Weasel class

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Overview
Type Speedboat
units 26 and 2 prototypes
Shipyard

VEB Yachtwerft Berlin

period of service

1964 to 1975

Technical specifications
displacement

19.2–20.9 t normal

length

17.10 m

width

3.60 m

Draft

1.45 m

crew

3

drive

2 diesel engines M-50F-3
with 880 kW (1200 PS) each, 2 screws

speed

maximum 52  kn

Range

200  nm

Armament

Wiesel class was the name for a class of light torpedo speed boats (LTS) of the People's Navy of the GDR with project number 68.2. Initially planned as the Hydra class , the project was ultimately renamed the Wiesel class . Probably because of the simultaneous use of the Iltis class and similar design features of both boat types, the name Iltis B class occasionally appears for the 68.2 project.

Development and construction

From 1959 the development of a torpedo speedboat began at the state-owned company Yachtwerft Berlin . Deliveries to the People's Navy began in 1964 . Initially, two prototype variants were built (projects 68.0 and 68.1) and, after various deficiencies had been remedied, finally 26 series boats in two designs from project 68.2.

Hull and drive

The boats had a hull that was planked with mahogany wood and only reinforced with metal at the bow . Two Soviet-made diesel engines of the type M-50F-3 with a total of 1760 kW (2400 hp) served as propulsion, which could accelerate the small boat to about 52 knots with two screws.

Armament and use

The main armament of the class were three 533 mm torpedo tubes , which were installed parallel to the keel and could not be reloaded with on-board resources. During the attack, the torpedoes, rather untypical, were dropped aft in order to then follow the course of the launching boat towards the target. The two outer torpedo tubes could easily be dismantled if necessary and replaced by drop devices for up to six sea mines. In order not to have to supply the LTS in a certain port during use, floating bases without self-propulsion (project 62) and with self-propulsion (project 162) were built especially for the small boat associations.

Modifications

  • first construction of the series, 19.2 ton displacement
  • second construction of the series with various adaptations, 20.9 tons displacement
  • Unarmed troop transport for around 30 soldiers

Current Status

There are no more speedboats of this type in use.

See also

literature

  • Günther Miel: The LTS and KTS boats of the Volksmarine. Role models and models. Neckar-Verlag, Villingen-Schwenningen 2007, ISBN 978-3-7883-1138-4 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Harald Fock: Combat Ships. Naval shipbuilding in German shipyards. 1870 until today. Koehler, Hamburg 1995, ISBN 3-7822-0624-X .
  2. ^ [1] Development Pr. 68 at Gerald Halle.de