UJ-121 Jochen was a steam trawler that was built in Germany in 1939, and converted into a submarine chaser at the beginning of the Second World War. A mine sank her in the North Sea in 1940, with the loss of 13 of her crew.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Germany | |
| Name |
|
| Owner | C Andersen |
| Operator |  Kriegsmarine |
| Port of registry |  Hamburg |
| Builder | Norderwerft, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 721 |
| Completed | May 1939 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sunk by mine, 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | fishing trawler |
| Tonnage | 523 GRT, 198 NRT |
| Length | 178.0 ft (54.3 m) |
| Beam | 27.6 ft (8.4 m) |
| Depth | 13.5 ft (4.1 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 1 × shaft; 1 × screw |
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Notes | sister ship: Uwe |
Building and registration
editIn 1938–39 Norderwerft Köser & Meyer in Steinwerder, Hamburg built a pair of trawlers for the fishing fleet of C Andersen. The first was built as yard number 720, and launched on 29 January 1939 as Uwe.[1] Her sister ship was built as yard number 721; launched as Jochen; and completed that May.[2]
Jochen's registered length was 178.0 ft (54.3 m); her beam was 27.6 ft (8.4 m); and her depth was 13.5 ft (4.1 m). Her tonnages were 523 GRT and 198 NRT. She had a cruiser stern, and a single screw. She was equipped with wireless direction finding, and an echo sounding device.[3]
Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau (DeSchiMAG) built her engines in its Seebeck works at Wesermünde in Bremerhaven. Her main engine was a three-cylinder triple-expansion engine. It was supplemented by an exhaust steam turbine, which drove the same propeller shaft via DeSchiMAG's patent Bauer-Wach system of a Föttinger fluid coupling and double-reduction gearing. The combined power of her reciprocating engine plus exhaust turbine was rated at 132 NHP,[3] and gave her a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h).[4]
Andersen registered Jochen at Hamburg.[3] Her port letter and number were HH 255,[2] and her wireless telegraph call sign was DKAL.[3]
Submarine chaser
editThe Kriegsmarine requisitioned Jochen shortly before the Second World War. She was converted into a submarine chaser, and on 28 July 1939 she was commissioned with the pennant number UJ-121. She joined the 12. U-Bootsjagdflottille ("12th Submarine Chaser Flotilla"), which was formed in September 1939 at Wilhelmshaven.[2]
On 2 September 1940, UJ-121 Jochen was approaching Ostend in German-occupied Belgium when she struck a mine. She sank, and 13 members of her crew were killed.[4] Her wreck blocked the channel that was used by the 2. Schnellbootflottille ("Second E-boat Flotilla").[5]
References
edit- ^ "M 1607 Uwe" (in German). Historisches Marinearchiv. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "U-Bootsjagd-Flottillen 1939-40" (in German). Württembergische Landesbibliothek. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d Lloyd's Register 1940, JOC–JOH.
- ^ a b Lettens, Jan; Allen, Tony. "UJ-121 (Jochen) (+1940)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
- ^ Kindell, Don (7 April 2012). "Naval Events, September 1940 (Part 1 of 2) Sunday 1st – Saturday 14th". Naval-History.net. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Lloyd's Register of Shipping (PDF). Vol. II.–Steamers and Motorships of 300 tons: trawlers, tugs, dredgers, &c. London: Lloyd's Register of Shipping. 1940 – via Southampton City Council.