SMS Falke (1891)

SMS Falke was an unprotected cruiser of the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine). She was the lead ship of her class, which included her sister ship, SMS Seeadler.

Falke was laid down in 1890 at the AG Weser shipyard in Bremen, launched in April 1891, and commissioned in September 1891. She was designed for overseas service, particularly in Germany's colonial empire. The ship was armed with eight 10.5 cm (4.1 in) guns and had a top speed of 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph).

Throughout her career, Falke served in various German protectorates, including German East Africa and the South Seas. Her duties included patrolling coastal waters, protecting German interests, and suppressing rebellions. In the late 1890s, she participated in operations in Samoa.

In 1911, Falke was stricken from the naval register and subsequently used as a target ship. Her ultimate fate is not well documented, but she was likely scrapped sometime after being decommissioned. The Falke class cruisers, while not particularly powerful, played an important role in projecting German naval power in the years leading up to World War I.