The spelling of "SMS Goeben" follows the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) rules for German pronunciation. The "s" is pronounced as "z" in English, the "o" as a short "oh," and the "e" as a short "eh." The "G" is pronounced as in "get" with a hard "g," and the "o" is once again pronounced as a short "oh." The "b" is pronounced as in "bed," and the "e" sounds like a short "eh." The "n" at the end is also pronounced as a nasal sound, like the "n" in the French word "bon."
SMS Goeben, also referred to as SMS Breslau, was a German battlecruiser that served during World War I. The name "SMS" stands for "Seiner Majestät Schiff," which translates to "His Majesty's Ship" in English. The Goeben was part of the Moltke-class battlecruisers constructed for the Imperial German Navy.
Commissioned in 1912, the SMS Goeben had a displacement of 22,640 tons and was armed with a main battery consisting of ten 11-inch guns, along with numerous smaller caliber guns for secondary armament. It boasted an impressive top speed of 27 knots, making it among the fastest vessels of its time.
One of the most significant events in the Goeben's history was its involvement in the opening stages of World War I. Following the outbreak of the conflict, the ship, along with the SMS Breslau, embarked on a voyage to the Ottoman Empire in order to deter potential Allied interference in the region. The Goeben's presence significantly influenced Turkey's decision to enter the war on the side of the Central Powers.
The SMS Goeben had a turbulent service history, engaged in various naval operations throughout the war, and even survived multiple encounters with the enemy. Eventually, after the war ended, it was transferred to the Turkish Navy, where it was renamed the Yavuz Sultan Selim. The ship was used until the mid-20th century and now serves as a museum ship in Turkey, serving as a testament to its historic significance.
The word "SMS Goeben" is not a term with independent etymology. It is actually the name of a German battlecruiser named after the Ottoman admiral, Wilhelm von Goeben. The acronym "SMS" stands for "Seiner Majestät Schiff", meaning "His Majesty's Ship" in English. This was a prefix used for German naval vessels during the time of the German Empire.