The GermanStamps.net Collection

The GermanStamps.net Collection

Germany & Related Areas, 1872 – 1945

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Kiautschou

MSP No. 20 – SMS Iltis

SMS Ilitis was a gunboat of the Kaiserliche Marine launched on 4 August 1898 and commissioned on 1 December 1898.

Following her commissioning, SMS Iltis was sent to Ostasiatische Station, where she would spend her entire career.  Shortly after her arrival, she participated in actions surrounding the Boxer Rebellion and the Occupation of Kiautschou.  In the years after that, she engaged in routine patrolling of the Chinese coast and rivers, and occasionally to Japan and Korea.

Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, the cruiser SMS Emden captured the Russian steamer Ryazan and brought her into Tsingtau.  She was converted to an auxiliary cruiser christened Cormoran, and manned by men formerly of SMS Iltis, the unprotected cruiser SMS Cormoran, and the gunboat SMS Vaterland.  These vessels were then scuttled during the siege of Tsingtau, with the SMS Iltis being scuttled on 28 September 1914.

SMS Iltis

Postmark Information

Period of Use on this Ship:

  • 6 February 1899 to 31 July 1914

Approximate Periods of Use in Kiautschou waters:

  • May 1899 to September 1899
  • November 1899 to January 1900
  • May 1900
  • August 1900
  • April 1901 to July 1901
  • February 1902 to March 1902
  • June 1902
  • November 1902
  • March 1903 to April 1903
  • August 1903 to September 1903
  • February 1904 to March 1904
  • June 1904 to July 1904
  • January 1905 to May 1905
  • October 1905 to November 1905
  • August 1906 to October 1906
  • February 1907 to May 1907
  • August 1907 to September 1907
  • January 1908 to May 1908
  • May 1909 to April 1909
  • August 1909 to September 1909
  • March 1910 to April 1910
  • July 1910 to August 1910
  • February 1911 to April 1911
  • August 1911 to October 1911
  • March 1912 to April 1912
  • September 1912 to October 1912
  • February 1913 to April 1913
  • October 1913
  • March 1914 to April 1914
  • June 1914 to July 1914

Ship Information

Type:  Gunboat
Class:  Iltis class
Commissioned: 1 December 1898

Album Page(s)

Kiautschou

MSP No. 20 – SMS Iltis

Ship Information

Type:  Gunboat
Class:  Iltis class
Commissioned: 1 December 1898

SMS Ilitis was a gunboat of the Kaiserliche Marine launched on 4 August 1898 and commissioned on 1 December 1898.

Following her commissioning, SMS Iltis was sent to Ostasiatische Station, where she would spend her entire career.  Shortly after her arrival, she participated in actions surrounding the Boxer Rebellion and the Occupation of Kiautschou.  In the years after that, she engaged in routine patrolling of the Chinese coast and rivers, and occasionally to Japan and Korea.

Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, the cruiser SMS Emden captured the Russian steamer Ryazan and brought her into Tsingtau.  She was converted to an auxiliary cruiser christened Cormoran, and manned by men formerly of SMS Iltis, the unprotected cruiser SMS Cormoran, and the gunboat SMS Vaterland.  These vessels were then scuttled during the siege of Tsingtau, with the SMS Iltis being scuttled on 28 September 1914.

SMS Iltis

Postmark Information

Period of Use on this Ship:

  • 6 February 1899 to 31 July 1914

Approximate Periods of Use in Kiautschou waters:

  • May 1899 to September 1899
  • November 1899 to January 1900
  • May 1900
  • August 1900
  • April 1901 to July 1901
  • February 1902 to March 1902
  • June 1902
  • November 1902
  • March 1903 to April 1903
  • August 1903 to September 1903
  • February 1904 to March 1904
  • June 1904 to July 1904
  • January 1905 to May 1905
  • October 1905 to November 1905
  • August 1906 to October 1906
  • February 1907 to May 1907
  • August 1907 to September 1907
  • January 1908 to May 1908
  • May 1909 to April 1909
  • August 1909 to September 1909
  • March 1910 to April 1910
  • July 1910 to August 1910
  • February 1911 to April 1911
  • August 1911 to October 1911
  • March 1912 to April 1912
  • September 1912 to October 1912
  • February 1913 to April 1913
  • October 1913
  • March 1914 to April 1914
  • June 1914 to July 1914

Album Page(s)