SMS “Breslau”/ “Midilli” – The German/ Turkish light cruiser

SMS “Breslau” was a German light cruiser from World War I. Building of the ship began in 1910 and it was completed and entered service on May 10, 1912. Along with its sister ships—"Magdeburg”, “Strassburg” and “Stralsund”—it was designed as one of the first innovative German light cruisers, incorporating numerous novel design features. The ship was assigned to the Mediterranean Division (Mittelmeerdivision) alongside the battlecruiser SMS “Goeben”. From Germany's entry into World War I on August 1, 1914, until August 10, 1914, both ships sowed panic across the Mediterranean, terrorizing the British and French navies. On August 10, 1914 both German ships entered the territorial waters of the Ottoman Empire—which was still neutral at the time—and on August 16, 1914, they were incorporated into the Turkish Navy as the “Yavuz Sultan Selim” and the “Midilli”. The ships retained their German command and crews, forming the core of the Turkish fleet until 1918. On January 20, 1918 the “Midilli” sank after striking a mine, following the Battle of Imbros.

This is a model of a small cruiser; while not large, it is quite complex—excellently designed and highly detailed—making it suitable for intermediate and experienced modelers. The model reproduces every visible exterior feature of the actual ship: the hull, propulsion and steering systems, superstructures, armament, lifeboats and other equipment. The kit allows for the assembling of one of two versions: the SMS “Breslau” or the Turkish “Midilli”. Although the exact layout of the “Midilli’s” artillery and forward deck equipment is not definitively known, the kit provides distinct deck details for each version. Avalible medium colors reserves, flags for both versions, stand parts; however, the inclusion of the Breslau coat of arms on the bow of the sides “Midilli” is somewhat questionable. The publication includes a beautiful, full-color image of the “Breslau”, that is simply begging to be framed. The textual instruction is concise yet quite detailed and informative, provided in both Polish and English, while the graphical instruction is extensive and comprehensive—perfect for successfully assembling the model.