships on her port side, and one of Alcantaras shells exploded the ready ammunition for Greifs after gun. Both ships lost speed. Greifs crew abandoned ship 40 minutes after opening fire. Alcantara sank first. The C-class light cruiser Comus and M-class destroyer Munster then arrived to sink the stationary Greif and rescue 120 German survivors. An estimated 187 Germans perished along with 72 Britons.