*) The launching of boat "S73 Hermelin" took place on 08.12.1981 in icecold weather at Schacht-Audorf near Rendsburg. The leader of the Navy Music Corps broke off the playing of the national anthem and reported to KAdm Vohs, that the instruments were freesing to the lips of the musicians. Thereupon KAdm Vohs: "Aye aye, fellows, inside and drink a schnaps" 

Boats S73 "Hermelin", S75 "Zobel" and S77 "Dachs" were built by Kröger-Werft at Schacht-Audorf near Rendsburg, all other boats by Fr. Lürssen-Werft at Bremen-Vegesack.

The godfather-towns of the boats were as follows:

The type-boat S71 "Gepard" was commissioned December 7th 1982. 

The Commanding Officer, KKpt Thomsen, reporting S71 "Gepard" commissioned - Picture: Archives Andres Zwoll

Data of Launchings and Commissionings on Stamps of the Boats - Picture: Archives Förderverein

For the launching of S76 "Frettchen" the following article was issued in Wilhelmshavener Zeitung dated January 27th 1983 and under it  theh picture of "S 76" of the Kriegsmarine:

With the launching on  October 5th 1983 and the commissioning on November 13th 1984 of S80 "Hyäne" on the Fr. Lürssen-Shipyard at Bremen- Vegesack the building-programme "Schnellboot Klasse 143 A" under generalmanagemeant of AEG-TELEFUNKEN was completed.

"Ready for Commissioning Colours" for S80 "Hyäne" - Picture: Archives Förderverein

Before the RAM-Launchers were installed on Class 143 A-boats the weapon system was tested on "S69 Habicht".

"S69 Habicht" fitted with RAM-Launcher for Trials - Picture: Archives Burkhard Schindler

For Testing the RAM-Launcher on "S69 Habicht" the Torpedo-Tubes were removed at times - Picture: Archives Burkhard Schindler

Entrance of Loch Eriboll/Schottland 1996 - Picture: Jörg Rabethge

"S71 Gepard", thre sisterships and two "Willemoes"-class-boats alongside Tanker "Skinfaxe" during JMC 1996 in Loch Eriboll - Picture: Jörg Rabethge

"S71 Gepard" anchored in Loch Eriboll - Picture: Jörg Rabethge

Tender "Elbe", "S71 Gepard", "S76 Frettchen", "S73 Hermelin", and "S79 Wiesel" at La Rochelle Sept. 1996 - Picture: Jörg Rabethge

From October 1st 1999 until the decommissioning of the 2. S-Boat-Squadron on July 28th 2006 five boats of Class 143 A were employed by the 2. S-Boat-Squadron whereas five boats of Class 143 were employed by the 7. S-Boat-Squadron. From the 2. S-Boat-Squadron the boats "S66 Greif", "S67 Kondor", "S68 Seeadler", "S69 Habicht" and "S70 Kormoran" were turned over to the 7. S-Boat-Squadron and boats "S76 Frettchen, "S77 Dachs", "S78 Ozelot", "S79 Wiesel" and "S80 Hyäne" were dispatched to the 2. S-Boat-Squadron. That was to render protection against missiles at short range by the boats of Class 143 A in mixed packs whereas the boats of class 143 provided higher gunnery potential and the wireguided torpedoes. Such a mixed pack could thus bring to bear three 76mm-guns, eight MM 38 missiles, two SEAL, 21 RAM-missiles and mines. With the decommissioning of the 2. S-Boat- Squadron the boats of Class 143 A were returned to the 7. S-Boat-Squadron. 

"S76 Frettchen" with Coat-of-Arms of the 2. S-Boat-Squadron - Picture: Archiv T. Kunzmann

"S77 Dachs" with Coat-of-Arms of the 2. S-Boat-Squadron - Picture: Archiv T. Kunzmann

"S78 Ozelot" with Coat-of-Arms of the 2. S-Boat-Squadron - Picture: Archiv T. Kunzmann

"S79 Wiesel" with Coat-of-Arms of the 2. S-Boat-Squadron - Picture: Archiv T. Kunzmann

"S66 Greif" with Coat-of-Arms of the 7. S-Boat-Squadron - Picture: Archiv T. Kunzmann

"S68 Seeadler" with Coat-of-Arms of the 2. S-Boat-Squadron - Picture: Archiv T. Kunzmann

"S69 Habicht" with Coat-of-Arms of the 7. S-Boat-Squadron - Picture: Frank Zingler

"S70 Kormoran" with Coat-of-Arms of the 7. S-Boat-Squadron - Picture: Archives T. Kunzmann

For the Disbanding of the 2. S-Boat-Squadron this Batch was created

2011 the Book "7. Schnellbootgeschader - 50 Jahre 1961 - 2022" was edited

After 29 years in service the two boats "S74 Nerz" and "S77 Dachs" were decommissioned on February 29th 2012 at 14:00 lct. at MArs Wilhelmshaven. They were laid up at Wilhelmshaven and served as spareparts-store for the fleet.

The Boats S71 "Gepard" and S78 "Ozelot" at Berthing M at Warnemünde - Picture: Volker Groth

"S71 Gepard" decommissioned alongside "S78 Ozelot" - Picture: Volker Groth

The boat "S 78 Ozelot" was decommissioned on 18.12.2014 at 10:00 hours after 30 years in Service.

 S71 "Gepard" was transferred to MArs Wilhelmshaven in October 2015 and after some minor reconstructions she was handed over to the German Navy Museum Wilhelmsahven to present the German S-Boat-Forces to visitors.

2015 S74"Nerz" and S77 "Dachs" were sold to Emder Werft und Dock GmbH. They were towed to Emden in December 2015 with the objective of being reconstructed to private yachts.

Ex S74 "Nerz" and ex S77 "Dachs" at Emden - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

"S80 Hyäne" 17th March 2015 entering Warnemünde efter Squadex - Picture: T. Kunzmann

7. SGschw at Portsmouth 1st May 2015 - Picture: Frank Raudszus

"S75 Zobel" during Kiel Week 2015 - Pictured: Hans-Joachim Friedrich

Contrary to all expectations the 7. SGschw early July 2015 got the order to detach the boat "S80 Hyäne" again to UNIFIL. The boat left Warnemünde Hohe Düne on 13th July 2015 and relieved Corvette "Erfurt", which had to join Mission ATALANTA at the Horn of Africa. Task of "S80 Hyäne" off the Libanon coast was to contribute to preventation of weapon-smuggling into Libanon.

"S80 Hyäne" 13th July 2015 entering Kiel Kanal - Picture: T. Kunzmann

"S80 Hyäne" 13th July 2015 sailing past Rendsburg - Picture: T. Kunzmann

Our fellow club member Dr. Nikolaus Sifferlinger saw "S80 Hyäne" on 22.07.2015 during a intermediate stop on Malta.

"S80 Hyäne" on 22.07.2015 during an intermediate stop on Malta - Picture: N. Sifferlinger

On 25.07.2015 around 11:00 o'clock "S80 Hyäne" entered Limassol on Cypres to join UNIFIL.

Transit of "S79 Wiesel" and "S72 Puma" to Wilhelmshaven

On 28.09.2015 at 05.30 the boats "S72 Puma" and "S79 Wiesel" left Rostock-Warnemünde, Stützpunkt Hohe Düne, to hand in the battle-ammunition at Jägersberg and to sail to the Marinearsenal Wilhelmshaven via Nord-Ostsee-Kanal to have instruments and parts of the armament removed. 

The trip through the NOK was packed with hindrances (more than two hours delay at the Holtenau locks and two stops at passing places) thus the boats did not arrive at the Naval Base Wilhelmshaven around midnight but could only secure their boats  against morning of the 29.09.2015. Therefore, they sailed through the locks at 08.00 and secured in the Marinearsenal.

"S72 Puma" almost in fuld Strength in MArs Wilhelmshaven - Picture: K. Scheuch

Commanding Officer "S79 Wiesel", KKpt Münstermann, on his Bridge - Picture: K. Scheuch

Multi Sensor System (MSP 500), FL 1800 and Radom WM 27 of "S79 Wiesel" - Picture: K. Scheuch

View from the Prow on 76mm-Oto Melara and Bridge "S79 Wiesel" - Picture: K. Scheuch

"S79 Wiesel" with RAM-Launcher, her MM 38-Containers already removed - Picture: K. Scheuch

The long trip to Wilhelmshaven

At MArs Wilhelmshaven the 76mm-Gun and the RAM-Launcher as well as some instruments werde removed.

"S79 Wiesel" and "S72 Puma" i the Brundbüttel Locks - Picture: Frank Zingler

"S79 Wiesel" and her Modell at Naval Base Hohe Düne - Picture: Frank Zingler

"S79 Wiesel" passing Rendsburg - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

"S72 Puma" also Stripped - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

At Dusk the Passing Place Landwehr is Passed - Picture: Tino Kunzmann 

On 08.10.2015 in the morning the widely stripped boats left in order to sail to their homeport Hohe Düne via the NOK, where they secured on 09.10.2015 just after 02.00 hours. Then the two boats were being prepaired for their decommissioning on 14.12.2015.

After the assassination on the World Trade Center September 9th 2001 the Bundestag agreed in November to participate on the base of Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and on Article 5 of the NATO Treaty in the fight with armed S-boats against international terrorrism.

"S80 Hyäne" carried out seafaring maneouvers and firing exercises with the French destroyer "Montcalm" during her UNIFIL-employment. Subsequent to the terror-attack at Paris on 13. November the S-Boats-Crew expressed their solidarity with their French comrades.

The Crew of "S80 Hyäne" - Picture: PIZ Marine

On Dezember 3rd 2015 a five-mounth deployment for UNIFIL ended for the crew of "S80 Hyäne". As replacement the crew of "S75 Hermelin" got into their footprints. The leader of the German Contingency at UNIFIL, Fregattenkapitän Johst, gave over the command of the boat from Kapitänleutnant Pauker to Korvettenkapitän Tesch. 

Turning over the Command of "S80 Hyäne" - Picture: PIZ Marine

On December 14th 2015 at 10.00 "S79 Wiesel" and "S72 Puma" were decommissioned at Rostock-Warnemünde. The squadron was left with the command of just boats, which were decommissioned November 16th 2016.

"Lower Flag and Pennant" on "S79-Wiesel" - Picture: Frank Zingler

The Remains of the 7. S-Squadron in the Morninglight - Picture: Frank Zingler

On February 29th 2016 the two boats "S73 Hermelin" and "S76 Frettchen" as well as Tender "Elbe" left harbour for a four-weeks Squadex and participation in the international exercise  BALTOPS. During the Squadex inter alia the cities of Oslo and Göteborg were visitied. Seananship exercises and firing exercises and sailing in formation, fog navigation and towing and being towed were trained as well as tactical exercises were carried out. On 2March 23rd 2016 the force returned into their homeports. The Internet-Side of the Navy reports in detail.

On April 18th 2016 "S80 Hyäne" returned to her homeport Hohe Düne after a more than 9 month lasting UNIFIL-deployment.

"S80 Hyäne" in the Kiel-Canal on 17.04.2016 - Picture: T. Kunzmann

Return of "S80 Hyäne" into her homeport on 18.04.2016 - Picture: T. Kunzmann

At the 827. birthday of the Hamburg harbour (Hamburger Hafengeburtstag 2016) from May 05th to 08th 2016 "S73 Hermelin" sailed in the parade of traditional ships up the Elbe-river to the harbour of Hamburg.

Frigate "Brandenburg", Flaggship of the Entry-Parade 2016 - Picture: Kalle Scheuch

S-boat  "S73 Hermelin" (P 6123) - Picture: Kalle Scheuch

The last common undertaking of the remaining boats of the squadron was the participation in Kieler Woche 2016. On 16.06.2016 the last four boats, "S73 Hermelin", "S74 Nerz", "S75 Zobel" and "S80 Hyäne" entered Naval Base Kiel.

The 7. S-Squad enters Kiel for the last time - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

As last action in the last common event of the Squadron was the transfer of the boats to Hohe Düne for which the Einsatzflottille 1 had invited former flotilla- and squadron-commanders and commanding officers. On July 4th teh four boats were taken out of sea-readiness.

7. S-Squadron preparing for its Fare-Well-Voyage - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

Entering Hohe Düne - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

The voyage was ended with a grilling in the officers-club before the guests were brought back to Kiel by bus.

On 02.07.2016 "S75 Zobel" took part in Warnemünder Woche unplanned and undertook a voyage during this phase. 

On 03.07.2016 the four boats "S73 Hermelin", "S75 Zobel", "S76 Frettchen" and "S80 Hyäne" left harbour twice with guests, the closest familymembers of the crews, for a trip in the Baltic. 

"S80 Hyäne" leaving Warnemünde - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

"S75 Zobel" and "S76 Frettchen" leaving Warnemünde - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

"S76 Frettchen" off Warnemünde - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

"S75 Zobel" entering Warnemünde - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

Through these Moles never again a German S-Boat will sail - Picture: Frank Zingler

The four boats were taken out of readiness-for-sea on 04. July 2016 and the boats prepared for being taken out of service.  

The unrigged Boats "S 72 Puma", "S78 Ozelot" and "S79 Wiesel" - Picture: Volker Groth

At the pier of the laid-up boats, "S72 Puma", "S78 Ozelot", and "S79 Wiesel" in Naval Base Hohe Düne a new name for the squadron was displayed temporarily.

1. Ludolfgeschwader - Picture: Frank Zingler

Remains of the 7. S-Geschwader on 21.07.2016 - Picture: Dr. Nik Sifferlinger

On the evening before the disbanding of the 7. S-Boat-Squadron the Navy Music Corps Ostsee and the Guardbatallion Berlin celelbrated the Ceremonial Tattoo.

The 7. S-Boat-Squadron was disbanded in a moving ceremony following a speech of VAdm Brinkmann, Acting Inspekteur, Flagofficer of the Fleet and the Supporting Forces, on 16.11.2016 at 11.00 lct., after the four last boats of the squadron,  "S73 Hermelin", "S75 Zobel", "S76 Frettchen" snd "S80 Hyäne",  were decommissioned. 

The Army Music Corps and the Honour-Platoon of the former 7. S-Boat-Squadron marched out of the indspection-ground.

The last four Boats at Kieler Brücke - Picture: K. Scheuch

 With that the 100years era of "Schnellboote" in German Navies was ended. German "Schnellboote" can today be seen in foreign navies and in German museums only.

Since June 16th S71 "Gepard" is part of the Marinemuseum Wilhelmshaven for which teh Förderverein Museums-Schnellboot has taken over the godfatherschip and provides for the maintenance of the boat with two working-weeks (PönExes) per year.

S71 "Gepard" at the DMM Wilhelmshaven - Picture: Tino Kunzmann

The PönEx-Crew Spring 2017 - Picture: DMM

Here six of seven boats in the MArs Kiel are awaiting their re-use - Picture: Andreas Engel

S78 "Ozelot" laying separately after a Leakage - Picture: Andreas Engel

The seven laid-up Boats passsing the MEM-Laboe on Board of "Happy Sky" - Picture: Reeno Prösch