SS Königin Luise ( 1913 ) The SS " Königin Luise " was a German steam ferry . She operated between Hamburg and Holland , before being taken over by the Kaiserliche Marine on the outbreak of the First World War . She was used as an auxiliary minelayer before being sunk on 5 August 1914 . Construction and early career . " Königin Luise " was laid down at AG Vulcan Stettin in 1913 , and launched on 8 May 1913 for service with the Hamburg America Line . After serving for sometime as a ferry , she was requisitioned by the Kaiserliche Marine on 3 August 1914 to serve as an auxiliary minelayer , carrying 200 naval mines . She was fitted with two revolver cannons , and there were plans to fit her with two 88 mm guns , but the British entry to the war on 4 August led to the navy pressing " Königin Luise " into immediate action . She was disguised in the black , buff , and yellow colours of the steamers of the Great Eastern Railway that sailed between Harwich and the Hook of Holland , and sailed from Emden on the night of 4 August . Her captain , Commander Biermann , had orders to lay mines off the Thames Estuary . Minelaying and encounter with the British . " Königin Luise " was able to lay a number of mines off the coast during the night , but was sighted by a number of fishing vessels . The light cruiser HMS " Amphion " of the Harwich Force and a number of destroyer s of the 3rd Flotilla sailed early in the morning of 5 August and headed towards Heligoland Bight . On the way they encountered a fishing boat , whose occupants informed the British force that they had seen an unknown ship " throwing things over the side " about 20 miles north of the Outer Gabbard . " Amphion " and the destroyers set off to investigate . The taskforce spotted " Königin Luise " at 10 : 25 , and the destroyers HMS " Lance " and HMS " Landrail " moved to investigate . " Königin Luise " fled at her top speed , moving into a rain squall , where she proceeded to lay more mines . " Lance " and " Landrail " gave chase , signalling to the rest of the force that they were engaging . " Lance " opened fire , the first British shot of the war . " Amphion " soon closed and also began to fire on the fleeing " Königin Luise " . The German ship attempted to escape to neutral waters to the south - east , while leading the pursuing British through her minefield , but under heavy and accurate fire , Commander Biermann ordered the scuttling of the ship . The surviving crew abandoned ship , and the " Königin Luise " rolled over to port and sank at 12 : 22 . 46 of the 100 crew were rescued by the British ships . She was the first German Naval loss of the war . Loss of the " Amphion " . The British ships continued their patrol , before heading back to port that evening . Their course took them through the minefield the " Königin Luise " had previously laid , and at 06 : 45 on the morning of 6 August " Amphion " struck one of the mines . Heavily damaged , she was abandoned , with her crew being taken off by the escorting destroyers The " Amphion " drifted back into the minefield , struck another mine at 07 : 03 and sank , becoming the first British Naval war loss , with those killed being the first British casualties of the war .