User:Kansas Bear/Ottoman cruiser Mecidiye

The Ottoman cruiser Mecidiye was launched July 25, 1903 and commissioned December 19, 1903.

Balkan War
In October 1912, Mecidiye shelled Bulgarian forts near Varna and other military targets. Later she was attacked by the Greek submarine Delfin at 800 meters, but the torpedo missed. On Feb 18, 1913, Mecidiye was part of a covering force for a shore landing at Sarkoy.

World War I
Transported Hafiz Hakki Bey to Trabizond, in December 1914, to deliver messages to the 3rd Army Chief of Staff. On April 3, 1915, while attacking the port of Odessa, Mecidiye struck a mine and sank, losing 26 men. She was later raised by the Russians, refitted at Ropit Yard, Odessa and renamed Prut. Captured by the Germans at Sevastopol in May 1918, she was returned to the Ottoman Empire and renamed Mecidiye.

Joined the young navy of the Turkish Republic in 1925. Was used as a cadet training ship until she was scrapped in 1952.