August Bösch was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the Second World War for use as a Vorpostenboot, serving as V 409 August Bösch. She was bombed and sunk off the coast of Vendée, France in August 1944.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | August Bösch |
| Owner |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Builder | H. C. Stülcken Sohn |
| Yard number | 689 |
| Launched | 8 June 1934 |
| Completed | 10 August 1934 |
| Commissioned | 25 September 1939 |
| Out of service | 20 August 1944 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Bombed and sunk |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 401 GRT, 155 NRT |
| Length | 49.50 m (162 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 8.00 m (26 ft 3 in) |
| Draught | 4.55 m (14 ft 11 in) |
| Depth | 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in) |
| Installed power | Triple expansion steam engine, 136nhp |
| Propulsion | Single screw propeller |
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
Description
editAugust Bösch was 49.50 metres (162 ft 5 in) long, with a beam of 8.00 metres (26 ft 3 in). She had a depth of 3.75 metres (12 ft 4 in) and a draught of 4.55 metres (14 ft 11 in).[1] She was assessed at 401 GRT, 155 NRT. The ship 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 88 centimetres (34+5⁄8 in) diameter by 66 centimetres (26 in) stroke. The engine was made by H. C. Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg, Germany. It was rated at 136nhp. It drove a single screw propeller via a low pressure turbine,[2] and could propel the ship at 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h).[3]
History
editAugust Bösch was built in 1934 as yard number 689 by H. C. Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg,[3] for C. C. H. Bösch, Bremerhaven, Germany.[2] She was launched on 8 June and competed on 10 August.[1] The Code Letters DQPZ were allocated,[2] as was the fishing boat registration BX 246.[1]
On 25 September 1939, August Bösch was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a vorpostenboot. She was commissioned into 4 Vorpostenflotille as V 409 August Bösch. On 20 August 1944, she was bombed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay off Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendée, France (46°30′N 1°48′W / 46.500°N 1.800°W) by Allied aircraft.[1] The minesweeper M 4214 Jean Marthe was also sunk in the attack.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Gröner 1993, p. 221.
- ^ a b c "August Bösch (05768)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. AUB-AUN (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 7 December 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
- ^ a b Gröner 1993, p. 217.
- ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1944, August". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 7 December 2022.
Bibliography
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.