KRIEGSMARINE / GERMAN NAVY (GERMANY / WEST GERMANY)

Ship project history: Torpedo motorboats (Schnellboote) were the development of successful prototype created by F. Lürssen in 1929. General characteristic lines for all series were round-bilge hull with small deadrise, triple-shaft diesel machinery, presence of two auxiliary rudders for creation of "Lürssen effect" (fitting of rudders under an angle to centreline for speed increase) and a bow arrangement of two TTs. Composite hull included light alloy framing, wooden planking and steel engine seating.

Boats had a forecastle; since 1942 there were conical deck houses (first was installed on S68), which since 1943 (first time on S100) were began to protect by 10-12mm armour. Besides two torpedoes in tubes, all S-boats could carry two spare torpedoes (or 4-6 mines). Artillery in days of war was continuously strengthened.

Ship protection: S100 and later boats had armoured CT and bridge.

Modernizations: 1942 - 1943, all survived and completed: can carry 4 - 6 mines instead of spare torpedoes

late 1942, S39, 42, 44 - 46, 81 - 83, 117: - 1 x 1 - 20/65; + 1 x 1 - 40/56 FlaK 28

1943, some completed: - 1 x 1 - 20/65; + 1 x 2 - 20/65 C/38 or 1 x 4 - 20/65 C/38, 1 x 1 - 20/65 C/38 or 1 x 3 - 15/84

1943, all survived earlier boats: main engines were forced to 7500hp, maximal speed increased to 41kts.

1948, S130: disarmed

5/1957, UW10: + 2 - 533 TT.

Naval service: S40 20/8/1944 was sunk by Soviet aircraft at Sulina; S45, S49 and S72 20/8/1944 were damaged by Soviet aircraft at Constanza and scuttled by crews 25/8/1944 at Varna; S38 was sunk 20/11/1940 by British destroyers Garth and Campbell in La Manche; S39 and S114 were sunk 2/8/1944 at Le Havre by British aircraft; S41 was sunk 20/11/1941 as result of collision with S47 in La Manche; S42, S52 and S131 20/8/1944 were sunk by Soviet aircraft at Constanza; S43 and S106 were lost 27/6/1941 on mines in gulf of Finland; S44 was lost 25/7/1943 during American bomber raid to Kiel; S46 was sunk 10/9/1943 by Soviet fighters at Taman; S47 and S51 were scuttled 29/8/1944 at Varna; S53 was sunk 20/2/1942 as result of collision with S39 off Dover; S63 was sunk 25/10/1943 by British destroyer Mackay and MGBs in La Manche; S66, S84, S100 and S138 were sunk 15/6/1944 by British aircraft at Le Havre; S70 was lost 5/3/1943 on a mine in La Manche; S71 was sunk 17/2/1943 by British destroyers Garth and Montrose in La Manche; S74 was damaged 5/11/1943 by British fighter-bombers at Brest and sunk by gunfire of S135; S75 was sunk 5/3/1943 by British aircraft at Ijmuiden; S77 was sunk 25/7/1943 by British MGB40 and MGB42 at Dunkirk; S80 was lost 1/9/1944 in Vyborg Bay; S87 was sunk 20/5/1944 by British aircraft in La Manche; S88 was sunk 25/10/1943 by British MTB607 in La Manche; S90 was sunk 17/2/1945 off Stavanger as result of navigating accident, subsequently she was raised and stricken; S91 was sunk 25/8/1944 by British escort destroyer Talybont and frigate Retalick at Dunkirk; S93 and S129 were sunk 26/3/1944 by American aircraft at Ijmuiden; S94 and S128 23/2/1944 collided with each other and have been sunk by British destroyer Garth in La Manche; S102 was lost 8/7/1943 on a mine off Kerch; S103 was sunk 4/5/1945 by British aircraft at coast of Denmark; S104 was lost 9/1/1943 on a mine in La Manche; S111 was sunk 15/3/1942 by British Spitfire fighters in La Manche; S119 was sunk 8/3/1943 by British destroyer Mackay and MGB20 and MGB21 in La Manche; S121 was sunk 11/8/1943 by British aircraft at Brest; S136 was sunk 10/6/1944 by Canadian destroyer Sioux, British frigate Duff and Polish escort destroyer Krakowjak in La Manche. S73, S78, S124, S125 and S126 in August, 1943 were transferred to Spain as LT23, LT24, LT21, LT25 and LT26. S96 was lost 25/9/1945 as result of collision with British ML145 at Lowestoft. After war 14 boats were transferred to the USSR, 7 to Denmark and 5 to Norway.

    S130 was returned by United Kingdom in 1948 and used as fishery protection vessel. She was commissioned in May 1957 by West German navy as ASW training boat.

S81

S128

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