Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned in the Second World War by the Kriegsmarine for use as a vorpostenboot, serving as V 209 Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff. She was bombed and sunk off St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands on 24 July 1944.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff |
| Namesake | Karl Oskar Rudolf Wahrendorff |
| Owner |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Builder | Deschimag Seebeckwerft |
| Yard number | 476 |
| Launched | 17 September 1928 |
| Completed | 17 November 1928 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sunk 24 July 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type |
|
| Tonnage | 381 GRT, 147 NRT |
| Length | 45.31 m (148 ft 8 in) |
| Beam | 7.69 m (25 ft 3 in) |
| Draught | 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) |
| Depth | 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in) |
| Installed power | Triple expansion steam engine, 64nhp |
| Propulsion | Single screw propeller |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h) |
Description
editDr. Rudolf Wahrendorff was 45.31 metres (148 ft 8 in) long, with a beam of 7.69 metres (25 ft 3 in). She had a depth of 3.56 metres (11 ft 8 in) and a draught of 4.40 metres (14 ft 5 in).[1] She was assessed at 381 GRT, 147 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 35 centimetres (13+3⁄4 in), 55 centimetres (21+5⁄8 in) and 90 centimetres (35+1⁄2 in) diameter by 60 centimetres (23+5⁄8 in) stroke. The engine was made by Deschimag Seebeckwerft, Wesermünde. It was rated at 64nhp. The engine powered a single screw propeller driven via a geared low pressure turbine.[2] It could propel the ship at 10 knots (19 km/h).[1]
History
editDr. Rudolf Wahrendorff was built as yard number 476 by Deschimag Seebeckwerfte, Wesermünde for Grundmann & Gröschel, Wesermünde. She was launched on 17 September 1928 and completed on 17 November.[3] The Code Letters KSBT were allocated,[2] as was the fishing boat registration PG 383.[3] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DFAV.[4]
On 23 December 1939, Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 2 Vorpostenflotille as V 209 Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff.[3] On 4 July 1944 she was damaged in an attack by the motor torpedo boats HMMTB 734, HMMTB 735, HMMTB 743 and HMMTB 748 of the Royal Navy. The minesweeper M 4622 was also damaged. V 208 R. Walther Darré and V 210 Hinrich Hey were sunk in the battle.[5] Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff was bombed and sunk by Grumman Avenger aircraft of 850 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm off Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands (49°27′N 2°32′W / 49.450°N 2.533°W) on 24 July 1944. Twenty-six crew were killed.[3][6]
References
edit- ^ a b Gröner 1993, p. 204.
- ^ a b "Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff (57296)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. DIX-DOO (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930–1931. Retrieved 29 May 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1993, p. 211.
- ^ "Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff (59017)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. DIR-DOG (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 29 May 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
- ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1942, Juli" (in German). Württemberg State Library. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "A History of 850 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
Sources
edit- Gröner, Erich (1993). Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945 (in German). Vol. 8/I: Flußfahrzeuge, Ujäger, Vorpostenboote, Hilfsminensucher, Küstenschutzverbände (Teil 1). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-4807-5.