SMS Camaeleon

Camaeleon's sister ship Natter in Kiel
History
NameCamaeleon
NamesakeSMS Camäleon
OperatorImperial German Navy
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Laid down1878
Launched21 December 1878
Commissioned10 November 1879
Decommissioned22 September 1891
Stricken28 June 1909
FateConverted to a barge
General characteristics
TypeGunboat
Displacement
Length46.4 m (152 ft 3 in)
Beam10.6 m (34 ft 9 in)
Draft3.2 to 3.4 m (10 ft 6 in to 11 ft 2 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed11.2 knots (20.7 km/h; 12.9 mph)
Range700 nmi (1,300 km; 810 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph)
Complement
  • 3 officers
  • 73–85 enlisted
Armament1 × 30.5 cm (12 in) MRK L/22 gun
Armor
  • Belt: 102 to 203 mm (4 to 8 in)
  • Barbette: 203 mm (8 in)
  • Deck: 44 mm (1.7 in)

SMS Camaeleon was an ironclad gunboat of the Wespe class built for the German Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) in the 1870s. The ships, which were armed with a single 30.5 cm (12 in) MRK L/22 gun, were intended to serve as part of a coastal defense fleet.