Big torpedo boat

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The large torpedo boats of the German Imperial Navy , also known as deep sea torpedo boats , were the equivalent of the torpedo boat destroyers of foreign navies of a similar size. Officially, the designation large torpedo boat from 1903 applied to all torpedo boats built from SMS S 90 onwards . Primarily, these vehicles, as the name suggests, and in contrast to the destroyers , were to serve as offensive torpedo carriers that could be used at sea; the artillery armament only played a defensive role.

The boats were identified with an identification letter that identified the shipyard and a consecutive number. B stood for Blohm & Voss in Hamburg , G for Germania shipyard in Kiel , H for Howaldtswerke in Kiel, S for Schichau shipyard in Elbing and Danzig , V for Vulcan shipyard in Stettin and later also in Hamburg and Ww for the Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven .

After the boat G 197 launched in 1911 , the numbering started all over again with V 1 . In 1917, the code letter for all boats up to G 197 was changed to T regardless of the shipyard .

The building policy of the Reichsmarineamt only set rough guidelines for the shipyards about the dimensions of the hull. The specifications regarding armament, propulsion system (in particular the boiler system), marching area and crew strength, however, had to be strictly observed. Due to this procedure and the constant improvement of details, one cannot speak of ship classes in the actual sense of the German torpedo boats, but only of ship series of the individual shipyards. In order to keep a certain overview, the boats are roughly classified into classes, starting from a certain year of construction.

Division boats

Division torpedo boats

In size and water displacement, the division torpedo boats , in short: division boats, corresponded to the high-sea torpedo boats of the class 1898 ; they can therefore be considered the forerunners of the great torpedo boats.

units

  • D 1 - D 2 , Schichau, launched in 1886
  • D 3 - D 4 , Schichau, launched in 1887
  • D 5 - D 6 , Schichau, launched 1888–1889
  • D 7 - D 8 , Schichau, launched in 1891
  • D 9 , Schichau, launched in 1894
  • D 10 , Thornycroft , launched 1898

Small torpedo boats

The numbers S 1 to G 89 were carried by the small torpedo boats of the Imperial Navy . You are not on the subject here.

units

  • S 1 - S 6 ( T 2 ), launched in 1884
  • V 1 - V 10 ( V 11 ), launched in 1884
  • W 1 - W 6 , launched in 1884
  • S 7 - S 41 ( T 11-T 41 ), launched 1885–1887
  • S 42 - S 65 ( T 42-T 65 ), launched 1884–1892
  • S 66 - G 89 ( T 66-T 89 ), launched 1893–1898

Large torpedo boats: series

Large torpedo boat 1898

This class was also known as the deep sea torpedo boat . The boats of the series S 90 to G 137 were launched between 1898 and 1907. In terms of size, they were connected to the previously built division boats D 7 and D 8 . Compared to the last series of small boats, the displacement was more than doubled and the speed brought to 27 knots. At the same time, seaworthiness, i.e. sailing in rough seas, and sea endurance increased. These classes had a somewhat weaker gun armament than the same age British torpedo boat destroyers , but carried one more torpedo tube. In terms of size, they were superior to the French torpedo boat destroyers of the same age.

G 137 was a slightly larger experimental boat with turbine drive (580 tons, 68.50 m length, 10,800 hp). When it was commissioned, it was considered the fastest torpedo boat in the world. On test drives it reached 33.08 knots, which convinced the Admiralty of the superiority of the turbine drive over the piston steam engine. Before the outbreak of the First World War, it was planned to use it as an imperial dispatch boat after modifications. During the war, however, it was used as a guide boat of a submarine semi-flotilla in the southern North Sea from 1915 and led u. a. Experiments with underwater telegraphy. It was sold in 1921.

S 91 to G 113 were given the numbers T 91 to T 113 on September 4, 1914 , and S 114 to G 137 were given the numbers T 114 to T 137 on September 27, 1916 .

units

  • S90-S107 , launched 1899–1901
  • G108-G113 , launched 1901–1902
  • S114-S131 , launched 1902-1906
  • G132-G137 , launched 1906–1907

Whereabouts

  • S 90 had beenstationedin Tsingtau since 1900 andsankon October 17, 1914 after the sinking of the Japanese cruiser Takachiho near Tsingtau. The occupation went into Chinese internment .
  • S 100 sank on October 15, 1915 due to a collision with the Prussia ferry , which was used as a mine ship , and 39 people lost their lives
  • S 115 , S 117 and S 119 on 17 October 1914 naval battle in front of Texel with British naval forces about 15 nautical miles south-west of Texel dropped
  • S 116 on 6 October 1914 by the British submarine HMS E9 sunk
  • S 122 and S 123 by on October 5, 1918 and May 1, 1916 mines dropped
  • S 124 sunk in a collision on November 23, 1914
  • S 129 sank on November 4, 1915 after hitting the ground

The boats, which were not lost during the First World War , remained in Germany after the end of the war to be scrapped or for civilian use.

Large torpedo boat 1906

The 1906 class of large torpedo boats was introduced due to the short range and moderate success of the 1898 class 5cm guns . With 59 built, it was the second most popular class of large torpedo boats in the Imperial Navy . The boats were slightly larger than their predecessors. The areas of application remained largely the same.

V 158 , V 185 and G 196 were - although completely outdated - in part still in modernized service in the Soviet fleet until the 1950s .

Large torpedo boat 1906 ( S 138 - S 149 )

The boats were launched from 1906 to 1907. On September 24, 1917 all boats were from S to T rewritten.

Whereabouts
  • T 138 sank on July 7, 1918 by a mine hit southeast of Doggerbank (almost simultaneously with T 172 ).

T 139 , T 141 , T 143 , T 144 , T 146 , T 148 , T 149 were taken over into the Reichsmarine , the others remained after the end of the war in Germany for scrapping or civilian use.

  • The T 139 was converted into a "Schnellschlepper" and remote control boat under the name Pfeil in 1927 and into a TF boat in 1937 . In 1939 it chased the Polish submarine Orzel . In 1944 it was still in service with the Navy .
  • T 141 was converted into a "Schnellschlepper" and remote control boat under the name Blitz in 1927 , sold and demolished in 1933.
  • T 148 served as an escort boat in the Reichsmarine, was retired in 1928 and scrapped in 1935.
  • T 149 was retired and scrapped in 1927.
units
  • S138-S149 , launched 1906-1907
See also

Large torpedo boat 1906 ( V 150 - G 197 )

Further details and whereabouts

V 159 , V 160 , V 161 entered service in 1908, V 163 , V 164 and G 190 in 1909. It was renamed T159 etc. in 1917/1918. These boats were delivered to England in August 1920 and scrapped in 1922.

S 165 , S 166 , G 173 , G 174 , S 176 , S 178 , V 182 , V 183 , V 184 were in 1910, S 179 , V 186 , G 192 , G 193 , G 195 , G 197 in the year Commissioned in 1911, renamed in 1917/1918 and also delivered to England in 1920. These boats were scrapped in 1922 ( G 197 as early as 1921).

V 180 and V 181 , both in service since 1909, were delivered to Brazil and Japan respectively in 1920 and scrapped in 1922.

S 165 (II) is not to be confused with the Muavenet-i Milliye , whose construction was originally planned under the same number, but which was then delivered to the Turkish Navy . The same applies to the sister ships S 166 , S 167 and S 168 .

The other boats were - unless sunk in the war or scrapped immediately afterwards - as T 148 , T 149 , T 151 , T 152 , T 153 , T 154 , T 155 , 156 , T 157 , T 158 , T 168 , T 175 , V 185 , V 190 in 1919 by the provisional Reichsmarine, then taken over by the Reichsmarine .

  • V 150 , in service since 1907, sank on May 18, 1915 after colliding with V 157 .
  • V 151 , in service since 1908, last served in the Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine as a torpedo catch boat and high-speed tug for shooting targets under the name Comet ( Komet ), was retired in 1937, handed over to the USA in 1946 and scrapped in 1948.
  • V 152 entered service in 1908, retired in March 1931 and scrapped in 1935.
  • V 153 , in service since 1908, served in the Reich and Kriegsmarine from 1938 as an electric measuring boat under the name Eduard Jungmann , to the USA in December 1945, scrapped 1949.
  • V 154 was put into service in 1908, deleted from the fleet list in October 1928 and scrapped in 1935.
  • V 155 , in service since 1908, served in the Reich and Kriegsmarine, since 1936 as a torpedo catcher and a fleet tender. Sunk on April 22, 1945 near Swinoujscie.
  • V 156 , in service since 1908, served in the Reich and Kriegsmarine, since 1936 as a torpedo catch boat under the name of Bremse . Sunk on May 3, 1945, lifted again and sunk off Jutland on June 10, 1946.
  • V 157 , in service since August 27, 1908, was taken over by the Reichsmarine as T 157 and used by the Kriegsmarine as a training boat and since 1936 as a torpedo catch boat in the Baltic Sea. Karl Dönitz was in command of this boat from March 1920 to 1922, Kurt Caesar Hoffmann from 1922 to 1924 , and Heinrich Ruhfus from 1924 to 1926 . In 1927 Werner Hartmann was a watch officer on T 157 . On October 22, 1943 the boat sank within a few minutes after a mine hit off Weichselmünde (Danzig Bay).
  • V 158 , entered service in 1908, served in the Reich and Kriegsmarine, since 1936 as a torpedo catcher. Taken over by the Soviet Navy in 1945, the boat went under the name Prozorlivyj . Since 1950 it has been used as a training hulk under the name Araks and scrapped in 1961.
  • V 162 , in service since 1909, sank on August 15, 1916 after a mine hit in the Baltic Sea off Lyserort north of Windau (today Ventspils ). 15 men were killed.
  • S 167 was put into service in 1911, no longer taken over by the Reichsmarine and scrapped in 1922.
  • S 168 was put into service in 1911, taken over by the Reichsmarine and retired and scrapped in 1927.
  • G 170 was put into service in 1910, no longer taken over by the Reichsmarine and broken up in 1921.
  • G 171 was put into service in 1910 and sank on September 14, 1912 after colliding with the liner SMS Zähringen during maneuvers near Heligoland . Seven men were killed.
  • G 172 entered service in 1910. Günther Lütjens was the watch officer until the outbreak of war . The boat sank on July 7, 1918 after a mine hit southeast of the Dogger Bank .
  • G 175 , in service since 1910. On this boat was a. a. Werner Lindenau watch officer. It was used by the Reichsmarine as an escort boat, replaced by the Möwe torpedo boat in 1926 and scrapped in the same year.
  • S 177 , in service since 1911, sank on December 23, 1915 after a mine hit in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Courland . There were seven dead.
  • S 178 , in service since 1910, sank on May 5, 1913 near Helgoland after colliding with SMS Yorck during a maneuver, was lifted in the same year, put into service again in January 1915 (since 1918 as' T 178), in 1920 to England transferred and broken up in the Netherlands in 1922.
  • V 185 entered service in 1910. Witold Rother was an officer on watch on this boat during the First World War. It was taken over by the Reichsmarine in 1919 and converted by the Kriegsmarine into a remote-controlled high-speed tug under the name Blitz (II) in 1938 . In 1945 the boat was taken over by the Soviet Navy under the name Vystrel and scrapped in 1960.
  • V 187 , in service since 1911, was sunk as the flagship of the German torpedo boats by British cruisers and destroyers in the sea ​​battle near Heligoland on August 28, 1914. There were 24 dead.
  • V 188 , in service since 1911, commanded by Friedrich Callisen in World War I, was sunk in the North Sea by the British submarine HMS E-5 on July 26, 1915, 50 nautical miles north of Terschelling . Five men were killed.
  • V 189 , in service since 1911, ran aground on the British coast in December 1920.
  • V 190 , in service since 1911, wastaken overas T 190 by the Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine, served as a test boat after conversion in 1933, and from 1938 as a training and test boat under the name Claus von Bevern . Taken over by the US Navy in 1945, it was sunk off Jutland in March 1946.
  • V 191 , in service since 1911, sank on December 17, 1915 after a mine hit in the Baltic Sea near the coast of Courland. 25 men were killed.
  • G 194 was put into service in 1911 and sankoff the Danish coast on March 26, 1916after a ram blow from the British light cruiser HMS Cleopatra .
  • G 196 was put into service in 1911, used by the Reich and Kriegsmarine as a training boat, taken over by the Soviet Navy in 1945 under the name Pronziel'nyj and scrapped in 1949.
units
  • V150-V164 , launched 1907–1909
  • S165-S168 , launched in 1909, sold to the Turkish Navy
  • S165-S168 , launched 1910–1911, (identical replacement buildings)
  • G169-G175 , launched 1908–1910
  • S176-S179 , launched 1908-1910
  • V180-V191 , launched 1909–1911
  • G192-G197 , launched 1910-1911

Large torpedo boat 1911

Since the last boats reached the 800 ts limit in terms of size, the torpedo inspection was of the opinion that a smaller and therefore cheaper type would be built in the future. The new head of the T.-I., Vice Admiral von Lans , succeeded in reducing the size of the boats against broad opposition from various institutions. Of course, the seaworthiness suffered as a result, so that boats V1 to S24 were generally regarded as a faulty construction and were given the nickname "Lans-Krüppel" .

units

  • V1 - V6 , launched 1911-1913
  • G7 - G12 , launched 1911–1912
  • S13 - S24 , launched 1911–1913

See also

List of large torpedo boats 1911 (V 1-S 24)

Large torpedo boat 1913

The official draft provided for an enlargement of the large torpedo boat in 1913 . The boats were given the numbers V 25 to G 95 , with 71 units it was numerically the most extensive type of the Imperial Navy. The displacement exceeded the 1000-ton mark for the first time. These boats made up the bulk of the active German torpedo boat flotillas. In a miscalculation of the strengths and weaknesses of the torpedo boats, the leadership came to the conclusion that the design should not go further in the direction of the type of destroyer . The artillery component was reinforced to three 8.8 cm TK / L45s, but it was still weaker (in caliber and number) than the equivalent foreign designs. Instead, instead of three single 50 cm torpedo tubes, two twin sets and two single tubes were installed. In practice, this meant the continuation of the unrestricted torpedo boat doctrine - the versatility of the type was misunderstood. Only the range and speed of the torpedoes of the new type G 7 have been improved. The Battle of the Skagerrak showed that this class was artillery inferior to the British destroyers. From the spring of 1916, the still existing boats and the newbuildings were gradually equipped with the 1916 torpedo boat cannon, 10.5 cm Utof / L 45. This type was built in two different versions: The 1913 flotilla ( V 25 to S 36 ) still based on the original design. The following 12 boats of the 1914 flotilla ( G 37 to V 48 ) as well as the 48 of the mobilization order 1913 M ( S 49 to G 96 ) of August 6, 1914 were - depending on construction progress - according to a slightly modified type (extended by 3 meters by the installation of marching turbines and additional oil bunkers).

units

  • V25-V30 , launched in 1914
  • S31-S36 , launched 1913–1914
  • G37-G42 , launched 1914–1915
  • V43-V48 , launched in 1915
  • S49-S66 , launched 1915-1916
  • V67-V84 , launched 1915–1916
  • G85-G95 , launched 1915–1916

See also

List of Large Torpedo Boats 1913

Large torpedo boat 1916 M

This design was the improved version of the mobilization type 1913 M . In order to achieve greater seaworthiness, the bridge was moved a little back to the first chimney and the forecastle was lengthened (with the elimination of the Kuhl and the Versauflochs). The boat G 96 , which was originally ordered on August 6, 1914 with the boats S 49 to G 95 , was built according to this modified design due to the construction delay. In the autumn of 1916 the Reichsmarineamt ordered 14 boats ( V 125 to H 147 ) of the smaller and faster to be built type 1916 M due to the assessment that the 12 very large and complex boats of the Large Torpedo Boat 1916 class (see below) would not be sufficient as a replacement for war losses and in the summer of 1917 another 22 boats of the 1917 M type ( G 148 to H 169 ).

units

S 132 in service with the US Navy after the war.
  • G96 , launched in 1916
  • V125-V130 , launched in 1917
  • S131-S139 , launched 1917-1918
  • V140-V144 , launched 1917–1918
  • H145- H147 , launched 1917–1918

See also

List of large torpedo boats 1916 M

Large torpedo boat 1917 M

Mobilization Draft. The 83 meter long boats displaced 1020 tons empty and should reach 32.5 knots. Three 105mm Utof L / 45 C / 16 torpedo boat cannons and 2x2 and 2x1 50 cm torpedo tubes were provided as armament.

The partly half-finished boats were struck off the list of ships on November 3, 1919 and sold to private customers for demolition.

units

  • G148-G150 , canceled
  • Ww151 , canceled
  • S152-S157 , launched in 1918
  • V158-V165 , launched 1918 – canceled
  • H166-H169 , launched 1918 – canceled

See also

List of large torpedo boats 1917 M

Large torpedo boat 1918 M

Mobilization draft with a reinforced armament of four 105mm Utof L / 45s. The Schichau boats, on the other hand, were to be equipped with four 150mm Utof L / 45s without a shield. Because of the end of the First World War, none of these boats were completed for the Imperial Navy. In contrast, two civilian boats were converted into four-masted schooners with 2 auxiliary engines , and two more into cargo ships.

units

  • V170-V177 , aborted or canceled
  • S178-S185 , launched 1919 – canceled
  • H186-H202 , launched 1919 – canceled
  • V203-V210 , canceled
  • S211-S223 , canceled

See also

List of large torpedo boats 1918 M

Torpedo Boat Destroyer (Foreign Designs)

Large torpedo boat 1914R (Russian-type destroyer)

17th Aug. 1915: The torpedo boat destroyer V99 sinks after being hit by a mine .

Torpedo boat destroyers in the official sense never existed in the Imperial Navy. These ships were commonly referred to as large torpedo boats . Unofficially, they were called destroyers because of their fighting power. These boats actually did not correspond to the German torpedo boat doctrine and seemed too big to the responsible authorities. They were only ordered because of the very short delivery time after the outbreak of war.

This new torpedo boat destroyer was a Blohm & Voss modified version of the Leitenant-Iljin class of the Novik -type which Blohm & Voss and AG Vulcan built for the Russian Navy or supplied parts and plans for it.

On the German side, the torpedo boat or the large torpedo boats derived from it were ultimately favored as an offensive weapon until 1918 and all other factors were subordinated to the torpedo boat doctrine. In other words, the artillery component only had a defensive value. It was only with the last draft, the 1918 M class, that the Reichsmarineamt secretly admitted the previous undesirable development. These boats were based on the B 97 / V 99 series and used the multi-purpose properties (artillery combat, torpedo attack, mine laying, escort protection, mine search) of the large boats.

The new boats were the first three-chimney boats of the imperial torpedo weapon; they were bigger, faster, and more heavily armed than any other torpedo boat. The boats of this class were at least as good as the British destroyers, and after being embraced on 10.5 cm guns they resembled the British flotilla leaders in size and combat strength.

These boats were also equipped with two twin torpedo tube sets aft and two single torpedo tubes behind the forecastle. From the beginning, 10.5 cm torpedo boat cannons were planned. However, these were not available in 1915, so the usual 8.8 cm guns were installed again and the boats were not finally converted until the beginning of 1916. Although this ship was technically a destroyer, it was still referred to as a large torpedo boat by the high seas fleet.

The boats B 97, 98, 109-112 and the boats G 101-104 formed a joint association, the II. Torpedo Boat Flotilla , consisting of the 3rd and 4th Torpedo Boat Half Flotilla.

units

  • B97-B98 , launched 1914–1915
  • B109-B112 , launched in 1915
  • V99-V100 , launched in 1915

See also

Large torpedo boat 1914A (destroyer argentin. Type)

These four torpedo boat destroyers were seized prior to extradition to Argentina . The boats G 101 - 104 formed a joint association with B 97, 98, 109 - 112 (see above), the II. Torpedo Boat Flotilla.

precursor

The design of the destroyer Santiago was based on the Argentine experience with the destroyers Catamarca and Jujuy (launched in 1911), which the Germania shipyard in Kiel had delivered to the Argentine Navy . Like Cordoba and La Plata (launched 1910–1911) from Schichau in Elbing , they were pure export boats that were never used in the German Empire.

units

  • G101-G104 , launched in 1914

See also

Large torpedo boat (Dutch destroyer Z 1 )

The four boats V 105-V 108 were confiscated before delivery to the Netherlands , they were ordered as destroyers Z1 - Z4 for the Dutch Navy. In terms of size, however, they only corresponded to the large torpedo boat from 1898.

units

  • V105-V108 , launched in 1914

See also

List of large torpedo boats (Dutch Z 1 )

Large torpedo boat 1916 (large destroyer)

The design of the large torpedo boat in 1916 marked the high point of German torpedo boat construction up to the end of the war and was later also partly groundbreaking internationally for the further development of modern large destroyers .

The previous war experience plus the lack of modern small cruisers prompted the Imperial Navy in 1916 to develop this new class. The new, in comparison much larger and very complex boats should not only be superior to the modern Allied destroyers in all areas, but should even be able to take up delayed battles with light cruisers . to carry out offensive reconnaissance tasks. In order to be able to fulfill this tactical role, a strong armament with 15 cm guns, 60 cm torpedo tubes and a speed of over 34 knots was specified as a framework.

On April 15, 1916, the navy awarded orders to the four large shipyards Schichau in Elbing, Vulcan in Stettin, Germania in Kiel and Blohm & Voss in Hamburg to build three boats each, i.e. a total of twelve units that make up a complete flotilla of torpedo boats should form. Due to the worsening war situation and the forced construction of submarines, however, there were very considerable delays in the construction process. Almost all boats were launched in the last months of the war, but only V 116 had been completed by the end of the war . The commissioning took place on July 31, 1918.

Of the remaining boats, S 113 could be completed after the end of the war. Both boats proved themselves in France and Italy; it was not until 1936 and 1937 that they retired from active service. The half-finished boats were scrapped.

units

  • S113-S115 , launched in 1918
  • V116-V118 , launched in 1918
  • G119-G121 , launched 1918 – canceled
  • B122-B124 , launched 1917-1919

See also

Large torpedo boats in foreign fleets

Large 1906 torpedo boat of the Turkish Navy

Four boats of the Large Torpedo Boat 1906 class were sold to Turkey in 1910 . They were classified as destroyers and were in service until the end of the war, two were lost in 1916 and 1917. - The Imperial Navy received four identical replacement buildings.

units

Large torpedo boat of the Greek Navy in 1911

Two boats of the Large Torpedo Boat 1911 class were sold to Greece in 1912 . They were classified as destroyers and were in service until around 1925. - The Imperial Navy received replacement buildings.

units

  • Nea Genea , launched 1912, ex V 5 (I)
  • Keravnos , launched 1912, ex V 6 (I)

See also

literature

  • Erich Gröner, Dieter Jung and Martin Maass: The German Warships 1815–1945 Volume 2 . Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-7637-4801-6 , pages 42-62.
  • Hans Mehl: Torpedo Boats and Destroyers. Publishing house for traffic, Berlin 1983.
  • Franz F. Bilzer: The torpedo boats of the kuk Kriegsmarine 1875-1918 . 2nd Edition. Weishaupt, Gnas (Steiermark) 1996, ISBN 3-900310-16-5 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Harld Fock: Black journeymen. Vol. 2 p. 138
  2. ^ Oswald Flamm: The entire German shipbuilding industry. 1908, Reprint (BoD) Bremen 2011, p. 48.
  3. ^ U-boats and T-boats, 1914-1918. United States National Archives and Records Service, US General Services Administration, 1985, p. 132.
  4. ↑ Blew Up Victorious Vessel - Germans Wrecked Destroyer S-90 When Pursued by Japanese ( Memento of the original from August 20, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / query.nytimes.com archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . In: The New York Times . October 25, 1914. p. 11.
  5. ^ [1] Position from p. 115
  6. ↑ Contrary to Gröner's statement, the boat sank there in 1943 according to the KTB of the Coast Commander in Chief Middle Baltic Sea; there were eight injured and no deaths
  7. ↑ http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?17826
  8. ↑ http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?17811
  9. ^ Friedrich Callisen, V 188 - Meine Torpedoboot-Kriegsfahrten , Kindle Edition 2010
  10. ↑ Position of the wreck
  11. ↑ http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?17829