E-boat

E-boat was the Western Allies' designation for the fast attack craft (German: Schnellboot, or S-Boot, meaning "fast boat"; plural Schnellboote) of the Kriegsmarine during World War II; E-boat could refer to a patrol craft from an armed motorboat to a large Torpedoboot.[2] The name of E-boats was a British designation using the letter E for Enemy,[3][4]

E-boat
An E-boat flying the white flag, after surrender at the coastal forces base HMS Beehive, Felixstowe, May 1945
Class overview
NameE-boat (German: S-boot)
Builders
Operators
Succeeded byJaguar class (post-war)
CompletedS-1: 1 unit

S-2: 4 units (Schnellboot 1931)

S-7: 7 units (Schnellboot 1933)

S-14: 4 units (Schnellboot 1934)

S-18: 8 units (Schnellboot 1937)

S-26: 4 units

S-30: 16 units (Schnellboot 1939)

S-38: 58 units (Schnellboot 1939/40)

S-38b: S-100: 81 units

S-151: 8 units
Cancelled259
Preserved1
General characteristics (S-100-class)
Class and typeFast attack craft
Displacement
  • 100 tons (max)
  • 78.9 tons (standard)
Length34.94 m (114.6 ft) [1]
Beam5.28 m (17.3 ft)
Draught1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Installed power3,960 brake horsepower (2,950 kW)
Propulsion3 × Daimler Benz MB 501 marine diesel engines
Speed43.8 knots (81.1 km/h; 50.4 mph)
Range800 nmi (1,500 km; 920 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement24–30
Armament

The main wartime production boats, designated the S100 class, were very seaworthy,[5] heavily armed and capable of sustaining 43.5 knots (80.6 km/h; 50.1 mph), briefly accelerating to 48 knots (89 km/h; 55 mph).[6] These were armed with torpedoes and Flak guns; commonly one 37 mm at the stern, one 20 mm at the bow with a twin mount amidships, plus machine guns. Armament varied and some S100s substituted a 40mm Bofors or, less commonly, a 20mm flakvierling (quadruple mount) for the aft 37mm cannon.[2]

The S100 class boats were 34.94 m (114 ft 8 in) long and 5.38 m (17 ft 8 in) in beam.[5] Their diesel engines provided a range of 700 to 750 nmi (810–860 mi; 1,300–1,390 km), substantially greater than the gasoline-fueled American PT boats and British motor torpedo boats (MTBs).[7]

As a result of early war experience of combat against the fast and powerful S-boats, the Royal Navy created its MGB force and later developed better-matched MTBs, using the Fairmile 'D' hull design.

History

Development

This design was chosen because the theatre of operations of such boats was expected to be the North Sea, English Channel and the Western Approaches. The requirement for good performance in rough seas dictated the use of a round-bottomed displacement hull rather than the flat-bottomed planing hull that was more usual for small, high-speed boats. The shipbuilding company Lürssen at Vegesack, Bremen, overcame many of the disadvantages of such a hull and, with the private motor yacht Oheka II in 1926, produced a craft that was fast, strong and seaworthy. It was also extremely seaworthy and very light, being constructed of wooden planking over alloy frames. This attracted the interest of the Reichsmarine, which in November 1929 ordered a similar boat but fitted with two torpedo tubes. This became the S1, and was the basis for all subsequent E-boats.

After experimenting with the S1, the Germans made several improvements to the design. Small rudders added on either side of the main rudder could be angled outboard to 30 degrees, creating at high speed what is known as the Lürssen Effect.[8] This drew in an "air pocket slightly behind the three propellers, increasing their efficiency, reducing the stern wave and keeping the boat at a nearly horizontal attitude".[9] This was an important innovation as the horizontal attitude lifted the stern, allowing even greater speed, and the reduced stern wave made E-boats harder to see, especially at night.

The rounded wood planking hull helped reduce weight, and flattened at the stern area, the aft section area was reduced at high speeds, it allowed more hydrodynamic lift.[10]

Layout

The internal layout of the E-boat remained the same for all types. Its length was generally divided by eight transverse bulkheads (made of 4mm steel below the waterline and slightly thinner light metal alloy above) into nine watertight compartments.[11] From bow to stern, these were:

  1. Containing a trimming tank, the anchor chain storage locker, forward "head" (WC) and crew washroom;
  2. the accommodation for senior ratings (six bunks, including one in a separate compartment for the coxswain);
  3. comprising the captain's cabin on the starboard side, and the radio room on the port side (including the two radio operators' accommodation);
  4. the two forward fuel tanks (capacity 6,000 litres), one on either side of a centreline walkway, located directly below the bridge;
  5. the forward engineroom, housing the two wing engines, still with a central walkway between them;
  6. the second engineroom held the engine driving the central shaft, with a walkway on each side;
  7. the two largest of the fuel tanks (capacity 8,000 litres), again on either side of a central walkway;
  8. the junior ratings accommodation, with bunks for up to fifteen men, plus the galley and the stern "head"; the boat's magazine was also in this compartment;
  9. the two aft fuel tanks (capacity 4,000 litres) and rudder gear.

Note that the earliest (shorter) boats lacked the first transverse bulkhead, and thus the senior ratings' accommodation was first in the first watertight compartment.

Personnel

The earliest boats had a crew of 12 men, but by the time of the S14 type the manning had increased to 18 men. The S26 class required a complement of between 21 and 24 men, and this remained generally constant for all subsequent boats. This comprised a commanding officer (usually an Oberleutnant zur See), a Chief Boatswain (Oberbootsmann), a Helmsman (Matrosen-Gefreiter), about six seamen including those operating semaphore and engine telegraph posts (Matrosen), a Chief Engineer (Obermaschinsten), three engineer NCOs (Maschinenmaaten), six engine-room ratings (usually Heizern), two radio operators (Funkgefreiten or Funkgaast) for radio communications including decoding, and a torpedo mechanic (Torpedomechanikergefreiten) who doubled as the boat's cook.

Crew members could earn an award particular to their work —Das Schnellbootkriegsabzeichen— denoted by a badge depicting an E-boat passing through a wreath. The criteria were good conduct, distinction in action, and participating in at least twelve enemy actions. It was also awarded for particularly successful missions, displays of leadership or being killed in action. It could be awarded under special circumstances, such as when another decoration was not suitable.

Operations with the Kriegsmarine

E-boats were primarily used to patrol the Baltic Sea and the English Channel in order to intercept shipping heading for the English ports in the south and east. As such, they were up against Royal Navy and Commonwealth, e.g., Royal Canadian Navy contingents leading up to D-Day, motor gunboats (MGBs), motor torpedo boats (MTBs), motor launches, frigates and destroyers. They were also transferred in small numbers to the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea by river and land transport. Some small E-boats were built as boats for carrying by auxiliary cruisers.

E-boats were administratively organised into flotillas, each originally comprising 8 boats. The first flotilla (1st Schnellbootshalbflotille) was formed in July 1932, but was reorganised as 1st Schnellbootsflotille in June 1935. A second flotilla was established in August 1938, and a third in 1940. Eventually there were fourteen operational flotillas, numbered 1st to 11th plus 21st, 22nd and 24th, together with three training flotillas (Schnellbootsschulflotille). Each flotilla required the backup of a depot ship; initially this was provided by the converted steamer Nordsea, but from 1934 a series of purpose-built tenders were commissioned - the Tsingtau in 1934, followed by the Tanga (in 1939), Carl Peters and Adolf Lüderitz in 1940, and finally the Herman von Wissmamm and Gustav Nachtigal.

Schnellboot S1

E-boats of the 6th & 9th flotillas from Cherbourg attacked Exercise Tiger on 28 April 1944, causing about 749 American Army and Navy casualties.

The E-boats of the 9th flotilla were the first naval units to respond to the invasion fleet of Operation Overlord.[12] They left Cherbourg harbour at 5 a.m. on 6 June 1944.[12] On finding themselves confronted by the entire invasion fleet, they fired their torpedoes at maximum range and returned to Cherbourg.[12]

During World War II, E-boats claimed 101 merchant ships totalling 214,728 tons.[13] Additional claims include 12 destroyers, 11 minesweepers, eight landing ships, six MTBs, one torpedo boat, one minelayer, one submarine, and a number of smaller craft such as fishing boats. They also damaged two cruisers, five destroyers, three landing ships, one repair ship, one naval tug, and numerous other merchant vessels. Sea mines laid by the E-boats sank 37 merchant ships totalling 148,535 tons, a destroyer, two minesweepers, and four landing ships.[13]

E-boat crews were awarded 23 Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses and 112 German Crosses in Gold.[13]

Operations in the Black Sea

To boost Axis naval strength in the Black Sea, the OKW ordered to the region the transfer of six E-boats of the 1st S-flotilla, the last to be released from action in the Baltic Sea before refit. The Romanian port of Constanța, in the Black Sea, was chosen as the S-flotilla's headquarters. Transporting the six boats overland from Germany to Romania was an impressive logistical feat. The superstructure and all weapons were removed, leaving only the hull. After a long road journey of 60 hours, the boats arrived at Ingolstadt, where they were transferred back to water and towed towards Linz.[14] Upon reaching the Austrian city, the superstructure was rebuilt, then the journey continued down the Danube to Galați, where the main engines were installed. The E-boats then continued on their own power towards Constanța, where refitting was completed.

The first two boats, S26 and S28, arrived in Constanța on 24 May 1942, the second pair, S72 and S102 on 3 June, and the final pair, S27 and S40 10 days later.[15] After the sinking of S27 by a malfunctioning torpedo, four more reserve boats, S47, S49, S51 and S-52 were dispatched to the Black Sea, in order to replace boats undergoing maintenance.[16] S28, S72 and S102 were soon relegated to the Constanța Shipyard for engine replacement, leaving only S26 and the newly commissioned S49 operational.[17] On 1 January 1944, the 1st S-flotilla numbered six operational boats: S26, S42, S47, S49, S52 and S79, while S28, S40, S45 and S51 were all out of commission, undergoing repair in Constanța. Three more boats were shipped down the Danube and were being reconstructed at Constanța.[18] On 1 June 1944, 8 boats were operational in Constanța: S28, S40, S47, S49, S72, S131, S148 and S149. The boats were however penned in harbor, due to fuel shortage. During July, S26, S28, S40 and S42 were transferred to Sulina at the mouth of the Danube, where S42 was fitted with a new propeller. They were joined by S72 in early August, the rest of the boats remaining in Constanța. On 19 August, S26, S40 and S72 were destroyed in port by a Soviet air attack. On 22 August S148 hit a mine and sank near Sulina, and on the following day, S42, S52 and S131 were destroyed in Constanța by a Soviet air attack.[19] What remained of the S-flotilla was disbanded after Romania switched sides on the same day.[20]

Yugoslav Navy

Eight E-boats were built by Lürssen, Vegesack for the Yugoslav Navy from 1936 to 1939. These were named Orjen, Durmitor, Suvobor, Kajmakcalan, Velebit, Dinaira, Rudnik and Triglav. Each measured 28.00 (overall)/27.70 (waterline) x 4.30 x 1.51 m (91 ft 10in/90 ft 10in x 14 ft 1in x 4 ft 11in) and 61.7 tons full load. Three Daimler-Benz petrrol engines of 1,100 hp each = 3,300 hp = 41 kts. Each carried two 550mm torpedo tubes, a 40mm gun and 16 men. Kajmakcalan and Durmitor escaped to Alexandria in April 1941 to join the Allies; the other six fell into Italian hands and became Ms41 to Ms46, four of them eventually captured by the Germans (see below under "S2 class").

Italian MS boat

Italian MS 472, post-war configuration

The poor seaworthiness of the Italian-designed MAS boats of World War I and early World War II led its navy to build its own version of E-boats, the CRDA 60 t type, classed MS (Motosilurante). The prototype was designed on the pattern of six German-built E-boats captured from the Yugoslav Navy in 1941. Two of them sank the British light cruiser HMS Manchester in August 1942, the largest warship to be sunk by fast torpedo craft in the Second World War.[21] After the war these boats served with the Italian Navy, some well into the 1970s.[22]

Service in the Spanish Navy

The Kriegsmarine supplied the Spanish Francoist Navy with six E-boats (S1 to S6) during the Spanish Civil War, and six more during the Second World War. Another six were built in Spain with some assistance from Lürssen. A motor boat of the early series, either the Falange or the Requeté, laid two mines off Almería that crippled the British destroyer HMS Hunter on 13 May 1937. The German-built boats were discarded in the 1960s, while some of the Spanish-built ones served until the early 1970s.[23]

Service in China

This is one of the S-7-class boats, S-13. The Chinese Navy operated three boats of this class.

The Chinese Nationalist Navy had three S7-class boats during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

  • Yue-22 (岳-22)
  • Yue-253 (岳-253)
  • Yue-371 (岳-371)

Yue-22 was destroyed by Japanese planes, Yue-371 was sunk by its sailors to avoid being captured by the Japanese soldiers and Yue-253 was captured by the People's Liberation Army during the Chinese Civil War. Yue-253 was renamed "Hoiking" (海鯨), meaning "Seawhale" in Chinese. The People's Liberation Army Navy used it as a patrol boat until 1963.

The Chinese Nationalist government also ordered eight S30-class E-boats and a tender, Qi Jiguang (戚繼光). These were taken over by the Kriegsmarine in 1939. Qi Jiguang was renamed Tanga.

Service in the Romanian Navy

Germany sold four E-boats to Romania on 14 August 1944.[24] These vessels displaced 65 tons, had a top speed of 30 knots generated by three Mercedes-Benz engines totalling 2,130 kW (2,850 hp) and were armed with two 500 mm (20 in) torpedo tubes. Each of the four boats had a crew of 25. They were numbered 10 to 13 (formerly S151, S152, S153 and S154) and served in the Romanian Navy until at least 1954.[25]

Royal Navy

At the end of the war about 34 E-boats were surrendered to the British. Three boats, S130 (renamed P5230), S208 (P5208) and S212 (P5212) were retained for trials.

Operation Jungle

The Gehlen Organization, an intelligence agency established by American occupation authorities in Germany in 1946 and manned by former members of the Wehrmacht's Fremde Heere Ost (Foreign Armies East), used the Royal Navy's E-boats in order to infiltrate its agents into the Baltic states and Poland.[26] Royal Navy Commander Anthony Courtney was struck by the potential capabilities of former E-boat hulls, and John Harvey-Jones of the Naval Intelligence Division was put in charge of the project. He discovered that the Royal Navy still had two E-boats, P5230 and P5208, and had them sent to Portsmouth, where one of them, P5230 (ex-S130), was modified to reduce its weight and increase its power with the installation of two Napier Deltic engines of 1,900 kW (2,500 hp) each.[27]

Lieutenant-Commander Hans-Helmut Klose was assigned to command a German crew, recruited by the British MI-6 and funded by the American Office of Policy Coordination. The missions were assigned the codename "Operation Jungle". The boats carried out their missions under the cover of the British Control Commission's Fishery Protection Service, which was responsible for preventing Soviet navy vessels from interfering with German fishing boats and for destroying stray mines. The home port of the boats was Kiel, and operated under the supervision of Harvey-Jones. Manned by Klose and his crew, they usually departed for the island of Bornholm waving the White Ensign, where they would hoist the Swedish flag for a dash to Gotland, and there they would wait for orders from Hamburg. The first mission consisted in the landing of Lithuanian agents at Palanga, Lithuania, in May 1949,[28] and the last one took place in April 1955 in Saaremaa, Estonia.[29] During the last two years of the operation, three new German-built motorboats replaced the old E-boats.[30] Klose was later assigned the command of a patrol boat in the Bundesmarine and became commander-in-chief of the fleet before his retirement in 1978.[29]

Royal Danish Navy

In 1947, the Danish navy bought twelve former Kriegsmarine boats. These were further augmented in 1951 by six units bought from the Royal Norwegian Navy. The last unit, the P568 Viben, was retired in 1965.[31]

Royal Norwegian Navy

After World War II, the Norwegian Navy received a number of former Kriegsmarine boats. Six boats were transferred to Denmark in 1951.

Operators

Survivor

There is just one surviving E-boat, identified as S130. It was built as hull No. 1030 at the Schlichting boatyard in Travemünde. S130 was commissioned on 21 October 1943 and took an active part in the war, participating in the Exercise Tiger attack and attacks on the D-Day invasion fleet.

According to Dutch military historian Maurice Laarman:

In 1945, S130 was taken as a British war prize (FPB 5030) and put to use in covert operations. Under the guise of the "British Baltic Fishery Protection Service", the British Secret Intelligence Service MI-6 ferried spies and agents into Eastern Europe. Beginning in May 1949, MI-6 used S208, (Kommandant Hans-Helmut Klose) to insert agents into Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland. The operations were very successful and continued under a more permanent organisation based in Hamburg. In 1952, S130 joined the operation and the mission was enlarged to include signal intelligence (SIGINT) equipment. In 1954/55, S130 and S208 were replaced by a new generation of German S-boote.

S130 was returned to the newly formed Bundesmarine in March 1957, and operated under the number UW 10. Serving initially in the Unterwasserwaffenschule training sailors in underwater weaponry such as mines and torpedoes, she later became a test boat under the name EF 3.[32]

S130 was on display in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, having formerly been used as a houseboat.

S130 was purchased and towed from Wilhelmshaven to the Husbands Shipyard, Marchwood, Southampton, England in January 2003, under the auspices of the British Military Powerboat Trust. In 2004, S130 was taken to the slipway at Hythe, where, under the supervision of the BMPT, she was prepared and then towed to Mashfords yard in Cremyll, Cornwall, England to await funding for restoration. In 2008, S130, having been purchased by the Wheatcroft Collection, was set up ashore at Southdown in Cornwall to undergo restoration work involving Roving Commissions Ltd. As of June 2012, this work continues and includes an S130 Members' Club.

As of July 2020, S130 was part of the Wheatcroft collection of militaria, and still in the process of being restored. When restoration is complete it is planned that S130 will be a museum-ship located in the Richmond dry docks in Bideford, Devon.[33]

Variants and vessels

The Schnellboot design evolved over time.[34] The first groups had a pair of torpedo tubes fitted on the foredeck, but from S26 onwards the forecastle had been raised so that the torpedo tubes were built into the structure.

S1

The first post-WW1 torpedo boat was ordered in November 1929 to be built by Lürssen at Vegesack, near Bremen, in 1930, using mahogany and light metal composite. Originally numbered as UZ(S)16, it was commissioned into the Reichmarine on 7 August 1930. It was renamed W1 in March 1931, and then as S1 on 16 March 1932. It measured 26.8 x 4.2 x 1.06 metres (87 ft x 13 ft 9in x 3 ft 6in) and had a displacement of 39 tons standard (50 tons full load). Powered by three Daimler-Benz 900 hp petrol engines on three shafts, with a rating of 2,700 bhp, it had a sustained speed of 34.2 knots (maximum 39.8 knots). It carried two 500mm (19.685 inch) torpedo tubes and one 20mm flak gun. It had a complement of 12 (later 18( men. Along with the next five boats (S2 to S6), it was sold to Spain on 10 December 1936 and renamed Badajoz (LT15).

The number S1 was re-used in 1939. Five boats had been ordered by Bulgaria from Lürssen, Vegesack, of which the first four were delivered as F1 to F4. The fifth boat was retained in Germany and given the number S1. These were petrol-engined boats, similar to the S2 class built for the Kriegsmarine. Although commissioned in 1939, its petrol engines gave frequent problems, and on 10 September 1940 its stern was rammed (by S13) in Vlissingen, and was later removed from active service.

S2 class

The first production of the E-boat in 1931, a lengthened version of the prototype S1. Each measured 27.95 x 4.2 x 1.06 metres (91 ft 8in x 13 ft 9in x 3 ft 6in) and had a displacement of 46.5 tons standard (58 tons full load). Powered by Daimler-Benz petrol engines on three shafts, with a rating of 3,300 bhp, they had a speed of 33.8 knots. Armament and men as in S1. They formed a "Half Flotilla" and were used for training crews for later E-boats; all were transferred to Spain in 1936, along with S1 and S6.

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S2Lürssen, Vegesack1 December 193122 April 1932Sold to Spain 10 December 1936, renamed Falange (LT13)
S3Lürssen, Vegesack10 December 193127 May 1932Sold to Spain 10 December 1936, but never commissioned there
S4Lürssen, Vegesack11 June 193220 June 1932Sold to Spain 10 December 1936, renamed Requete (LT11)
S5Lürssen, Vegesack193214 July 1932Sold to Spain 10 December 1936, renamed Oviedo (LT12)

The numbers S2 to S5 were re-used in 1943. Eight petrol-engined boats similar to the original S2 class had been ordered from Lürssen, Vegesack, and completed in 1937-39 for that navy as Orjen, Durmitor, Suvobor, Kajmakcalan, Velebit, Dinaira, Rudnik and Triglav. When Italy occupied Yugoslavia in April 1941, two of them (Durmitor and Kajmakcalan) escaped to Alexandria and served with the Allied forces, while the other six were commissioned into the Italian Navy as Ms41 to Ms46.[35] In September 1943 Ms41 (ex Orjen) at Monfalcone and Ms45 (ex Suvobor) at Cattolica were scuttled, while the other four were captured by the Germans on 9 September and renamed S2 (ex Velebit), S3 (ex Dinara), S4 (ex Triglav) and S5 (ex Rudnik); all four were scuttled by the Germans at Salonika in October 1944.

S6

The first diesel-powered boat, also built by Lürssen, Vegesack in 1933. Its dimensions and other details were the same as for S7 to S9. Ordered on 26 August 1932, it was sold to Spain on 10 December 1936 (together with the preceding petrol-engined boats) and renamed Toledo (LT14).

S7 class

Built from 1933 onwards. Similar to S6, but with an improved hull form, these were the first operational diesel boats. The first three, ordered (together with S6) on 26 August 1932, were fitted with MAN diesels and measured 80 tons standard (95 tons full load), while the last four were equipped with the more reliable Daimler-Benz diesels and were 78 tons standard (92 tons full load). All measured 32.40 x 4.90 x 1.21 m (106 ft 3in x 16 ft x 4 ft). These carried the larger 533mm (21-inch) torpedoes rather than the 500mm of the petrol-driven boats; two torpedo tubes were mounted on the forecastle, and the boats also carried a single 20mm gun, with a crew of 21 men.

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S7Lürssen, Vegesack24 February 193410 October 1934Transferred to Britain in May 1945, scuttled in the North Sea 2 May 1946
S8Lürssen, Vegesack23 January 19346 September 1934Converted to fast submarine hunter in 1940, transferred to Britain postwar, scrapped after 1947
S9Lürssen, Vegesack24 February 193412 June 1935Converted to fast submarine hunter in 1940, transferred to Norway in 1945,
sunk 18 January 1946 in the North Sea
S10Lürssen, Vegesack26 August 19347 March 1935Transferred to Norway in 1945, scrapped 1950
S11Lürssen, Vegesack24 October 19343 August 1935Transferred to Soviet Navy 5 November 1945 as TK-1002, scrapped in later 1940s.
S12Lürssen, Vegesack18 February 193531 August 1935Transferred to Norway in 1945, sunk 18 January 1946 in the North Sea
S13Lürssen, Vegesack29 March 19357 December 1935Transferred to Britain in May 1945, sold and scrapped.

S14 class

Improved S7, built from 1934 onwards. Enlarged hull.

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S14Lürssen, Vegesack23 January 193612 June 1936Converted to fast tug, but sunk in the Bristol Channel in 1944.
S15Lürssen, Vegesack15 February 193627 February 1937Transferred to US Navy post-war, but given to Denmark in July 1847 and broken up there
S16Lürssen, Vegesack7 April 193722 December 1937Transferred to Soviet Navy 5 November 1945 as TK-1003, scrapped 1950 or later.
S17Lürssen, Vegesack29 July 193718 March 1938Decommissioned 8 September 1939 following heavy storm damage and scrapped.

S18 class

Built from 1937 onwards. Almost identical to the S14 class, but with 3 Mercedes Benz engines instead of MAN engines. The bridge, which had been in front of the wheelhouse on earlier designas, was raised to the wheelhouse roof to increase all-round visibility.[36]

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S18Lürssen, Vegesack13 January 193814 July 1936Rebuilt as fast tug boat 1942, sunk by bombing 5 May 1945.
S19Lürssen, Vegesack10 May 19386 October 1938Transferred to Britain post-war, sunk as target ship 1950.
S20Lürssen, Vegesack1 October 193821 March 1939Transferred to Britain post-war, scrapped 1948.
S21Lürssen, Vegesack1 August 193819 December 1938Transferred to Norway in 1945, scrapped 1950.
S22Lürssen, Vegesack31 January 193916 May 1939Sunk at Wilhelmhaven by British bombing 30 March 1945.
S23Lürssen, Vegesack23 April 193915 July 1939Badly damaged by mine 12 July 1940 in the North Sea, and scuttled.
S24Lürssen, Vegesack4 July 193918 September 1939Transferred to Soviet Navy 5 November 1945 as TK-1004, scrapped 1950 or later.
S25Lürssen, Vegesack19 September 19399 December 1939Transferred to Britain post-war, scrapped 1948.

1938 batches

Twelve additional boats were ordered - all from Lürssen - in August 1938. These were of two different models, due to accommodating different Daimler-Benz disels. The larger type (S26 to S29), were begun in 1939, and entered service in 1940. Beginning with this model, the two torpedo tubes on the foredeck were encased within a high forecastle deck. This type were slightly lengthened from the S18 design so that the engine compartments could accommodate the larger 20-cylinder diesels, they measured 34.94 x 5.10 x 1.52 m (114 ft 8in x 16 ft 9in x 5 ft, giving a displacement of 92.5 tons (115 tons full load). These dimensions would be retained for all subsequent boars (except for the somewhat smaller S30 class), as the basic design and layout would remain unchanged. The three Daimler Benz engines each produced 2,500 hp for a total rating of 7,500 hp, providing 41 knots.

Schnellboot-26
NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S26Lürssen, Vegesack7 March 194021 May 1940Sunk in Soviet air attack at Sulina, Romania on 19 August 1944.[19]
S27Lürssen, Vegesack15 April 19405 July 1940Sunk by torpedo in the Black Sea on 5 September 1942
S28Lürssen, Vegesack4 July 19401 September 1940Scuttled at Constanta on 25 August 1944 after heavy damage in air attack.[20]
S29Lürssen, Vegesack14 October 194028 November 1940Sunk 29 March 1943 in action with two British MGBs.

The other eight boats (S30 to S37) were 2.18 m (7 ft 2in) shorter than the S26 type and 20 cm (8 in) narrower. This is because their engines were the 16-cylinder (2,000 hp) Daimler-Benz MB502 diesels. They had originally been ordered for the Chinese (Nationalist) Navy, and were sequestered for use by the Kriegsmarine. As they were already under construction at the outbreak of war, they were mostly completed before the S26 type boats.

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S30Lürssen, Vegesack10 September 193922 November 1939Delivered to Allied forces at Ancona on 3 May 1945.
S31Lürssen, Vegesack21 October 193928 December 1939Sunk by mine in the Mediterranean on 10 May 1942
S32Lürssen, Vegesack22 November 193915 March 1940Sunk by mine off Dungeness on 22 June 1940.
S33Lürssen, Vegesack23 November 193923 March 1940Beached on Unije Island and sunk by British MGBs on 16 January 1945.[37]
S34Lürssen, Vegesack29 February 194030 April 1940Sunk by German Me109 following severe damage by coastal artillert at Valetta on 17 May 1942.
S35Lürssen, Vegesack19 March 194019 May 1940Sunk by mine northeast of Tabarka (Algeria) in the Mediterranean on 28 February 1943.[38]
S36Lürssen, Vegesack20 April 194014 June 1940Delivered to Allied forces at Ancona on 3 May 1945.
S37Lürssen, Vegesack15 May 194011 July 1940Sunk by mine off Orfordness on 12 October 1940.

1939 batches

24 more boats were ordered - all from Lurssen - on 28 September 1939. The pre-war Mobilisation New Construction Programme had called for 48 new boats per year, but this target was raised to 60 boats in September 1939 by the Naval War Staff. They called for a fleet level of 40 to 50 operational boats, with 16 being built annually as replacements. Sixteen were virtually identical with the S26 type (measuring 34.94 m in length and with 20-cylinder MB501 diesels), other than simplified ventilators and other minor changes.[39] This design was to provide almost all of the Schnellboote built in Germany for the rest of the war.

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S38Lürssen, Vegesack19408 November 1940Sunk by British destroyers 20 November 1940 in North Sea.
S39Lürssen, Vegesack194016 January 1941Sunk in British air attack on 2 August 1944 at Le Havre.
S40Lürssen, Vegesack14 December 194022 April 1941Sunk in Soviet air attack at Sulina, Romania on 19 August 1944.[19]
S41Lürssen, Vegesack9 January 194127 February 1941Sunk in collision with S47 on 19 November 1941.
S42Lürssen, Vegesack194116 March 1941Sunk in Soviet air attack at Constanta, Romania on 23 August 1944.[19]
S43Lürssen, Vegesack15 February 194128 March 1941Sunk by mine on 27 June 1941
S44Lürssen, Vegesack8 March 194119 April 1941Sunk in British air attack at Kiel on 25 July 1943.
S45Lürssen, Vegesack23 March 194126 April 1941Scuttled off Varna on 29 August 1944.[20]
S46Lürssen, Vegesack7 April 194122 May 1941Sunk in air attack on 10 September 1943
S47Lürssen, Vegesack25 April 194113 June 1941Scuttled off Varna on 29 August 1944.[20]
S48Lürssen, Vegesack28 April 1941120 June 1941To Norway (as E4) following end of war.
S49Lürssen, VegesackMay 194111 July 1941Scuttled off Varna on 29 August 1944.[20]
S50Lürssen, Vegesack18 June 194125 July 1941To USSR 1945, renamed TK-1005. Scrapped 1950.
S51Lürssen, Vegesack1 July 19418 August 1941Scuttled off Varna on 29 August 1944.[20]
S52Lürssen, Vegesack11 July 194123 August 1941Sunk in Soviet air attack at Constanta, Romania on 23 August 1944.[19]
S53Lürssen, Vegesack30 July 19416 September 1941Sunk in collision with S39 on 20 February 1942.

The other eight boats were to the same design as the S30 type (measuring 32.76 m in length and with 16-cylinder MB502 diesels),

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S54Lürssen, Vegesack11 June 19409 August 1940Badly damaged by mine on 23 April 1944, scrapped 31 October 1944.
S55Lürssen, Vegesack2 July 194023 August 1940Sunk in air attack on 10 January 1944 in Vela Luka Bay, Croatia.
S56Lürssen, Vegesack22 July 194020 September 1940Sunk in air attack at Toulon on 24 November 1943; raised and broken up.
S57Lürssen, Vegesack10 August 194030 September 1940Sunk by British MTBs in the Adriatic on 19 August 1944.
S58Lürssen, Vegesack10 September 194018 November 1940Beached on Unije Island and sunk by British MGBs on 16 January 1945.[37]
S59Lürssen, Vegesack20 October 194027 November 1940Sunk by air attack at Porto Empedocle (Sicily) on 6 July 1943.
S60Lürssen, Vegesack22 October 194020 December 1940Beached on Unije Island and sunk by British MGBs on 16 January 1945.[37]
S61Lürssen, Vegesack27 November 19401 February 1941Surrendered to Allies at Ancona 3 May 1945

When Germany occupied France in June 1940, the Naval War Staff decided that 160 E-boats were now needed (comprising 26 flotillas), with 8 flotillas based in France and 6 each in Norwat, the Baltic and the North Sea.[39]

1941 batches

Another 30 boats were ordered in 1941, 20 from Lürssen (numbered S62 to S81) and 10 from Travemünde (S107 to S116). S67 introduced an improved design with a partially armour-plated cupola (the Kalotte or skull cap) over the bridge, providing protection from weather as well as small arms fire, with a lower profile. From 1943 orders onwards, this armoured bridge became standard, and was also retro-fitted to many of the earlier boats. Various armaments were carried including 40 mm Bofors or 20 mm Flak aft, MG34 Zwillingsockel midships.
(Note the designation '38b' sometimes seen is not Kriegsmarine nomenclature and originated in a postwar American hobby publication).

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S62Lürssen, VegesackAugust 194119 September 1941To Norway 1945, then to Britain; scrapped 1947.
S63Lürssen, Vegesack27 August 19412 October 1941Rammed and sunk 25 October 1943 off Cromer.
S64Lürssen, VegesackSeptember 19412 November 1941To USA 1945, given to Norway 1947 as Lyn, then to Denmark 1951 as Storfuglen, scrapped 1965.
S65Lürssen, Vegesack20 September 194116 June 1942To USSR 5 November 1945 as TK-1006, scrapped 1950.
S66Lürssen, Vegesack6 October 194121 June 1942Sunk by air attack by British at Kiel on 25 July 1943.
S67Lürssen, Vegesack23 October 194119 March 1942To Britain 1945, sold to Italy 1952 as MV 621, scrapped 1966.
S68Lürssen, Vegesack6 November 19411 July 1942To USA 1945, given to Denmark 2947 as T62, renamed Viben 2953.scrapped 1966.
S69Lürssen, Vegesack24 November 194121 December 1941To Britain 1945, scrapped 1947.
S70Lürssen, Vegesack15 November 194111 December 1941Sunk by mine in the Channel 5 March 1943
S71Lürssen, Vegesack4 December 194111 January 1942Sunk by British destroyers 18 February 1943 in the Channel,
S72Lürssen, Vegesack18 December 19413 February 1942Sunk in Soviet air attack at Sulina, Romania on 19 August 1944.[19]
S73Lürssen, Vegesack6 January 194219 February 1942Sold to Spain on 16 August 1943 as LT23.
S74Lürssen, Vegesack12 February 194227 March 1942
S75Lürssen, Vegesack?February 19429 April 1942
S76Lürssen, VegesackMarch 19421 May 1942
S77Lürssen, Vegesack31 March 19429 May 1942
S78Lürssen, Vegesack8 April 19423 June 1942Sold to Spain on 16 August 1943 as LT24.
S79Lürssen, Vegesack22 April 194227 June 1942
S80Lürssen, Vegesack194210 July 1942
S81Lürssen, Vegesack194228 July 1942To USSR 5 November 1945 as TK-1001, scrapped 1950.
S82Lürssen, Vegesack194221 August 1942To USSR 5 November 1945 as TK-1008, scrapped 1950.
S83Lürssen, Vegesack19427 September 1942To Britain 1945, fate unknown.
S84Lürssen, Vegesack194219 September 1942Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S85Lürssen, Vegesack19427 December 1942To USA 1945, given to Norway as Storm; sold to Denmark 1951 as Tranen, sunk in collision 27 June 1963.
S86Lürssen, Vegesack194215 October 1942To USSR 5 November 1945 as TK-1009, scrapped 1950.
S87Lürssen, Vegesack19424 November 1942Sunk in British air attack 20 May 1944 off Ostend.
S88Lürssen, Vegesack6 October 194220 November 1942
S89Lürssen, Vegesack194228 November 1942
S90Lürssen, Vegesack194210 December 1942
S91Lürssen, Vegesack194222 December 1942
S92Lürssen, Vegesack194214 January 1943
S93Lürssen, Vegesack17 December 19424 February 1943Sunk in US air attack at Ijmuidden on 26 March 1944.
S94Lürssen, Vegesack31 December 194218 February 1943Scuttled after collision with S128 on 23 February 1944.
S95Lürssen, Vegesack194228 February 1943
S96Lürssen, Vegesack21 January 194311 March 1943
S97Lürssen, Vegesack194325 March 1943
S98Lürssen, Vegesack194310 April 1943
S99Lürssen, Vegesack194317 April 1943
S100Lürssen, Vegesack19435 May 1943Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S101 class
While the first hundred E-boats had all been ordered from Lürssen, the next twenty-six were all ordered from Travemünd - six in 1940, ten in 1941 and another ten in 1942. These carried 1 × 20 mm in the bow, 2 × 20 mm gun amidships and a 37 mm gun aft. Another twenty-four boats were ordered in 1943, twelve from Travemünd and twelve from Lürssen.
NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S101Schlichting Travemünde25 September 194030 November 1940To USSR 5 November 1945 as TK-1011, scrapped 1950.
S102Schlichting Travemünde6 November 194031 December 1940Sunk by mine 8 July 1943 in the Kerch Strait.
S103Schlichting Travemünde21 December 19409 February 19412Sunk by British air attack 4 May 1945 off Mommark.
S104Schlichting Travemünde18 February 194127 March 1941Sunk by mine 9 January 1943 in the Channel.
S105Schlichting Travemünde22 March 19414 May 1941To Britain 1945, sold 1947.
S106Schlichting Travemünde26 April 19416 June 1941Sunk by mine 27 June 1941 in Gulf of Bothnia.
S107Schlichting Travemünde31 May 19416 July 1941To USA 19456, then to Denmark 1947 as T52 (later Gribben); scrapped 1950.
S108Schlichting Travemünde28 June 194114 August 1941Scrapped 1946.
S109Schlichting Travemünde14 August 194114 September 1941To USSR 5 November 1945 as ""TK-1012, scrapped 1949.
S110Schlichting Travemünde13 September 194110 October 1941To USSR 5 November 1945 as TK-1013, scrapped 1949.
S111Schlichting Travemünde18 October 194111 December 1941Damaged in action 16 March 1942 in the North Sea, captured then recaptured and scuttled.
S112Schlichting Travemünde2 December 194128 January 1942To France in 1945, scrapped 1951.
S113Schlichting Travemünde7 February 194214 March 1942To USSR 5 November 1945 as TK-1014, scrapped 1949.
S114Schlichting Travemünde14 March 194223 April 1942Sunk in British air attack on 2 August 1944 at Le Havre.
S115Schlichting Travemünde10 April 194230 May 1942To UK in 1945, fate unknown.
S116Schlichting Travemünde7 May 18424 July 1942To Denmark in 1945; sold to Germany 1953, burnt to accident 1965.
S117Schlichting Travemünde13 June 19428 August 1942To USA1945, then to Norway 1946 as Tross; sold 1951 to Denmark as Hejren, scrapped 1965.
S118Schlichting Travemünde30 July 194214 September 1942To USSR 5 November 1945 as TK-1015, scrapped 1949.
S119Schlichting Travemünde27 August 194222 October 1942Scuttled after collision with S114 on 8 March 1943 in the Channel.
S120Schlichting Travemünde13 October 19425 December 1942To Britain 1945, scrapped 1947.
S121Schlichting Travemünde28 November 194211 January 1943Sunk in British air attack on 11 August 1943 at Aberwrac'h.
S122Schlichting Travemünde30 December 194221 February 1943To USA in 1945; to Denmark 1947 as T64; scrapped 1956.
S123Schlichting Travemünde6 February 194319 March 1943To USSR 5 November 1945 as TK-1016, scrapped 1949.
S124Schlichting Travemünde6 March 194315 April 1943Sold to Spain on 16 August 1943 as LT21.
S125Schlichting Travemünde3 April 194316 May 1943Sold to Spain on 16 August 1943 as LT25.
S126Schlichting Travemünde8 May 184312 June 1943Sold to Spain on 16 August 1943 as LT26.
S127Schlichting Travemünde5 June 194310 July 1943To USA in 1945, then to Denmark 1947 as T56; scrapped 1955.
S128Schlichting Travemünde8 July 194327 August 1943Scuttled after collision with S94 on 23 February 1944
S129Schlichting Travemünde12 August 194324 September 1943Sunk in US air attack at Ijmuidden on 26 March 1944.
S130Schlichting Travemünde18 September 194321 October 1943To UK 1945, sold to Germany 1957 as UW10. Still extent in UK.
S131Schlichting Travemünde16 October 19435 January 1944Sunk in Soviet air attack at Constanta, Romania on 23 August 1944.[19]
S132Schlichting Travemünde13 November 194310 December 1943To USSR 1945, becoming TK-1017; scrapped 1956.
S133Schlichting Travemünde194331 December 1943To USA at war's end, given to Denmark 1947 as T54, scrapped 1955.
S134Schlichting Travemünde194329 May 1943Sold to Spain on 16 August 1943 as LT28.
S135Schlichting Travemünde194329 May 1943To USSR 1945, becoming TK-1018; scrapped 1952.
S136Schlichting Travemünde194310 June 1943Sunk by British and Polish destroyers on 11 June 1944 east of Barfleur.
S137Schlichting Travemünde19436 July 1943Sunk by air attack by British at Kiel on 29 July 1943.
S138Schlichting Travemünde194320 July 1943Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S139Lürssen, Vegesack19431 August 1943Sunk by mine on 7 June 1944 off Barfleur.
S140Lürssen, Vegesack19437 August 1943Sunk by mine on 7 June 1944 off Barfleur.
S141Lürssen, Vegesack194320 August 1943Sunk by French destroyer La Combattante off Selsey Bill on 13 May 1944.
S142Lürssen, Vegesack19433 September 1943Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S143Lürssen, Vegesack194317 September 1943Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S144Lürssen, Vegesack19431 October 1943Badly damaged by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944, and scrapped[40]
S145Lürssen, Vegesack19438 October 1943Damaged by air attack on Brest on 18 September 1944 and blown up.
S146Lürssen, Vegesack194322 October 1943Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S147Lürssen, Vegesack19435 November 1943Sunk by French destroyer La Combattante off Cherbourg on 25 April 1944.
S148Lürssen, Vegesack19435 January 1944Sunk by mine off Dnetrr-Liman on 22 August 1944.
S149Lürssen, Vegesack19435 January 1944Scuttled at Constanta on 25 August 1944 after heavy damage in air attack.[20]
S150Lürssen, Vegesack19434 December 1943Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]

S151 class

Eight smaller torpedo boats were building for the Dutch Navy at Gusto Werf, Schiedam (near Rotterdam) as TM54 to TM61 inclusive. When Holland was occupied by the Germans, these were seized and completed (with some design modifications) by German and Dutch shipyard workers and renumbered as S151 to S158. They measured 28.3 x 4.46 metres (92 ft 10in x 14 ft 7in), displacing 57 tons. Originally the Germans planned to sell these to Bulgaria, and they were formed as the new 7th S-flotilla in October 1941, but the Kriegsmarine's need for them in the Mediterranean had caused them to be sent south via the French inland waterways. They were authorised to transfer to the Mediterranean on 15 July 1942, and arrived there on 8 October, finally reaching Augusta, Sicily on 15 December, when they became operational.[41]

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S151Gusto Werf, Schiedam19 December 1941Surrendered to Allies at Ancona 3 May 1945
S152Gusto Werf, SchiedamSurrendered to Allies at Ancona 3 May 1945
S153Gusto Werf, SchiedamSunk by HMS Eggesford and Blackmore off Hvar 12 June 1944.[42]
S154Gusto Werf, SchiedamSunk by bombing at Pola 22 January 1945
S155Gusto Werf, SchiedamSurrendered to Allies at Ancona 3 May 1945
S156Gusto Werf, SchiedamSurrendered to Allies at Ancona 3 May 1945
S157Gusto Werf, SchiedamSunk by Yogoslav mortar fire west of Trieste 1 May 1945
S158Gusto Werf, Schiedam9 September 1942Sunk by British air attack at Sibenik 25 October 1944.[43]

Eight further vessels had been intended by the Dutch Navy as TM62 to TM70, and material had been collected for their construction at Schiedam. They were cancelled with the German occupation in May 1940; they were re-ordered (as S159 to S166) from Gusto Werf in 1941, but construction of these stopped in April 1942.

S167 class

Repeats of the S101 series, a further order for twenty boats was begun at Lürssen's yard in late 1943, and another eight at Travemünd.

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S167Lürssen, Vegesack194317 December 1943Sank in the Scheldt Estuary on 25 February 1945 after collision 22 February.
S168Lürssen, Vegesack194323 December 1943To UK 1945, scrapped 1947.
S169Lürssen, Vegesack19433 January 1944Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S170Lürssen, Vegesack194311 February 1944Blown up in Lubeck on 3 May 1945.
S171Lürssen, Vegesack194322 January 1944Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S172Lürssen, Vegesack194318 February 1944Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S173Lürssen, Vegesack194325 February 1944Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S174Lürssen, Vegesack19433 March 1944To USA in 1945; given to Norway 1947 as Rapp, scrapped 1953.
S175Lürssen, Vegesack194411 March 1944To USSR 1945, becoming TK-1019; scrapped 1952.
S176Lürssen, Vegesack194417 March 1944Scuttled after ramming British MTB494 on 7 April 1945.
S177Lürssen, Vegesack194430 March 1944Scuttled after ramming British MTB493 on 7 April 1945.
S178Lürssen, Vegesack19446 April 1944Sunk by British air attack off Boulogne on 13 June 1944.
S179Lürssen, Vegesack194419 April 1944Sunk by British air attack off Boulogne on 13 June 1944.
S180Lürssen, Vegesack194428 April 1944Sunk by mine off Hook of Holland on 14 January 1945.
S181Lürssen, Vegesack19445 May 1944Sunk by British air attack off Den Helder on 21 March 1945
S182Lürssen, Vegesack194412 May 1944Sunk in collision with British MTB430 in the Channel on 27 July 1944.
S183Lürssen, Vegesack194419 May 1944Sunk by gunfire from HMS Stayner off Dunkirk on 19 September 1944.
S184Lürssen, Vegesack194428 May 1944Damaged by gunfire from British coastal battery off Dover on 5 September 1944 and scuttled.
S185Lürssen, Vegesack19443 June 1944Sunk by gunfire from British escorts off Ostend on 23 December 1944.
S186Lürssen, Vegesack194423 June 1944Sunk at Wilhelmhaven by British bombing 30 March 1945.[44]
S187Schlichting Travemünde31 December 194310 February 1944Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S188Schlichting Travemünde6 February 19441 March 1944Sunk by British air attack on Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[40]
S189Schlichting Travemünde6 March 194431 March 1944Sunk by British air attack off Boulogne on 13 June 1944.
S190Schlichting Travemünde30 March 194422 April 1944Sunk by gunfire from British shgips in Seine Estuary on 23 June 1944.
S191Schlichting Travemünde22 April 194418 May 1944Scuttled 4 May 1945 in Fehmannsound after collision with S301.
S192Schlichting Travemünde13 May 19447 June 1944Sunk by gunfire from British escorts off Ostend on 23 December 1944.
S193Schlichting Travemünde6 June 194428 June 1944Sunk by gunfire from British escorts in North Sea on 22 February 1945.
S194Schlichting Travemünde23 June 194419 July 1944Sunk at Wilhelmhaven by British bombing 30 March 1945.[44]
S195Lürssen, Vegesack194428 June 1944To USA at war's end, given to Norwegian Navy 1945 as Kjekk, scrapped 1956.
S196Lürssen, Vegesack19443 July 1944To UK a war's end, given to Denmark 1947 as Raalgen (T59), scrapped 1958 after 1951 collision.
S197Lürssen, Vegesack194410 July 1944To USA at war's end, given to Denmark 1947 as Lommen, scrapped 1972.
S198Lürssen, Vegesack194415 July 1944Sunk in British air attack at Ijmuiden on 15 December 1944.
S199Lürssen, Vegesack194421 July 1944Scuttled after collision with S701 on 23 January 1945.
S200Lürssen, Vegesack19443 August 1944Sunk by gunfire from British escorts off Dunkirk on 19 September 1944.
S201Lürssen, Vegesack194428 July 1944Scuttled at Kiel on 3 May 1945 after air attack damage.
S202Lürssen, Vegesack19448 August 1944Sunk in collision with S703 on 8 April 1945 in the Scheldt approaches in action with British MGBs.[45]
S203Lürssen, Vegesack194413 August 1944Scuttled off Lindesne after collision with R220 on 10 November 1944.
S204Lürssen, Vegesack194419 August 1944To USSR 1945, becoming TK-1020; scrapped 1954.
S205Lürssen, Vegesack194428 August 1944To UK in 1945, scrapped 1946.
S206Lürssen, Vegesack194431 August 1944To USA at war's end, given to Denmark 1947 as Hoegen (T55), scrapped 1957 after collision.
S207Lürssen, Vegesack194419 September 1944To UK at war's end, given to Denmark 1947 as Skaden (T61), scrapped 1960.
S208Lürssen, Vegesack194428 September 1944To USA at war's end, given to Germany 1957, scrapped 1967.
S209Lürssen, Vegesack194421 October 1944To USSR 1945, renamed TK-1021; scrapped 1954.
S210Lürssen, Vegesack194427 September 1944To USA at war's end, given to Norwegian Navy 1947 as Snar, scrapped 1950.
S211Lürssen, Vegesack19441 October 1944To USSR 1945, renamed TK-1022; scrapped 1954.
S212Lürssen, Vegesack194411 October 1944To UK in 1945, scrapped 1957.
S213Lürssen, Vegesack19447 January 1945To UK in 1945, scrapped 1945.
S214Lürssen, Vegesack19448 December 1944To USSR 1945, renamed TK-1023; scrapped 1954.
S215Lürssen, Vegesack19441 December 1944To UK in 1945, scrapped 1948.
S216Lürssen, Vegesack194427 December 1944To USA at war's end, given to Denmark 1947 as Havoarnen (T53), scrapped 1957.
S217Lürssen, Vegesack194430 January 1945To UK in 1945, scrapped 1948.
S218Lürssen, Vegesack194418 January 1945To USA in 1945, fate unknown.

A further 42 units were ordered from Schlichting Travemünde in 1944. Of these only the first ten were placed in service, while the next four (S229 to S232) were completed in April 1945 but not placed into service; these were presumably broken up in the shipyard following the cessation of hostilities. The remaining 28 (S233 to S260) were cancelled.

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissioned
S219Schlichting Travemünde11 July 19449 August 1944To USSR 1945, renamed TK-1024; scrapped 1957.
S220Schlichting Travemünde9 August 194427 August 1944Badly damaged in action 1 March 1945 and scuttled.
S221Schlichting Travemünde16 August 194410 September 1944To Britain 1945. Scrapped 1948.
S222Schlichting Travemünde31 August 194423 September 1944To USSR 1945, renamed TK-1025. Scrapped 1953.
S223Schlichting Travemünde14 September 194429 October 1944Sunk by mine off Ostend on 8 April 1945.[45]
S224Schlichting Travemünde194417 November 1944Sunk at Wilhelmhaven by British bombing 30 March 1945.[44]
S225Schlichting Travemünde19441 December 1944To USA 1945, fate unknown
S226Schlichting Travemünde194427 February 1945Sunk in air attack 6 May 1945
S227Schlichting Travemünde19441944 or 1945To USSR 1945, renamed TK-1026. Scrapped 1949.
S228Schlichting Travemünde194419 April 1945To Britain 1945. Scrapped 1946.

The final batch ordered from Lürssen in 1944-45 comprised 125 units (S301 to S425). Of these only the first seven were completed. Another seven were launched but not completed; these were scuttled in the North Sea, while fourteen more were scrapped in the shipyard (S308 to S328). The final 97 (S329 to S425) were cancelled.

NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S301Lürssen, Vegesack194431 January 1945Scuttled 4 May 1945 in Fehmannsound after collision with S191.
S302Lürssen, Vegesack194412 February 1945To USA at end of war, then became Norwegian Blink in 1948; sold to Denmark 1951 as Falken, scrapped 1972.
S303Lürssen, Vegesack194424 February 1945To USA at end of war, then became Norwegian Brand in 1948; sold to Denmark 1950 as Taarnfalken, scrapped 1972.
S304Lürssen, Vegesack19449 March 1945Scrapped 1946.
S305Lürssen, Vegesack194429 March 1945To USA at end of war, then became Danish Jagtfalken in 1947, later scrapped.
S306Lürssen, Vegesack1944April 1945
(incomplete)
To USA at end of war, then became Danish Glenten in 1947, scrapped 1960.
S307Lürssen, Vegesack1944April 1945
(incomplete)
To UK at end of war, then scrapped.

S501 class

These small ex-Italian Navy boats of the Baglietto fast type (or MAS526 type) were taken over by the Germans in the Black Sea on 20 May 1943.[35] The first seven of these measured 18.7 x 4.7 x 1.5 m (61 ft 4in x 15 ft 5in x 4 ft 11in) and displaced 25.2 tons (29.4 tons full load). These 2-shaft boats were driven by 2 Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines of 2,000 hp to reach 42 knots. They carried two 450mm torpedoes plus one MG or 20mm gun, and 6 depth charges, with a crew of 10. All 7 were transferred to the Romania in August 1943, but seized by the USSR on 5 September 1943.

NumberEx-ItalianBuilderLaunchedFate
S501ex MAS 566Baglietto, Varazze20 June 1941Sunk in Black Sea 1944
S502ex MAS 567Basglietto, Varazze20 July 1941Sunk in Black Sea 1944
S503ex MAS 568Basglietto, Varazze11 August 1941Sunk in Black Sea 1944
S504ex MAS 569Basglietto, Varazze8 September 1941Sunk in Black Sea 1944
S505ex MAS 570Basglietto, Varazze20 September 1941Sunk in Black Sea 1944
S506ex MAS 574Celli, Venice1941Sunk at Constanta on 25 August 1944
S507ex MAS 575Celli, Venice1941Sunk in Black Sea 1944
S508ex MAS 525CRDA, Monfalcone
S509ex MAS 549CRDA, Monfalcone1939Sunk (as SA 12) at Imperia on 24 April 1945
S510ex MAS 551CRDA, Monfalcone1941Sunk (as SA 13) at Imperia on 24 April 1945
S511ex MAS 557Picchiotti, Limite sull'Arno7 March 1941Sunk by British air attack on 4 December 1944
S512ex MAS 553CRDA, Monfalcone10 May 1941Sunk (as SA 14) at Imperia on 24 April 1945

S601 class

Further small ex-Italian Navy boats of the Baglietto fast type (of various classes)[35] were taken over by the Germans.

NumberEx-ItalianBuiltLaunchedFate
S601ex MAS 542Venice5 July 1939Sunk in Aegean by air attack 1944.
S602ex MAS 430Venice1929Scuttled 1944 at Sebenico.
S603ex MAS 431Varazze1931Sunk November 1943 at Zara-Sebenico.
S604ex MAS 423VeniceMarch 1929Sunk in 1944 in the Adriatic.
S621ex MAS 561Varazze4 February 1941Sunk (as SA 16) near Imperia on 24 April 1945
S622ex MAS 550Monfalcone23 September 1939Sunk (as SA 21) in air attack at Monfalcone on 14 March 1944.
S623ex MAS 554Monfalcone20 May 1941Scuttled (as SA 20) at Trieste on 1 May 1945; refloated and scrapped
S624ex MAS 424Varasse24 October 1937Sunk (as SA 17) in air attack at Monfalcone on 14 March 1944.
S625ex MAS 437Venice1934Sunk (as SA 18) in May 1945
S626ex MAS 502Varazze24 April 1936Sunk by German artillery off La Spezia March 1944
S627ex MAS 504Varazze24 August 1936Sunk off Anzio by HMS Grenville on 25 March 1944.
S628ex MAS 505Varazze19 February 1937Sunk (as SA 19) at Genoa in May 1945
S629ex MAS 558Venice1940Scuttled (as SA 15) near Imperia on 24 April 1945.
S630

S700 class

Late war design proposal with stern torpedo tubes and 30 mm gun turret forward. These were intended to be slightly larger, of prefabricated construction, and to be propelled by the supercharged MB518 engines. They were to have carried two stern-firing torpedo tubes in addition to the usual two bow tubes, with a special 30mm gun in a bow turret. These were ordered from Danziger Waggonfabrik at Danzig as S701 to S825 (125 boats), but only the first nine boats were built, and these were completed to S100 design specification after the production of the MB518 engine was cancelled due to Allied bombing. The other boats were cancelled or scrapped unfinished in the shipyard.

Schnellboot S701 in April 1945. This torpedo boat was part of the 8th flotilla based in Ijmuiden. The S701 had been delivered to the Kriegsmarine in July, 1944. It was surrendered to the U.S. Navy in 1945 and then sold to the Dutch Navy.
NumberBuilderLaunchedCommissionedFate
S701Danziger Waggonfabrik19443 July 1944To USA post-war, then sold to Netherlands Navy 1951
S702Danziger Waggonfabrik194430 July 1944Sunk in action with British MTBs on 19 September 1944
S703Danziger Waggonfabrik194430 August 1944Sunk in collision with S202 on 8 April 1945 in the Scheldt approaches in action with British MGBs.[45]
S704Danziger Waggonfabrik19442 October 1944To USSR postwar as TK-1027, scrapped 1949
S705Danziger Waggonfabrik194422 October 1944To Britain postwar, scrapped 1947.
S706Danziger Waggonfabrik194431 October 1944To USA postwar, fate unknown.
S707Danziger Waggonfabrik19444 December 1944To USSR as TK-1028, scrapped 1949.
S708Danziger Waggonfabrik194419 February 1945To USSR as TK-1029, scrapped 1954.
S709Danziger Waggonfabrik19441945To USSR postwar as TK-1030, scrapped 1949.

KS-boats (Kleinst Schnellboote), originally KM-series (Küstenminenleger)

A class of small fast attack craft designed as offensive mine-layers (rated Küstenminenleger),able to carry up to 4 mines, and to operate close to enemy shores. They measured 15.95 x 3.50 x 1.10 m (52 ft 4in x 15 ft 10in x 3 ft 8in); 18/19 tons. Powered by 2 BMW 12-cylinder aero engines producing 1,650 hp (32 knots); radius 225 miles at 25 knots. A total of 36 were ordered, but as their engines proved unreliable, they were not used in their intended role and instead most were employed in lakes and rivers, being attached to the Peipusee Flotilla (KM3 to the Ladogasee Flotilla). 21 boats were equipped with 2 x 450mm torpedo tubes and reclassed as KS-boats (Kleinst Schnellboote), retaining their original numberss but replacing the "KM" prefix by "KS".

NumberBuilderCommissionedReclassed as KSFate
KS1Nordbjaerg & Wedell, Copenhagen18 December 1941February 1944Sunk 2 July 1944 but raised; to USSR 1945, fate unknown.
KS2Nordbjaerg & Wedell, Copenhagen18 December 1941February 1944To USSR 1945, fate unknown.
KS9Engelbrecht, BerlinFebruary 1943October 1943Destroyed on 18 September 1944.
KS10Engelbrecht, BerlinFebruary 1943December 1943Destroyed on 18 September 1944.
KS11Engelbrecht, BerlinMarch 1943March 1943Given to Croatian Navy in October 1944, fate unknown.
KS12Engelbrecht, Berlin1943December 1943Destroyed on 18 September 1944.
KS13Engelbrecht, Berlin1943December 1943Fate unknown.
KS14Engelbrecht, Berlin1943December 1943Fate unknown.
KS15Engelbrecht, Berlin1943December 1943Fate unknown.
KS16Kreigermann, Berlin-PichelsdorfDecember 1941December 1943Destroyed on 18 September 1944.
KS17Kreigermann, Berlin-Pichelsdorf17 July 1942March 1943Given to Croatian Navy in October 1944, fate unknown.
KS18Kreigermann, Berlin-Pichelsdorf17 July 1942March 1943Given to Croatian Navy in September 1944, fate unknown.
KS20Reinickewerft, Berlin-Pichelsdorf17 July 1942December 1943Sunk on 5 September 1044 after fire.
KS21Kreigermann, Berlin-Pichelsdorf21 July 19421943Given to Croatian Navy in September 1944, fate unknown
KS22Nordbjaerg & Wedell, Copenhagen9 June 19421943To USSR 1945, fate unknown.
KS23Rob. Franz Niederfehme17 July 19421943Given to Croatian Navy in December 1944; fate unknown.
KS24Rob. Franz Niederfehme17 July 19421943Given to Croatian Navy in December 1944; fate unknown.
KS25Rob. Franz Niederfehme12 December 19421943Fate unknown.
KS26Rob. Franz NiederfehmeFebruary 19431943Fate unknown.
KS31Nordbjaerg & Wedell, CopenhagenFebruary 19431943Given to Croatian Navy in September 1944, fate unknown.
KS32Nordbjaerg & Wedell, CopenhagenFebruary 19431943Given to Croatian Navy in September 1944, fate unknown.

Of the unreclassified boats, KM27 to KM30 were all sunk by Soviet aircraft in the Gulf of Bothnia during 1943.

LS-boats (Leichte Schnellboote)

Another class of even smaller fast attack boat, not intended to operate independently, but to be based on auxiliary cruisers or other vessels operating in overseas areas. They measured 12.50 x 3.46 x 1.02 m (41 ft x 11 ft 4in x 3 ft 4in). These 2-shaft boats weighed 11.5 - 13 tons. The first six were powered by two Junkers 6-cyl JuMo205 aircraft engines, they reached 38 knots. Later boats had two Daimler-Benz MB507 12-cyl diesels of 2,000 hp reaching 40.9 knots, and with an endurance of 300 miles at 30 knots. They carried two 450mm torpedo tuubes (instead of up to 4 mines), but had depth charges and a single 20mm MG (in an enclosed turret), plus 7 men. A total of 34 of these boats were ordered, the prototype from Naglo Werft, Berlin, and all the others from Dornier Werft, Friedrichshafen, but the prototype was not completed and only the next eleven were completed; another six (LS13 to LS18) were taken over by France incomplete following the war's end, and completed for them; the final 16 (LS19 to LS34) were cancelled in 1944.

NumberBuilderCommissionedFate
LS1Naglo WerftLaunched 1940Never completed as the boat's hull was found to be too heavy.
LS2Dornier Werft14 June 1940Used aboard commerce raider Komet; scuttled on 23 December 1940.
LS3Dornier Werft14 October 1940Used aboard commerce raider Kormoran; destroyed on 20 November 1941.
LS4Dornier Werft5 July 1941Used aboard commerce raider Michel; destroyed on 17 October 1943.
LS5Dornier Werft15 October 1941Used as escort vessel in the Aegean Sea; sunk off Kos in air attack on 2 November 1943.
LS6Dornier Werft15 October 1941Used as escort vessel in the Aegean Sea; sunk in air attack on 25 September 1943
LS7Dornier Werft8 October 1943Grounded on 14 October 1944 off Grado.
LS8Dornier Werft20 December 1943Destroyed by own crew on 21 September 1944 in Phaleron Harbour (Piraeus).
LS9Dornier Werft20 January 1944Destroyed by own crew on 21 September 1944 in Phaleron Harbour (Piraeus).
LS10Dornier Werft27 January 1944Sunk by aircraft on 12 October 1944 off Volos.
LS11Dornier Werft18 May 1944Destroyed by own crew on 21 September 1944 in Phaleron Harbour (Piraeus).
LS12Dornier Werft12 July 1944To USSR in 1945, and scrapped.

Source: https://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/ships/index.html

Specification

  • Length: 34.94 m (114 ft 8 in)
  • Weight: up to 120 t
  • Speed: 43.8 kn (50.4 mph; 81.1 km/h)
  • Engines: Three 20-cylinder Daimler-Benz MB501 Diesel engines, 2,000 hp (1,500 kW; 2,000 PS) each; three propeller shafts.
  • Armament:
    • 2 × 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes (four torpedoes)
    • 1 × 20 mm gun, (20 mm single on early boats, twin and special bow version on later classes)
    • 1 × 40 mm Bofors (some S-38-class boats)

Other AA armament carried on different models included two or more pintle-mounted MG-34s, 3.7 cm Flak 42 (S-100) and 8.6 cm RaG M42 (S-100) or, rarely, one quadruple 20 mm Flakvierling mounts.

See also

Notes

  1. "S-Boats in the Kriegsmarine - "S 100"". Die Schnellboot-Seite. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  2. Margaritis 2019, p. 365.
  3. Wilson, Steve. "Enemy Boats". Military.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-30.
  4. "E-Boats". British Military Powerboat Trust.
  5. PT-Boat.com–German S-100 Class Schnellboot (Fast Boat)
  6. PT-Boat.com–German S-100 Class Schnellboot (Fast Boat): .
  7. Tent, James F. E-Boat Alert: Defending the Normandy Invasion Fleet (Annapolis, Naval Institute Press, 1996), p. 39
  8. Saunders, Harold E. (1957). Hydrodynamics in Ship Design, Volume 1. Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. p. 586. ISBN 99914-0-571-2.
  9. "Schnellboot! An Illustrated Technical History – Design, Manufacture and Detail". Archived from the original on May 28, 2013. Retrieved Dec 16, 2009.
  10. "Schnellboot (S-Boot) / (E-Boat)". militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  11. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 6.
  12. Tarrant, V.E. (1994). The Last Year of the Kriegsmarine. Arms and Armour Press. pp. 56–57. ISBN 1-85409-176-X.
  13. Connelly & Krakow, 2003. p.54
  14. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 234
  15. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 235
  16. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 241
  17. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 250
  18. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 259
  19. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 261
  20. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 262
  21. "MAS, VAS and MS". regiamarina.net.
  22. Bagnasco, Erminio (January 2011). "Le "Nazionali"" (PDF). Marinai d'Italia. Associazione Nazionale Marinai d'Italia. LV (1–2): 16–19. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  23. Coello, J.L. (1995). Buques de la Armada española años de la postguerra. S.L. AGUALARGA EDITORES, ISBN 978-84-88959-15-7
  24. Crăciunoiu, Cristian. Romanian navy torpedo boats (Modelism Publishing, 2003), pp. 154-155.
  25. Jane's fighting ships: 1953-1954, Sampson Low, Marston, 1955, p. 294
  26. Höhne, Heinz; Zolling, Hermann (1972). The General Was a Spy: The Truth about General Gehlen and his spy ring. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan. pp. 150-53. ISBN 0-698-10430-7
  27. Peebles, Curtis (2005). Twilight Warriors. Naval Institute Press. pp. 38–39. ISBN 1-59114-660-7.
  28. Dorril, Stephen (2002). MI6: Inside the Covert World of Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service. Simon and Schuster, pp. 190-91. ISBN 0-7432-1778-0
  29. Adams, Jefferson (2009). Historical Dictionary of German Intelligence. Scarecrow Press, pp. 234-35. ISBN 0-8108-6320-0
  30. Hess, Sigurd (2001). "The Clandestine Operations of Hans Helmut Klose and the British Baltic Fishery Protection Service (BBFPS) 1945–1956". The Journal of Intelligence History. LIT Verlag Münster. 1 (2): 169–178. doi:10.1080/16161262.2001.10555054. S2CID 162499902.
  31. "GLENTEN Class (1947–1965), Motortorpedoboats". navalhistory.dk.
  32. "Schnellboot E-boat S-130". prinzeugen.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
  33. "S130". Boating Magazine. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  34. https://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/ships/index.html.
  35. Aldo Fraccaroli, Italian Warships of World War II, Ian Allan, 1968.
  36. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 22
  37. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 231
  38. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 198-199
  39. ADM 223/28. German E-boat Operations and Policy 1939-1945 (compiled in 1948 by the Foreign Documents Section of the Admiralty Tactical and Staff Duties Division - based on German war diaries and naval war staff records captured in 1945 - the Tambach Archive).
  40. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 289-290
  41. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 194
  42. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 223
  43. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 229
  44. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 311
  45. Lawrence Paterson, Schnellboote: A Complete Operational History, p. 312

References

  • Bellars, Robert A. & Freivogel, Zvonimir (2010). "Question 24/46: German E-Boats Based in Sicily". Warship International. XLVII (3): 204–208. ISSN 0043-0374.
  • Dallies-Labourdette, Jean Philippe (June 2003). German S-boote at War, 1939–1945. Histoire and Collections. ISBN 2-913903-49-5.
  • Krakow, David (August 2013). Schnellboot in Action (2nd (Warships) ed.). Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 978-0-89747-660-7.
  • Krakow, David & Connelly, Garth (January 2003). Schnellboot in Action (Warships). Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 0-89747-457-0.
  • Macpherson, Ken (1981). Ships Of Canada's Naval Forces (Warships). Collins Publications. ISBN 0-00-216856-1.
  • Margaritis, Peter (2019). Countdown to D-Day: The German Perspective. Oxford, UK & PA, USA: Casemate. ISBN 978-1-61200-769-4.
  • Williamson, Gordon (2011). E-boat vs MTB: The English Channel 1941–45. Oxford ; Long Island City: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84908-407-9.
  • Williamson, Gordon; Palmer, Ian (September 18, 2002). German E-boats 1939–45. Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-445-0.
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