S-Boats in the Kriegsmarine 1935 - 1945

War-Zones of the S-Boats

Adriatic Sea 1943 - 1945

After the capitulation of Italy on 09.09.1943 a great number of Italian ships and boats fell into German hands. First it was considered to commission all Italian S-boats, but then it was decided only to make use the MAS-boats but not of the smaller and even more troublesom MS-boats. Decommissioning of some already commissioned MAS-boats was ordered. The six MAS-boats captured in the western Mediterranean and the three boats captured in the Aegaen Sea were assigned to the 24. SFltl. 

On 08.09.1943 the armistice between Italy and the Allies was signed. "S 54" and "S 61" were in Taranto. They and the Navy barge "F 478" were granted free withdrawal. They left harbour  and mined the harbourentrance with the Italians making notice of that. On these mines sank on 10.09.1943 the British minelayer "Abdiel".

The three boats run into an Italian auxiliary mine-lugger, the crew was sent into the lifeboat and the boat was blown up. At a meeting with the Italian cruiser "Scipione Africano" she took no notice of the boats, which had blown up "F 478" and taken the crew on board as a precaution. Both S-boats came in the Bight of Valona into a mine-netbarrier, could, however, free themselves without taking any damage and sailed to Ragusa. In so doing run "S 54" onto a mine but remained undamaged.

On 11.09.1943 "S 54" fired two torpedoes on a modern yacht off Ancona, the torpedoes hit amidships but did not detonate. "S 61" fired a torpedo which sunk, as was becoming evident,  the Italian admirality-yacht "Aurora". 

Towards morning of the 12.09.1943 "S 54" with 10 hands under command of Kptlt. Winkler captured the Italian motorvessel "Leopardi" (4572 BRT) with 1500 Italian soldiers on board, little later the Italian freighter "Saubasia" (1590 BRT) was taken as prize by "S 61". In the afternoon "S 54" stopped the Italian steamer "Pontinia" (715 BRT) about 30 nm south of Venice, the closing destroyer "Quintino Sella" (1480 t), on her way to Taranto in order to surrender to the British, was sunk with two torpedoes by "S 54" and "S 61". "Pontinia" was left behind with two men of "S 54" as prize-commando to rescue survivors.The commanding officer, Capitano di Corvetta Corrado Cini, and 80 men could be rescued. "S 54" called  "S 30" and "S 33" from Pola to help by radio, but they could not leave harbour because the Italians held them back.

Gegen Morgen des 12.09.1943 kaperte "S 54" mit 10 Mann unter Führung Kptlt. Winkler das italienische Motorschiff "Leopardi" (4572 BRT) mit 1500 italienischen Soldaten an Bord, wenig später wurde der italienische Frachtdampfer "Saubasia" (1590 BRT) von "S 61" als Prise genommen. Am Nachmittag stoppte "S 54" etwa 30 sm südlich von Venedig den italienischen Dampfer "Pontinia" (715 BRT), der herannahende Zerstörer "Quintino Sella", der eigentlich auf dem Wege nach Taranto war, um sich den Briten zu ergeben, wurde mit zwei Torpedos versenkt, die "Pontinia" mit zwei Mann von "S 54" als Prisenkommando an Bord wurde zur Rettung Überlebender zurück gelassen. Der Kommandant, Capitano di Corvetta Corrado Cini, und 80 überlebende Seeleute konnten gerettet werden. "S 54" rief per Funk "S 30" und "S 33" aus Pola zur Hilfe, die konnten aber nicht auslaufen, weil die Italiener sie zurück hielten.

"S 30" and "S 33" at Pola - Picture: From the heritage of Oblt.z.S. a.D. Backhaus

"S 54" and "Leopardi" entered Venice. The naval ensign was veiled and the uniforms of the sailers were made unrecognizable so that the Venicians thought that an Italian unit had entered harbour.

"S 54" (Oblt.z.S. Schmidt) in front of the Doge's Pallace (Picture: Archives R. Mundt)

To hours later also "S 61" entered harbour with the two prizes. Both boats were completely out of fuel, water, and provisions. " S 61" had one torpedo left and "S 54" was shot empty. Under threatening with a Stuka-attacks and an attack of tanks standing by, Oblt.z.S. Schmidt together with the General-Consul and the railway authorized representative achieved the capitulation of the Navy Commander in Chief Northadriatic Sea and the Chief of the Navy Station Venice. In Venice were about 10.000 man Italian Navy, the Italian  destroyer "Sebenico", the Italian torpedoboat "Audace", two Italian S-boats, eight auxiliaries, and 30 merchant ships. The commanding officer "S 54", Oblt.z.S. Schmidt, had thereby accomplished the most remarkable deed of a S-boat's commanding officer in WW II. He was awarded the German Cross in Gold together with  Bootsmann Blömker, Seaman No. 1 of "S 61", who had commanded the boat in absence of the commanding officer. On 22.12.1943 Oblt.z.S. Schmidt was awarded the Knight's Cross.

"S 61" (OBtsm Blömker) in front of Piazza St. Marco, Venice, on 11.09.1943 (Picture: From Conelly/Krakow: Schnellboot in action)

Oblt.z.S. Klaus-Degenhart Schmidt (left) - Picture from Storia Militare Briefing Nr. 18

 After the amistice of Italy with the Allies "S 30" and "S 33" had made boats provisionally ready for sea and for battle. When "S 54" asked for help on 11.09.1943 they could leave harbour after a while, they had threatend the Italians with air attacks, so that they finally opened the harbour barriers. When the boats did not find the pair they entered harbour again. On 14.09.1943 they sailed up to the harbour barriers of Venice. Upon occupation of the city Pola by the 71. Infantery-Division the boats escorted the support traffic and supported the army in fighting partisans. During these operations one man fell on 22.09.1943 and to men were wounded. 

The 24. SFltl was formed in the Aegaen Sea on 01.11.1943. Commander was Kptlt. Meyer, H.J. The first boats joining had been built 1936 - 1938 by Lürssen for the Yuguslavian Navy. They had been captured by the Italian Navy on 17.04.1941 in Tiwat and been commissioned partly as boats of type MS and partly as MAS-boats. 

Allocated were originally:

ABout "S 512" no data are available. "S 511" had deserted to the German side on 19.09.1943 and was commissioned on 15.11.1943 for the Kriegsmarine under command of ObStrm.d.Res. Klima.  "S 601" followed on 06.12.1943 under command of ObStrm. Svoboda. All other boats of the flotilla were commissioned not before 1944. 

MAS 30, later MAS 522 (ex "Orjen") 1942 - Picture: Regia Marina

Later were added:

*) for the boat are no KTB-data available

**) destroyed on 14.04.44 just before commissioning by aircraft bombs at Monfalcone

***) was never commissioned, reason not ducumented

"S 630" (ex "MS 75" of the Italian Navy [Regia Marina]) was captured on 10.09.1943 at Venice and handed over to the fascistic Italian Navy of the Repubblica Sociale Italiana. Commanding officer became Teniente Santagata, who also commanded it after its incorporation into the 3. Group of the 1. S-Boots-Division (1. S-Div) on 10.12.1944. 

Italian MAS 500-Boat - Picture: Archives Ralf Krokowski

End of October it was finally decided to transfer the boats in the Mediterranean to the Adraiatic Sea, therefore, the personnel fof the staffs of rthe 3.  and the 7., SFltl were united to form the staff of the 1. S-Boat-Division at Viareggio. At this point in time the four boats in the Mediterranean of the 3. SFltl,  "S  56", "S 57", "S 58", and "S 60", were KB at Toulon, the four boats i the Adriatic Sea, "S 30", "S 33", "S 54" und "S 61", were aKB at Venice. Of the 7. SFltl "S 153" and "S 157" were ready for action at Viareggio,  "S 154" and "S 156" were laying there  aKB, "S 151", "S 152", "S 155", and "S 158" were aKB at Toulon.

On 11.11.1943  transitted "S 30", "S 33", "S 54", and "S 61" from Venice to Pola. In the night 11./12.1943 "S 54" and "S 61" transitted from Pola to Dubrovnik. On "S 61" a motor failed because of a broken crankshaft.

In the night 12./13.11.1943 "S 30" and "S 33" transitted from Pola toh Cattaro, onthe march thereto they brought up a motorsailer with partisans. In the same night "S 54" and "S 61" were to transit to Piraeus, "S 61" had, however, to sail back to Venice because of a motor failure. Because of the worsening gale it entered Cattaro instead, "S 54" entered Korfu. FRom there she transitted to to piraeus on 14.11.1943 and from there to its area of employment off Leros.

On 17.11.1943 "S 30", "S 33", and "S 61"  transitted from Cattaro to Dubrovnik. There they were stopped because of the weather. On 27.11.1943 they transitted from Dubrovnik to Split. When entereing harbour "S 30" and "S 61" grounded without major damages to the boats. On march to Pola in the night 28./29.11.1943 the boats sank a motorsailor with partisans. On 30.11.1943 "S 30" and "S 33" came into the shipyard at Pola, "S 61" transitted to the shipyard at Venice. All three boats were at the shipyards until February rsp. March 1944.

On 04.12.1943 "S 511" was employed in a transport-voyage to Leros at daylight against the expressed contradiction of the flotilla-commander, KptLt Meyer. The boat and the escorts, three Arado 196 were attacked by Beaufighters, the aircraft were shot down and the boat was severely damaged. Two men fell. Because of the damages to the underwatership the boat was sat agroung at the little island Mavronisi, capsized dand sank.

On 31.12.1943 was the first employment for "S 601" as escort for a convoy from Saloniki to Piraeus. Afterwards the boat entered Milos. 

During the night 08./09.01.1944 "S 55" and "S 36" operated from Cattaro (Kotor) against the partisan-traffic. They captured two motorsailers loaded with fuel and ammunition between the islands Hvar and Brac. The boats were blewn up, after the crews had been taken on board. At daybreak the boats took the harbour of the island Vis  under fire. The partisans fired back, however, without hitting.

During the night 09./10.01.1944 "S 55" and "S 36" were in action again. They took the harbour of Komiza on the island Vis under fire. They stopped a motorsailer, which carried weapons, ammunition, and provisions. It was taken as prize and escorted to Velalucca. On entering the bight the boats were attacked by British fighterbombers. On "S 55" the port engine fell out by fragmentation, on "S 36" fell two men. Shortly thereafter a whole fighterbombersquadron attacked, the motorsailer caught fire, the load exploded. In the afternoon the boats were attacked again by two waves of British fighterbombers. "S 55" (Oblt.z.S. Weber) took hits and burst in flames, the spare-torpedoes exploded, the boat was no longer to keep and sunk. "S 36" took over the crews of "S 55" and of the motorsailer and entered Cattaro in the evening. Thereafter it had to go to the shipyard at Pola.

The 11 boats of the 3. and 7. SFltl had been stopped by extreme low waters on river Po during their transit from the western Mediterranean to the Adriatic Sea. Only after finishing the necessary dredging at Piacenzia the transit could be continued.

"S 153" during Transport from Genua to Venice - Picture: Archives Erling Skjold

In February 1944 no sorties could be carried out because of the low amount of S-boats, an escort-order could not be carried out because of bad weather. The first six boats of the 24. SFltl arrived at Venice end of February.  The 11 boats of the 3. and 7. SFltl from the western Mediterranean arrived on 07.03.1944 at Venice, where they first had to be put together again.

"S 153" in a Shipyard at Venice - Picture: Archives Erling Skjold

The dog Max of S 153 - Picture: Archives Erling Skjold

In the night 15./16.03.1944 "S 36" and "S 61" transitted with the Fltl-commander on board from Pola to Cattaro and made a sortie in the folowing night into the sea-area between the islands Mljet, Lagosta and Glavat, during which a motor fishingboat was sunk by artillery. 

In April four sorties with two to three boats took place ("S 30", "S 33" and "S 36"). No enemies were sighted.

On 14.04.1944 the boats captured during construction, "S 622" and "S 624", were destroyed just before their commissioning by an American air-attack on Monfalcone, "S 623" and "S 626" (Lt.z.S. Burba) were damaged heavily.

"S 626" after bombhit in Monfalcone (Picture from: Dallies-Labourdette)

On 14.04.1944 only "S 30" was ready for action. The boats of the 7. SFltl were stil not put together, the boats of the 24. SFltl suffered from permanent enginedisturbances. "S 54" was stil at Saloniki. On 22.04.1944 "S 54" (Oblt.z.S. Schmidt) on transit to Cattaro run on a mine off Kap Leukas. The aft part of the boat was torn of, however, the boat remained floating and was tugged in. Three men fell and five were wounded. The boat went into the shipyard at Salamis.

In May 1944 "S 30", "S 36" and "S 61" made some sorties, during which they succeeded to sink a coastal motorferry on  11.05.1944. Attempts to escort a group of the 12. R-Fltl through the Stait of Otranto failed, since the boats run into British destroyers again and again, which opened fire immediately.

The first completed boats of the 7. SFltl - "S 153", "S 155", "S 156", "S 157", and "S 1582 - entered Split. 

"S 155" in a harbor of the Adriatic Sea (Picture: Archives Eric-Jan Bakker)

During the night 31.05./01.06.1944 they could sink three motorcutters, one coaster, and one small tanker off the island Lissa in artillery fights. The survivors (159 uniformed British, Kroats, Serbs, and Italians, one US Lightning-pilot, 37 women and five children) were taken on board.

Fltl-Commander, Kptlt. Trummer, and the COs of the 7. SFltl - Picture: Archives Heinz Kloetzke

In the folowing night they sank two fully occupied and one empty motorcutters in gun battle, the survivors (77 partisans, to Britsh paratroopers, 50 women and 24 childeren) were fished out of the water.

"S 158" replenishing torpedoes - (Picture: Archives Heinz Kloetzke)

Exercise-firing by "S 155" in the Lagoon of  Venice - Picture: Archives Heinz Kloetzke

During a sortie on 11./12.06.1944 "S 156", "S 155", "S 153", and "S 157" run into the two British destroyers HMS "Blackmore" and "HMS Eggesford" by surprise, which immediately opened fire. "S 153" (Oblt.z.S. Rautenberg) was shot to pieces by one destroyer and sank off the island Hvar with the mayority of the crew. Killed in action were: The CO (Oblt.z.S. Rautenberg), MarObAssArzt d.R. Klotzky (Flottillenarzt), ObFhnr.z.S. Helmut Huckenbeck,MaschMt. Wilhelm Meyer, MaschMt. Oskar Neudert, MachMt. Walter Schmidt, MaschHptGefr. Kurt Hertel, MaschObGefr. Willi Montanus, MaschObGefr. Alfred Schott, Masch ObGefr. Hans Steinfals, MaschObGefr. Kurt Tröge, MaschObGefr. Frank Wenzel, SKad. Hildebrandt von Kracht, FunkObGefr. Kurt Reiner, and MechGefr. Kurt Nubler. 10 men were rescued by HMS "Eggesford".

On 24.06.1944 "S 157" (Oblt.z.S. Hans-Ulrich Liebhold) and "S 154" (Lt.z.S. Gunnar Kelm) escorted the old Jugoslavian torpedoboat "T 7" with her croatic crew. When passing the island Cocoglari the British boats "MGB 659", "MGB 662" and "MTB 670" attacked the German unit. "MTB 670" fired two torpedoes on "T 7". Both failed and exploded at the cliffs. "T 7" turned away when the British boats opened artillery-fire and ran aground at the little island Murter. The British boats with their superior guns held the German S-boats on distance. Later the S-boats could shake off the British boats and rescue 21 men of the crew of 35, among them 11 wounded, and bring them to Zara.

"S 154" (ObLt.z.S. Kelm) in the Adratic Sea - Picture: Archives Heinz Kloetzke

Since 01.07.1944 the Italian lootboats "S 621" (StObStrm. Maniel) *), "S 627" (ObStrm. Kaufhold), "S 628" (Lt.z.S. Paul Overwaul), and "S 629" (Lt.z.S. Ernst-Günter Müller) were combat ready at Grado,  the boats damaged on 14.04.1944 by air-attack "S 623" and "S 626" (Lt.z.S. Burba) were not yet repaired and the boats "S 601", "S 602", and "S 604" were at Saloniki.

Due to the Allied advance in Italy and due to the retreat from the Balkan the operational area of the S-boats narrowed more and more, the Allied naval forces were supported by RAF and USAF, so that all retreaval convoys of the German side were attacked. The S-boats assigned as escorts could not really fend off the attacks by British naval forces. On  06. and 11.07.1944 British commandotroops had landed on the islands Hvar and Brac and forced the Germans to surrender.

S-boats of Type S 151 in the Adriatic Sea - (Picture: from Connelly/Krakow: Schnellboot in Action)

In the night 23./ 24.07.1944 the boats of the 7. SFltl escorted a convoy. When the S-boats pushed away attacking British MTBs, the MTBs fired torpedoes on the German S-boats. In avoiding the torpedoes "S 155" rammed "S 154". During a gun battle "MTB 372" took hits, explosions and smoke development were to be observed. The boat was later sunk by British fighterbombers. In the early morning the six boats, among them also "S 58" of the 3. SFltl, which had joined them, returned to Split. "S 154" had to be declared out of action (aKB).

On 26.07.1944 "S 151" (Lt.z.S. Pankow) escorting the small motorship "Vega" was damaged severely in a gun-fight with British units, the escorted ship "Vega" was lost. "S 151" got hits on the bridge in the hull and in the engine room. Five men were killed an five men were wounded. 

On 09.08.1944 was the pair "S 623" and "S 626" attacked by three fighterbombers. Both boats were hit several times. On "S 623" MatrObGefr. Schmidt, MatrObGefr. Buchholz, and MaschObGefr. Parusel were killed, one man was severely and five men were light wounded, FunkObGefr. Groß died from his wounds after an operation in the hospital, on "S 626" two men were severely and six men slightly wounded, on "S 623" one man was severly and five men were lightly wounded. Furthermore two Flak-Officers were wounded who were riding the boat for a trip to Venice.

In the evening of the 11.08.1944 "S 621", "S 627", and "S 628" went aground when entering Sibenik by a navigational error and were damaged so heavily that they were not combat ready for more than two months.  

On 19.08.1944 the 3. SFltl run into a gun battle with three British MGBs at the southcoast of the island Peljesac. In the course of it "S 57" (Oblt.z.S. Buschmann) was so heavily damaged that it had to be blown up. ObFhnr.z.S. Fritz Hundt und MaschMt. Josef Gunkel were killed in action and nine men were wounded. On "S 30" one man fell and on both "S 58" and "S 69" was one man wounded. 

"S 151" at Venice - (Picture: Archives Heinz Kloetzke)

On 01.09.1944 took Kptlt. Müller, A. command of the 3. SFltl. On 13.10.1944 the 3. and the 7. SFltl were merged, the two commanders Kptlt. Müller, A. and Kptlt. Trummer were transferred.

Of the previous 3. SFltl became the 1. Gruppe (group) of the 3. SFltl (Oblt.z.S. Backhaus) 

Oblt.z.S. Heinz Haag, previously CO "S 60", was transferred to the S-School-Division. He was awarded as 5. CO of the 3. SFltl the knight's cross (Ritterkreuz) on the 21.11.1944.

Of the previous 7. SFltl became the 2. Gruppe of the 3. SFltl (Oblt.z.S. Hans-Georg Buschmann)

The 24. SFltl (Oblt.z.S.d.Res. Hermann Bollenhagen) consisted of the following boats:

From 01. until 12. 09.1944 the British 14. Destroyerflotilla with destroyers "Undine", Urchin", "Loyal", and "Kimberley" as well as gunboats " Aphis" and "Scarab" some times taken German positions uin the area around Rimini under fire.

Am 11.09.1944 fuhren "S 152", "S 154" und "S 158" Sicherung für das beschädigte "S 155" und dann für ein deutsches Geleit. Dabei brachten sie ein Ruderboot auf und nahmen vier britische Soldaten und vier Partisanen eines Kommandotrupps gefangen. "S 155" war zuvor nach Pola entlassen worden.

Nach mehrtägigen Verzögerungen wegen schlechten Wetters brachten "S 623", "S 626" und "S 629" in der Nacht zum 15.09.1944 unter dem Decknamen "Holzschuh I" Radartäuschkörper aus. Zwei weitere Einsätze dieser Art wurden am 27. und am 30.09.1944 durchgeführt. Ansonsten wurden die S-Boote mit Fahren von Geleiten, mit Transportaufgaben und Landzielbeschuss eingesetzt.

Im Oktober 1944 fuhr die 1. Gruppe der 3. SFltl zwei Einsätze gegen Schiffsverkehr vor Ancona, ohne Ziele zu sichten. Ein Offensivunternehmen mit sieben S-Booten, dem Torpedoboot "TA 40" und den U-Jägern "UJ 202" und "UJ 208" am 10. /11.10.1944 gegen die Hafenanlagen

Inspection by F.d.S. at Venice - (Picture: Archives Heinz Kloetzke)

"S 33" at Venice 1944 - Picture: Archives Thomas Bethke

Seamen from "S 33" on leave at Venice 1944 - Picture: Archives Thomas Bethke

 "S 33" at Monfalcone 1944 - Picture: Archives Thomas Bethke

In October 1944 the 1. Group of the 3. SFltl undertook two sorties against shipping off Ancona, without sighting of targets. 

The offensive action "Dacapo" with two groups (1. Gruppe "UJ 202", "UJ 208", "S 623", "S 626", "S 628" und "S 629", 2. Gruppe "TA 40", "S 30", "S 58" und "S 61") on 10. /11.10.1944 against the island Molat occupied by partisans, the docks of Zapuntello and the radio- and signalstation Punta Banastra were carried out as planned. The equipment was destroyed, the torpedoes fired into the harbour did not detonate besides of one. The 1. Group destroyed a newly built cementpier in the Bight of  Punta Luccina. "S 626" got a 4-cm-hit in its forecastle under the waterline off Zapuntella which caused the foreship to be flooded. After "S 629" towed the boat first, "UJ 202" took over and towed first on a long hawser and finally alongside. was tugged in by "UJ 202". "S 623", "S 626" und "S 629" escorted the towing unit. All boats entered Pola in the morning.

On 18.10.1944 the 24. SFltl was ordered with "S 626", "MS 75" and "S 629" to launch two explosive boats (Linsen) each with a driver and two swimmers off Arcona.  Search lights operated ashore went over the boats without detecting them and also enemy S-boats between them and the coast did not detect them in the bad weather. "S 626" and "MS 75" launched the Linsen undiscovered and the boats returned to Pola in the night.

On 20.10.1944 the order to transfer three boats to Sibenik in order to bring a naval commando unit (Marineeinsatzkommando = MEK) to Lissa was postponed because the equipment had not arrived. When the equipment arrived prevented bad weather the operation. Also a furhter sortie of a MEK againsts a pipeline and a bridge at Fano on 23.10.1944 was cancelled because of the weather. On 25.10.1944 the boats transited to Grado, "S 630" transited to Venice. 

An order of the 20.10.1944, to transfer three boats to Sibenik in order to transport MEK-units to operations at Lissa had to be cancelled due to the fact that the equipment had not arrived.

On 21.10.1944 wind an seastate forced the three boats with embarked MEK-personnel to turn around. Also on the 23.10.1944 a MEK-operation against a pipeline, a railway- and streetbridge at Fano went wrong. 

Am 25.10.1944 the previous 3. SFltl was renamed 1. Schnellboot-Division (1. S-Div). The previous 24. SFltl was substituted to it. 

The same day "S 626", "S 629", and "MS 75" transitted to Grado, "MS 75" sailed on to Venice. 

The same dayx the 2. Group of the 3. SFltl lost "S 158" in an air-attack by Mosquito-bombers against Sibenik. Two men were killed , one man and the CO, StObStrm. Hertwig were seriously and four men lightly wounded. "S 156" was so badly damaged that it had to be reported not combat ready (aKB).