German trawler V 411 Saarland

Saarland was a German fishing trawler that was built as A. R. Giese. Renamed in 1935, she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the Second World War for use as a Vorpostenboot. She served as V 407 Saarland and V 411 Saarland. She was sunk in the Gironde in 1944 by a boiler explosion.

History
Name
  • A. R. Giese (1934–35)
  • Saarland (1934–44)
Owner
  • Reederei Siebert & Co. (1934–39)
  • Kriegsmarine (1939–44)
Port of registry
BuilderDeschimag Seebeckwerft
Yard number520
Launched27 June 1934
Completed4 August 1934
Commissioned25 September 1939
Out of service26 August 1944
Identification
  • Fishing boat registration PG 416 (1934–39)
  • Code Letters DEWJ
  • Pennant Number V 407 (1939)
  • Pennant Number V 411 (1939–44)
General characteristics
Type
Tonnage435 GRT, 162 NRT
Length51.35 metres (168 ft 6 in)
Beam8.00 metres (26 ft 3 in)
Draught4.65 metres (15 ft 3 in)
Depth3.74 metres (12 ft 3 in)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine, 91nhp
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Speed12 knots (22 km/h)

Description

edit

The ship was 51.35 metres (168 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 8.00 metres (26 ft 3 in). She had a depth of 3.74 metres (12 ft 3 in) and a draught of 4.5 metres (14 ft 9 in).[1] She was assessed at 435 GRT, 162 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 35 centimetres (13+34 in), 55 centimetres (21+58 in) and 90 centimetres (35+716 in) diameter by 65 centimetres (25+916 in) stroke. The engine was made by Deschimag Seebeckwerft, Wesermünde, Germany. It was rated at 91nhp. The engine powered a single screw propeller driven via a low pressure turbine, double reduction gearing and a hydraulic coupling.[2] It could propel the ship at 12 knots (22 km/h).[1]

History

edit

The ship was built as yard number 520 by Deschimag Seekbeckwerft, Wesermünde for the Reederei Siebert & Co., Wesermünde. She was launched on 27 June 1934 and completed on 4 August. The fishing boat registration PG 416 was allocated.[3] She was allocated the Code Letters DEWJ.[2] On 22 January 1935, she was renamed Saarland.[1]

Saarland was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine on 25 September 1939 for use as a vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 4 Vorpostenflotille as V 407 Saarland. On 16 October she was redesignated V 411 Saarland.[4] On 26 August 1944, she was attacked at Le Verdon-sur-Mer, Gironde, France by Bristol Beaufighter aircraft of 236 Squadron, Royal Air Force and 404 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force.[5] She suffered a boiler explosion and sank in the Gironde.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Gröner 1993, p. 205.
  2. ^ a b "A. R. Giese (68211)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. A (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
  3. ^ Gröner 1993, pp. 205, 212.
  4. ^ a b Gröner 1993, p. 212.
  5. ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1944, August". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 11 September 2015.

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.