In the year before World War one, warships from the British Royal Navy were stationed at strategic ports around the world to protect the trade routes of the British empire. East Africa at that time was comprised of two colonies of British and German East Africa now Kenya and Tanzania. In East Africa, ships were based at Simontown in South Africa with regular patrols along the coast at Zanzibar and Mombasa. Konigsberg was one of a new class of fast well armed cruisers built in the years before the First World War. In late 1913 the German Colony in East Africa with its capital of Dar Es Salaam had requested a suitable replacement for the elderly sail and steam corvette SMS Gier then on station. In June the following year a sleek powerful recommissioned Konigsberg commanded by Fregatten Kapitan Max Loof arrived as a symbol of naval power in the region. It could master speeds of upto 24 knots, a range of 3,000 miles and was armed with 10 high velocity krupp four inch guns. Her arrival caused concern at Simonstown as the Royal Navy squadron could only offer three out dated cruisers of 1890's vintage and the arrival of this modern warship posed a threat to the regions maritime trade especially should war be declared. On the afternoon of 19th September, 1914 Konigsberg sailed slowly up the coast of Zanzibar and engaged Pegasus - a British navy ship in a 45 minute battle. Pegasus gunned out and surrendered. 38 people died, 5 were wounded and the ship sunk later that day. This infuriated the Royal Navy and 3 large modern cruisers arrived within two weeks with orders to 'sink and destroy' Konigsberg. A cat and mouse game followed with Looff taking Konigsberg further and further upstream until he was 20 miles inland. various aircraft were deployed to keep on the cornered ship and personnel increased until there were nearly 20 ships offshore. Two draft ships were fitted with 6 inch guns and prepared for battle. On 11th July, 1915 Konigsberg was sunk in the Rufiji Delta. The Royal Navy retired and the Konigsberg was stripped of all its fittings. A number of items were salvaged from the sunken ship including the captains dining table and a side board cabinet which are currently preserved at the Nairobi railway museum. To learn more of this interesting story and see some of the World's oldest antiques, visit the Nairobi Railway Museum