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The Wappen von Hamburg was constructed in the shipyards of Deichtor (Hamburg) by Dutch workmen between 1663 and 1669. From 1669 to 1683 the Wappen von Hamburg was used as a naval escort vessel, protecting German merchant ships. To the West of Spitzberg acts of piracy multiplied; also in the Mediterranean, the channel of Ostend and the Elbe estuary. The Wappen von Hamburg excelled in its role as protector and made many voyages to Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon and Norway .
She was in the channel of Cadiz on the 10th October 1683 when a fire was discovered aboard.. The fire rapidly spread to the powder room and the ship exploded, killing Admiral Karpfanger, 42 sailors, and 22 soldiers .She then sank.. A monument was erected by king Charles II of Spain near Puntales (Cadiz) in memory of the valiant German commander and his crew . In 1897 the town of Hamburg erected a monument on the Koster Miles bridge in honor of the
captain and crew .