Die Schnellboot-Seite
At the outset of year 1941 the 4. SFltl was being formed up. Commander was Kptlt. Niels Bätge. The flottilla commanded at this point in time the boats „S 11“, „S 22“, „S 24“ and „S 25“. ABout a letter-code in this phase of the flottilla nothing is known.
During Operation Barbarossa (the Rusia Campain) the 4. SFltl remained as the only flotilla in the operation area English Channel far away from its planned strength. It operated based on Rotterdam.
Composition of the 4.
Schnellbootflottila on
01.06.1941
|
Commander |
Kptlt. |
Niels Bätge |
|
S 19 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Karl Müller |
|
S 20 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Hans-Jürgen Meyer |
|
S 22 |
Lt.z.S. |
Karl-Eberhard Karcher |
|
S 24 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Götz Frhr. Von Mirbach |
|
S 25 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Friedrich-Wilhelm Wilcke |
FRom the early days of the 4. SFltl we know only the sun, the marking of "S 25" under command of Oblt.z.S. Max Günther.
"S 25" under Command of Oblt.z.S. Max Günther - Picture: Archives O. Erlandsson
During the second half of the year 1941 the flotilla got equipped with type 38-boats. For these boats the flotilla introduced a letter-code. The letters painted on the doors of the bridge-house were the initials of the first names of the commanding officers.
Letter-Code November 1941
|
Boat |
Rank |
Name |
Code |
|
S 48 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Götz Frhr. von Mirbach |
G |
| S 49 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Max Günther |
M |
|
S 50 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Karl Eberhard Karcher |
K |
|
S 51 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Hans-Jürgen Meyer |
HJ |
|
S 52 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Karl Müller |
C |
| S 63 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Helmut Dross |
H |
|
S 64 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Friedrich Wilhelm Wilcke |
F |
|
S 107 |
ohne Kdt |
unbesetzt |
? |
|
S 109 |
Lt.z.S. | Walter Bosse | W |
|
S 110 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Albert Causemann |
A |
Letter-Code November 1942
|
Boat |
Rank |
Name |
Code |
| S 42 | Oblt.z.S. | Walter Knapp | W |
| S 45 | Lt.z.S. | Horst Schuur | H |
|
S 48 |
Kptlt.z.S. |
Götz Frhr. von Mirbach |
G |
| S 63 | Oblt.z.S. |
Karl Eberhard Karcher |
K |
|
S 64 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Friedrich Wilhelm Wilcke |
F |
| S 66 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Max Günther |
M |
|
S
78 |
Kptlt. |
Hans-Jürgen Meyer |
HJ |
| S 79 |
Kptlt. |
Albert Causemann |
A |
| S 87 | OFähnr.z.S. | Dietrich Howaldt | D |
|
S 109 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Helmut Dross |
H |
|
S 110 |
Oblt.z.S. | Ludwig Graser | L |
| S 117 | Oblt.z.S. | Dietrich Bludau | D |
At the time being we hold only few pictures as proof:
"S 48" with code "G" (Oblt.z.S. Götz von Mirbach) at the bridge-house - Picture: Archives Erling Skjold
"S 63" in the rear with code "K" (Oblt.z.S. Karl-Eberhard Karcher) at the bridge-house - Picture: Archives Hans Frank
"S 117" with code "D" (Lt.z.S. Dietrich Howaldt) at the bridge-house - Picture: Archives Hans Frank
"S 63" with code "D" (Lt.z.S. Dietrich Howaldt) at the bridge-house at Rotterdam - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"S 63" with code "H" (Oblt.z.S. Helmut Dross) at the bridge-house - Picture: Archives PT Boats, Inc.
"S 110" with code "A" (Kptlt. Albert Causemann) at the bridge-house - Picture: Archives Erling Skjold
Letter-Code March 1943
|
Boat |
Rank |
Name |
Code |
|
S 48 |
Kptlt. |
Götz Frhr. von Mirbach |
G |
| S 63 | Lt.z.S. | Dietrich Howaldt | D |
|
S
78 |
Kptlt. |
Hans-Jürgen Meyer |
HJ |
| S 87 | Oblt.z.S. |
Karl Eberhard Karcher |
K |
| S 88 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Max Günther |
M |
| S 96 | Lt.z.S. | Wilhelm Sander | W |
|
S 110 |
Oblt.z.S. | Ludwig Graser | L |
| S 117 | Oblt.z.S. | Dietrich Bludau | D |
| S 120 |
Kptlt. |
Albert Causemann |
A |
| S 122 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Helmut Dross |
H |
It is understood that the 4. SFltl changed from one single letter to a combination of letters when the new boats of type S 100 (with scull-bridge) were commissioned.
Letter-Code 1944 until 14.06.1944
| Boat |
Rank |
Name |
Code |
|
S
170 |
ObStrm. |
Pape |
? |
|
S
171 |
Oblt.z.S. |
Joachim Wiencke |
? |
|
S 172 |
Lt.z.S. |
Dietrich Howaldt |
? |
| S 173 | ObStrm. | Neuburger | ? |
|
S
174 |
Kptlt. | Hans-Jürgen Seeger | ? |
| S 175 | Kptlt. | Dietrich Bludau | ? |
|
S 187 |
|
Helmut Dross |
? |
| S 188 | Oblt.z.S. | Karl-Eberhard Karcher | KeK |
Letter-Code 1944 after 01.09.1944
|
Boot |
Dienstgrad |
Name |
Kennzeichen |
|
S 201 |
ObStrm. |
Wilhelm
Kohrt |
? |
|
S 202 |
Kptlt. | Joachim Wiencke | ? |
| S 203 | ObStrm. | Hans Neuburger | ? |
| S 204 | OLt..z.S. | Claus Hinrichs | Lang |
| S 205 | Kptlt. | Hans-Jürgen Seeger | HaJü |
| S 219 | Lt.z.S. | Dietrich Howaldt | ? |
| S 220 | Kptlt. | Helmut Dross | ? |
| S 703 | Oblt.z.S. | Dieter Steinhauer | ? |
Code "KeK" of "S 188" - Oblt.z.S. Karl-Eberhard Karcher
Code "HaJü" of "S 205" - Oblt.z.S. Hans-Jürgen Seeger
.jpg)
Code "Lang" of "S 204" - Oblt.z.S. Klaus Hinrichs (nickname?)
Lettercode from 01.04.1945
|
Boat |
Rank |
Name |
Letterdoce |
|
S 201 |
Lt.z.S.
(KRO) |
Wilhelm
Kohrt |
? |
|
S 202 |
Kptlt. | Joachim Wiencke | ? |
| S 204 | Lt.z.S. d.Res. | Claus Hinrichs | Lang |
| S 205 | Kptlt. | Hans-Jürgen Seeger | HaJü |
| S 219 | OLt.z.S. | Dietrich Howaldt | ? |
| S 304 | ObStrm. | Hans Neuburger | ? |
| S 703 | Oblt.z.S. | Dieter Steinhauer | ? |
The letter-code of the boats were changed upon change in command but not in a case of short-time replacement.
About the boats which codes are not listed we do not hold pictures.