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S-Boats in the Kriegsmarine 1935 - 1945

Whereabouts of the S-Boats

Sales to Spain

12 S-Boats

The German Reich (Deutsches Reich) sold S 1 through S 6 in 1936 and six boats of type S 38 in 1943 to Spain.

Boat   Date   Whereabouts
S 1 10.12.1936 "Badajoz", since 1939 LT 15, decommissioned 1940
S 2 10.12.1936 "Falange", burnt up (LT 13)
S 3 10.12.1936 total damage during unloading
S 4 10.12.1936 "Requete", since 1939 LT 11, decommissioned 1946
S 5 10.12.1936 "Oviedo", since 1939 LT 12, decommissioned 1946
S 6 10.12.1936 "Toledo", Since 1939 LT 14, decommissioned 1942
S 73 16.08.1943 LT 21, decommissioned 19.06.1956 
S 78 16.08.1943 LT 22, decommissioned 19.06.1956
S 124 28.08.1943 LT 23, decommissioned 19.06.1956
S 125 28.08.1943 LT 24, decommissioned 18.06.1955
S 126 28.08.1943 LT 25, decommissioned 18.06.1955
S 134 28.08.1943 LT 26, decommissioned 23.11.1957

The Spanish Navy employed its S- boats under the label Lanchas Torpederas (Torpedo-S-Boats).

 

Sales to Bulgaria and Rumenia

Boat "S 1" (II) was decommissioned in march 1940 and given to Bulgaria in 1941. It became Sowjet warloot on 08.09.1944 and was commissioned as "ZK 958" on 20.11.1944. On  19.04.1945 the Sovjet Union gave the boat back to Bulgaria.

Bulgarian S-boat "S 1 (II) - Picture: Lürssen

The two boats finished by Gusto N.V., Schiedam, according to English Power Boat plans (Type PV) in steelconstruction with 3 x 1000 PS Rolls-Royce-Merlin gasoline-motors "TM 52" and "TM 53" (Displacement = 30,8 t  at a length of 21,40 m, a beam of 6,05 m and a draft of 1,14 m) were conquered by the Kriegsmarine when Germany occupied the Netherlands and commissioned by Kriegsmarine as "S 201" (I) and "S 202" (I) and testet. The armament was reconfigured following German ideas with 1 x 37 mm and 2 x 20 mm guns. Thus and by the steelconstruction they achieved contrary to the prototype only 37 - 38 knots. Since they were gliders their seastate behavior was not as desired. They were handed over to Bulgaria in 1942. Five more of this type being finished by Gusto N.V. under German control were handed over to Bulgaria, one boat, and Rumania, four boats. The transportation was accomplished the same way as for the boats of the 1. SFltl via Elbe - Autobahn Dresden-Ingolstadt - Danube. 

The numbers "S 201" and "S 202" were reused for new boats built by Lürssen in 1944.

"S 201" (I)  (ex "TM 52") at Rotterdam - Picture from Hümmelchen: Die Deutschen Schnellboote im Zweiten Weltkrieg

 

Die bei Kriegsende verbliebenen Schnellboote der Kriegsmarine aus Nord- und Ostsee wurden in Wilhelmshaven zusammengezogen und dort an die drei Siegermächte verteilt. Nur die Boote "S 195", "S 302" und "S 303" blieben in Bergen/Norwegen und wurden den USA zugeteilt und als "E 3", "E 1" und "E 2"den USA an Norwegen verkauft. Das havarierte "S 90" blieb in der Werft in Stavanger und wurde 1947 abgebrochen

The Kriegsmarine S-Boats remaining in the Northsea and the Baltic were concentrated at Wilhelmshaven after the end of war to be distributed between the three Allied winners. However, boats  "S 195", "S 302", and "S 303" were left at Bergen/Norwegen and were handed over to the USA and sold to Norway as "E 3", "E 1", and "E 2". The avaraged "S 90" stayed at the shipyard at Stavanger and was broken up in 1947.

S-Boats, Destroyers, and Torpedoboats at Wiesbadenbrücke Fall 1945 - Picture: Archives B. Schindler

Members of the CWAW-Pipe-Band between S-Boats at Wiesbadenbrücke on 04.10.45 - Picture: Archives B. Schindler

 

Warloot of the Sovjetunion (1945)

30 S-Boats

Boat Whereabouts
S 11 TK 1002
S 16 TK 1003
 S 24 TK 1004
S 50 TK 1005
S 65 TK 1006
S 81 TK 1001
S 82 TK 1008
S 86 TK 1009
S 99 TK 1010
S 101 TK 1011
S 109 TK 1012
S 110 TK 1013
S 113 TK 1014
S 118 TK 1015
S 123 TK 1016
S 132 TK 1017
S 135 TK 1018
S 175 TK 1019
S 204 TK 1020
S 209 TK 1021
S 211 TK 1022
S 214 TK 1023
S 219 TK 1024
S 222 TK 1025
S 227 TK 1026
S 704 TK 1037
S 707 TK 1027
S 708 TK 1029
S 709 TK 1030
Trialsboat "Hans Henning" TK 1007
LS 12 undeterminded
all boats listed above were decommissioned until 1957
KM 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 19, 29, TS 6 = whereabout undetermined

Russia also got from Italy the boat "MS 75" having been operated by the Kriegsmarine as "S 630". 

Boat "S 170" is stated in some sources as a war-loot of Russia under the indication as trialsboat "Hans Henning", however, in the KTB of SKL (war-diary of the war-at-sea-high-command) she was reprted as missing from the 3rd May 1945 together with "S 226". She was probably attacked by RAF SQN 193 north of Fehmarn on 04.05.1945 and sank 2 nm southwest of Kelds Nor L/H (Langeland /DK). Also "S 22" is stated as Russian war-loot, however, it sank at Wilhelmshaven in early April 1945 after it had been damaged by the last big bomb-attack on the city on 30.03.1945.

 

Warloot of Great Britain (1945)

31 S-Boats

Boat Whereabouts
S 7 02.05.1946 sunk by HMS Cotillion in position 58o09’N 010o50‘E
S 8 sold for breaking up
S 13 sold for breaking up
S 19 used up as targetship by the Royal Navyt
S 20 sold for breaking up
S 25 sold for breaking up
S 62 sold for breaking up
S 67 sold as "Torüs", then Italian Navy as MV 621, MS 485, MC 485, 1966 decommissioned 
S 69 sold for breaking up
S 83 1946 to GM/SA in Cuxhaven
S 89 1946 stranded at the northern coast of Cornwall and destroyed
The History of the averaged 

S 92 sold for breaking up
S 95 sold for breaking up
S 105 sold for breaking up
S 115 1946 sold to Denmark as spare-part-stock
S 120 sold for breaking up
S 130 FPB 5130 in RN, BBFPS, 1957 to MUWS as "UW 10", "W 49", trialsboat EF 3, laid up in WHV, sold to British Military Powerboat Trust, Southampton, today at: Roving Commissions, England, for restoration. 
S 168 sold for breaking up
S 196 1946 sold to Norway as spare-part-stock, 1962 broken up
S 205 sold for breaking up
S 208  FPB 5208 in RN, BBFPS, 1957 to MUWS as "UW 11", "W 50", 1964 decommissioned, until 1967 targetship
S 212  MTB 5212, later FPB 5212 in RN, 1957 broken up
S 213 sold for breaking up 
S 217 sold for breaking up
S 221 sold for breaking up
S 228 1946 canibalized, broken up
S 304 sold for breaking up
S 307 sold for breaking up
S 705 sold for breaking up
VS 6 broken up

"S 204" (war-loot of UdSSR) and "S 205" coming from Rotterdam entered on 13.05.1945 (5 days after teh capitulation) Felexstowe with KAdm Breuning, Korv.Kpt Fimmen and Kaptlt. Rebensburg embarked. This is often in British publications talked of as the surrender of the boats in Felixstowe. However, the surrender of the boats took place in Rotterdam on 08.05.1945.

   

S 204 entering Felixstowe 13.05.1945 - Pictuer: Archives Roderick Timms
S 204 crew lined up on 13.05.1945 - Picture: Arch
S 205 under the White Ensign - Picture: Archives Roderick Timms   S 204 and S 205 in Felixstowe harbour - Picture: Archives Roderick Timms
These two boats have surrendered to the British in Rotterdam (Boats entering Portsmouth, the boat at the dock is from the 9. SFltlt the other boat is from the 6. SFltl) - Picture: Schenk
Ex-S 212 under British Flag as P 5212 - Picture: Schenk 
"S69" and another boat beached at Brightlingsea, Essex, for disposal - Picture: Freddie Armes Collection in Brightlingsea Museum

Reconstruction of Boat "S 67" in Italia

The Italian Navy in 1951 bought from private boat "Torüs" (ex "S 67") and commissioned it on 01.02.1952 as "MV 621". On 01.11.1952 she was redesignated "MS 621" and modernized at Navy Arsenal La Spezia, i.e. she was fitted with Radar, mgyrokompas, HF-, VHF- and UHF-antennas as wll as two 40mm-guns without protectors. The 20 mm-gun on the forecastle was removed but the round lid was maintained. Also the bow-torpedotubes were maintained. 

Reconstruction of "S 67" to "MS 621" - Picture from Fock Vol. 3

Because of the addition al weights the boat now displaced 135,39 ts instead of the original 115 ts, which caused the maximum speed to be reduced to 32 knots, since the propulsion was still performed by three MB 511.

"MS 485" of the Italian Navy (ex "S 67", ex "Torüs") - Picture from Storia Militare Briefing Nr. 18

 

Warloot of the USA (1945)

33 S-Boats

Boat Whereabouts
S 9 1946 sunken in the Northsea
S 10 1947 sold to Norway as spare-part-stock, 1950 broken up
S 12 1946 sunken in the Northsea
S 15 1947 sold to Denmark. commisioned with danish Ptnr. T 15 (Flyvefisken) as laid-up boat under the School Command until 1949. Then declared as spare-part-stock, sold to Petersen & Albeck i 1951 and broken up 1952
S 21 1947 sold to Norway as spare-part-stock, 1950 broken up
S 48 1947 sold to Norway as spare-part-stock, 1954 broken up
S 64 1947 sold to Norway as "Lyn", 1951 sold to Denmark as "Stormfuglen" - P 562 until 1962, 1965 broken up
S 68 1947 sold to Denmark as T 62, from 1951 "Viben" - P 568 until 1965, 1966 broken up
S 76 1947 sold to Norway as spare-part-stock, cannibalized 1950; used as target until the 70ties, boken up
S 79 1947 sold to Denmark as T 58, from 1951 "Musvaagen" - P 558 until 1954, 1955 broken up
S 85 1947 sold to Norway as "Storm", 1951 sold to Denmark as "Tranen" - P 564, 1963 sunken off Stavanger after collision, lifted and presumedly broken up
S 97 1947 sold to Denmark as T 60, from 1951 "Ravnen" - P 560 until 1962, 1963 sold to Windway Marine Service, Cardiff, 2004 broken up, see BMPT)
 S 98 1947 sold to Norway as "Kvikk", during winter 1948/49 in Horten broken loose and stranded on Østøya and destroyed, 1950 deleted from the list of the Nowegian Navy
Wreckexamination

S 107 1947 sold to Denmark as T 52, from 1951 "Gribben" - P 560 until 1959, 1960 sold for breaking up 
S 117 1947 sold to Norway as "Tross", 1951 sold to Denmark as "Hejren" - P 566 until 1956, 1965 broken up
S 122 1947 sold to Denmark, supposed name T 64, but only used as spare-part-stock, 1952 broken up
S 127 1947 sold to Denmark as T 56, from 1951 "Isfuglen" - P 556 until 1954, 1955 broken up
S 133 1947 sold to Denmark as T 54, from 1951 "Hærfuglen" - P 554 until 1954, 1955 broken up
S 174 1947sold to Norway as "Rap", 1950 broken up
S 195 1947 sold to Norway as E 3, from 1948 "Kjekk", 1951 sold to Denmark as "Lommen" - P 567 until 1961, 1965 sold to  Baron v. Waynaghy, laid up at Kiel, 1973 broken up
S 197  1947 sold to Denmark as T 59, efter ramming with British MTB 5518 on 26.02.1951 sunken in the Northsea. After lifting repared by Lürssen and rebuilt with a flaring bow, from 1951 "Raagen" - P 559 until 1957, sold to shipping-company Sundfarten. The dismantled hull was filled with sand in 1959 at Humlebæk/Øresund and was to serve as a breakwater. However, the boat sank and the remains are still to find in the deeper water outside the harbour. Compare also with Kan Nolsøe Bang: "Flådens Ulve" (The Woolfs of the Fleet)
Sinking of T 59 on 26.02.1951

S 206 1947 sold to Denmark as T 55, from 1951 "Høgen" - P 555, 1957 sunken after collision i the Great Belt, liftet and sold for breaking up
S 207  1948 sold to Denmark as "T 61", later " Skaden" - P 561, 1960 broken up
S 210 1947 sold to Norway as "Snar", during winter 1948/49 at Horten broken loose and stranded on Østøya and destroyed, 1950 deleted from the list of the Nowegian Navy
Wreckexamination

S 216 1947 sold to Denmark as T 53, from 1951 "Havørnen" - P 553. Stranded in December 1953 off Great Yarmouth, recovered and repaired at Copenhagen. 1957 sold to shipping-company Sundfarten, 1958 broken up
Stranding on 03.12.1953

S 218 Brought to USA as testvehicle, registered as small vessel      C-105180, sold to private owner
Article by Chip Marshall

S 225 Brought to USA as testvehicle
Article by Chip Marshall

S 302 1947 sold to Norway as E 1, 1946 "Blink", 1951 sold to Denmark as "Falken" - P 565 until 1961 , 1965 sold to Baron v. Waynaghy, laid up at Kiel, 1973 broken up
S 303 1947 sold to Norway as E 2, 1946 "Brand", 1951 sold to Denmark as "Taarnfalken" - P 563 until 1957, sold to shipping-company Sundfarten, 1958 broken up
S 305 1947 sold to Denmark as T 57, from 1951 "Jagtfalken" - P 557 until 1962, 1968 without superstructures at Hundlested
S 306 1947 sold to Denmark as T 51, from 1951 "Glenten" - P 551 until 1961, 1961 broken up
S 701 1951 sold to private, "Mijn Vrijbuiter"
S 706 Brought to USA as testvehicle
Article by Chip Marshall

S-Boats of the US-Warloot in the Tirpitz-Locks Fall 1945 - Picture: Archives Erling Skjold

 

 

The boats sold to Denmark and Norway via OMGUS sailed partly in the Royal Danish Navy until 1965, first as T-Boats (1947 bis 1951) from 1951 onwards as Glenten-Class.

Ex German S-boats after arrival in Copenhagen - Picture: From R. Steensen "Vore Torpedobaade i 75 aar"
T 52 (ex S 107), from 1951 "Gribben" - P 552 - Picture: From R. Steensen "Vore Torpedobaade i 75 aar"
T 53 (ex S 117), from 1951 "Havørnen" - P 556 - Picture: L. Alring, Kongelig Dansk Marine
"Glenten" - P 551 (ex S 306) - Picture: Flemming Barsdorf (Archives Orlogsmuseum Copenhagen)
"Havørnen" - P 553 (ex S 216) - Picture: N.C. Pihl (Forsvarsmuseum Rønne)
"Høgen" - P 555 (ex S 206, ex T 55) - Picture: Wright and Logan
"Isfuglen" - P 556 (ex S 127, ex T 56) - Picture: Søren Laub (Archives Orlogsmuseum Copenhagen)
"Ravnen" - P 560 (ex S 97) - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"Skaden" - P 561 (ex S 207, ex T 61) - Picture: Archives Orlogsmuseum Copenhagen
"Stormfuglen" - P 562 (ex S 64, ex "Lyn") - Picture: Archives Orlogmuseum Copenhagen
"Hejren" - P 566 (ex S 117, ex T 53) Picture: Archives Förderverein Museums-Schnellboot
"Lommen" - P 567 (ex S 195, ex "Kjekk") - Picture: Archives Orlogmuseum Copenhagen
"S 706" in Washington US Navy Yard, Washington, DC - Picture: US National Archives, College Park, Maryland, USA
"S 225" in Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York - Picture: US National Archives, College Park, Maryland, USA
"S 216" with USN-Crew on the river Rhine - Picture: US National Archives, College Park, Maryland, USA
"UW 10" (ex S 130) and "UW 11" (ex S 208) in Navalbase Flensburg-Mürwik - Picture: Unknown
"W 49" (ex UW 10, ex S 130) at MUWS, later reconstructed as EF 3 (Y 840), today at Wheatcroft Collection, UK - Picture: Unknown
"W 50" (ex S 208, ex UW 11) at MUWS, later used up as targetboat - Picture: Unknown

Good pictures of the boats of "Glenten"-class (ex-KM-boats ofclass S 100) are to be found in teh movie "Sømand i Knibe" and at Youtube under the following Link:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=sVnMGsuyTv8

The Danish Navy (Søværnet) was adverticing with a boat of "Glenten"-class to join as an officer-candidate.

A fresh life - a future - become Naval-Officer

 

 

Delivery from Pola to Ancona on 03.05.1945

The whereabouts of S 30, S 36, S 61, S 151, S 155, S 156 are undetermined. From newspaperreports from La Valetta/Malta of the year 1947 it follows that the boats were towed to La Valetta and sunken there by the British. For boats S 61 (mermaid) and S 156 (lettercode "K") and the boat with the lettercode "D" (S 152 or S 155) it is proven by the pictures below from La Valetta.

S 30, S 36, S 61, S 151, S 152, S 155, S 156 in Ancona - Picture from : Dallies Labourdette "Deutsche Schnellboote"
S 156 in La Valetta/Malta Harbour, in the background boat with code "D" - Picture: Archives Ashley Gowing
S 61 in La Valetta/Malta Harbour - Picture: Archives Ashley Gowing
S 61 in La Valetta/Malta Harbour - Picture: Archives Ashley Gowing
S 61 being towed by MTB 670 in La Valetta/Malta Harbour - Picture: Archives Ashley Gowing
Times of Malta, 13th August 1947, Page 7 - Archives: Kevin Aquilina
Times of Malta, 13th August 1947, Page 12 - Archives: Kevin Aquilina

According to Kevin Aquilina, Malta, the boats S 30, S 36, S 61, S 151, S 152, S 155 und S 156 scuttled after the war are laying on a field of debries at a depth of about 40 m close Delimara lighthouse.  

 

 

 

 

Avaraged Boat "S 90"

 Das zur 1. S-Schul-Flottille gehörende Boot "S 90" (Lt.z.S. d.R. Gärbers) belonging to the 1. S-School-Flotilla run aground during the night to 17.02.1945 at a speed of 24 knots on the little island Hånesholmen near Bru north of Stavanger. She was salvaged and towed to Rosenberg-shipyard at Stavanger. There she was laying until the ende of war and broken up in 1947.

The avaraged "S 90" on 17. February 1945 - Picture: Archives Johan Aakre

Averaged Boats "S 116" and "S 304"

" S 116"  from the 3. S-School-Fltl averaged early January 1945 in Elbe estuaries and was laying at the end of the war in Brunsbüttel. It was brought to the USA by the US Army on a merchantship, there measured out, tested, and dokumented by the USN and then sold to the Intelligence Community for use in Europe, modified in Miami, Florida, USA, ferried to Bremerhaven. It was intended to be used by the LSU/B similarly as the boats of the "Group Klose", but that never happened.  It then was laying up at Lürssen-Werft until the cannibalized hulk was taken over by the Damage Control Training Group (Lehrgruppe Schiffssicherung) in Neustadt/Holstein on 13.06.1957 as training hulk for fire- and damagecontrol courses. It burned up on 15.05.1965.

The two motors of type MB 501still available at the take-over were given to Deutsches Museum, Munic.

"S 304" rammed a wreck in front of the harbour mouth of Ijmuiden on 08.05.1945. The boat ripped open the rear underwatership, propellers and ruderequipment became unuseable. It was orininally towed to Den Helder, before it was going to Wilhelmshaven on 30.06.1945, where it was cannibalized and broken up as British warloot. 

Non-operational S 112

"S 112" had taken part in the coup de main of VAdm Hüffmeier on Granville am 07.02.1945 based on St. Peter Port/Guernsey and had returned to St. Peter Port after the action had been broken of. With only one engine ready it sailed to St. Lorient. The commanding officer (Lt.z.S. Nikkelowski) had a deadly accident in April. The weary boat stayed at St. Lorient and was sold by the French Navy on 27.06.1951 for breaking up.

Fast Anti-Submarine Group (Schnelle Ujagd-Gruppe) in Norway

At the end of war the old boats "S 10", "S 11", "S 13", "S 15" and "S 16" were stationed at Bergen/Norway as "Schnelle-Ujagd-Gruppe". She had been operated in coatal protection. With a inadvertantly topredofiring by "S 13" was the little passenger-steamship "Kommandøren" (543 BRT, built 1891), laid up in Bergen after a stranding, sunken.

While the other boats were delivered to the Allies "S 10" stayed in Norway and was broken up in 1950.

Wreck " S 144"

In February 1945 during examination of wrecks and wreckparts, which could hemper the lifting of a dock, which had sunk in the harbour bassin Maree on 14.06.1944 during a bomb attack against the harbour of Le Havre, by divers of the USN a S-boat was detected which was jammed between the northern end of the dock and the concrete harbour wall. The boat was salvaged and completed by parts of other wrecks in the harbour and made porvisionally ready for sea.  It was towed to the Small Boats Repair Base at Plymouth to be brought from there to the USA. It was believed to "S 169", one source assumes it to have been "S 138". The boat was the only of its kin that fell into the hands of the Allies before the end of the war. It was measured out, teted, and documented and since enough operational boats came into posession of the USN after the end of the war the Chief of Naval Operations granted permission to break up the boat on 26.12.1945. The execution of the breaking up was reported in Mai 1946.

 

 The salvaged "S 144" with coat of arms  9. SFltl at Le Havre - Picture: US National Archives, College Park, Maryland, USA

On the basis of the coat of arms on the above picture the boat could be identified as "S 144" by the Förderverein Museums-Schnellboot in June 2010. 

Unclarified Fate

The whereabouts of the boats which were at the Grado dockyard, S 621, S 626 und S 628 of the 24. S-Flotilla, are unclarified.

Whereabouts of the unfinished Boats

About the number of unfinished boats at the shipyards Friedrich Lürssen at Vegesack, Schlichting at Travemünde and Rasmussen at Gamle Hestehauge/Fyn there is no information to be found in the literature. 

From ENIGMA-signals decoded by the British it can be concluded that three attempts to tow seven newbuildings by S-boats on 12.04., 13.04., and 14.04.1945 were performed, which were broken off due to bad weather, whereby the newbuildt boat S 316 had to be scuttled in the German Bight on 15.04.1945. On 16.04.1945 obviously a successful attempt to tow six boats  which were packed with equipment to the Baltic was conducted. It is to be asssumed that they were towed to Rasmussen at Gamle Hestehauge in order to be fully equipped there. Five more unfinished boats were to be towed from Vegesack to the Baltic according to an attest of Prof. Ing. Schäfer. However, proven by decoded ENIGMA-signals only arrival of six boats at Brunsbüttel is confirmed. Lt.z.S. a.D. Kelm reports that unfinished boats were to be towed around the Skaw by S-boats. Literature  reports that thereof already seven boats sank in the Northsea.

Four unfinished boats, laying at Schlichting, were according to a statement of the son of the former yardowner towed to Pötenitzer Bucht, whether and at what time they were picked up by the Kriegsmarine is not to be determined. Possibly they became war loot of the approaching Soviet Army. 

But fact is that from Gamle Hestehauge eight boats were towed to the waters south of Fyn on the night 05./06.05.1945 by S-boats and that eight boats were sunk in the Lunkebugt. Thereof so far four boats in which no motors had been installed were located by Danish divers. Therefore, is must be assumed that they were Lürssen-newbuildings and no Schlichting-newbuildings, which already had been equipped with motors. 

 

Whereabouts of Loot-Boats

The whereabouts of the French loot-boats "SA 1" - "SA 7" after 1943 is uncertain. It can be assumed that they have been destroyed or have sunk during the war activities at the coast of the Channel.

 

Italian Loot-Boats

The whereabouts of several Italian loot-boats is uncertain. Many boats were use as sparepart depots and broken off. Of the boats commissioned by the Kriegsmarine the following boats have a uncertain fate:

Boat Whereabout
S 501 ex MAS 566, 10.10.43 transferred to the Romanian Navy
S 502 ex MAS 567, 20.08.43 transferred to the Romanian Navy
S 503 ex MAS 568, 20.08.43 transferred to the Romanian Navy
S 504 ex MAS 569, 20.08.43 transferred to the Romanian Navy
S 505 ex MAS 570, 1943 sunk in the Black Sea
S 506 ex MAS 574, 10.10.43 transferred to the Romainan Navy
S 507 ex MAS 575, sunk 27.05.43 in Feodosia after collision with wreck
S 508 ex MAS 525, sparepart depot, scuttled 24.04.45 off Genua, salvaged 1946, repaired, after 01.04.51 MEB 9
S 509 ex MAS 549, sunk 22.05.44 by bombhit at La Spezia
S 510 ex MAS 551, scuttled 24.05.45 at Imperia
S 511 ex MAS 522, sunk 04.12.43 by bombhit off Makronisos
S 512 ex MAS 553, after 25.01.45 sparepart depot, ??
S 513 ex MAS 554, perhaps SA 20 at 10. School-Flotilla, ??
S 601 ex MS 42, ex Velebit, 10.44 sunk by bombhit at Saloniki
S 602 ex MS 43, ex Dinara, 10.44 sunken by bombhit at Saloniki
S 603 ex MS 44, ex Triglav, 10.44 scuttled at Saloniki
S 604 ex MS 46, ex Rudnik, 10.44 scuttled at Saloniki
S 605 ex MS 41, ex Orjen, 28.09.44 sunk off Montone estuary in storm
S 621 03.05.1945 British war loot at Grado
S 622 14.05.1944 bombed at shipyard at Monfalcone
S 623 30.04.1945 scuttled off Pola
S 624 14.05.1944 bombed at shipyard at Monfalcone
S 625  1945 scuttled in the northern Adriatic Sea?
S 626 03.05.1945 British war loot at Grado
S 627 17.03.1945 bombed at shipyard at Monfalcone
S 628 03.05.1945 British war loot at Grado
S 629 ex MS 76, 30.04.1945 scuttled off Grado
S 630 ex MS 75, 03.05.1945 British war loot at Grado, 1945 returned to Italy, in service as MS 75, 06.07.1949 delivery to Russia

After the 09.09.1943 also the following boats came into German ownership, their commissioning and operation for the Kriegsmarine is however not proveable:

MAS 423, MAS 430, MAS 431, MAS 437, MAS 518, MAS 424, MAS 542, MAS 550, MS 32.

MAS 500 in the Mediterranean 1942 - Picture: Unknown serviceman
"S 626" (ex MAS-Boat) - Picture from Storia Militare  Briefing No. 18 

After the 09.09.1943 the folowing boats came into German posession and were turned ower to Republica Sociale Italiana, 10. MAS-Flotilla, Prince Borghese:

MAS 502, MAS 504, MAS 505, MAS 531, MAS 544, MAS 556, MAS 557, MAS 558, MAS 561, MAS 562, MS 16 (SA 1), MS 34 (SA 2).

 

Greek Loot-Boats

Durch the invasion of Greece in April 1941 the S-boats "T 1" and "T 2" fell into the hands of the Kriegsmarine. They were Thornycroft-55'-CMB (Coastal Motor Boat) with two Thornycroft 12 cylinder gasoline-engines with 375 PSe each and spiral propellers. They were armed with two stern-torpedotubes. Theboats were commissioned with the designators "SG 1" and "SG 2" (SG = S-boat Greece) and armed with one MG and 10 depth charges. Since 1943 the boats were operated by the Coastal Defence Flotilla (Küstenschutz-Flottille) Piraeus as "GA 08" and "GA 09". Both were sunk by bombs on 11.01.1944 at Piräus.

MTB of Type Thornycroft 55 Foot - Picture: Imperial War Museum

 

British Loot-Boats 

The British Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) and Motor Gun Boats (MGBs) were subordinate to the Coastal Forces in several flotillas. In  total seven MTBs rsp. MGBs were captured or brought in.

Thereof the following three boats were commissioned by  the Kriegsmarine:

"MTB 631" of type Fairmile D (Admirality design) was a lend-lease boat for the Norwegian Navy. She ran aground off Florø on 14.03.1943 and was given up. It belonged to the 30. MTB-Squadron, stationed at Lerwick and forcing their way into Norwegian waters some times for raids. The boats were manned with Norwegian officers, petty officers and ratings. Only the radio men were English. The crew evaquated to sister boats after destruction or taking away some but not all essential documents and equipment.

MTB 631 grounded off Florø 1943 - Picture: from WAr Diary Navy Supreme Command Norway
Towing off the rocks MTB 631 - Picture: Archives Urs Heßling
Towing MTB 631 alongside Traust - Picture: Archives Urs Heßling
MTB 631 on Slip at Florø - Picture: Archives Urs Heßling

On 18.03.1943 she was towed in to Bergen and brought back to sea as "S 631". She was assigned to Admiral Norwegian Westcoast. The whereabouts are uncertain.

MTB of Type Fairmile D - Picture: Imperial War Museum

"MGB 666" also of type Fairmile D was captured off Ijmuiden on 05.07.1944. On 08.07.1944 is was destroyed by a gasoline explosion.

"MTB 345" (Thornycroft experimental boat) was operated under Norwegian command from the Shetland Islands since March 1943 against the Norwegian coast. On 27.07.1943 she was captured after a fight with picket "V 5301 Seeteufel" off Ospa in Solund. The Crew (four Norwegians and one British) were shot by Gestapo. The boat came back to sea again in July 1943  as "SA 7" and burst to flames off the Shetland Islands in August 1943 and sank.

The following three boats were so badly damaged that they were not commissioned by the Kriegsmarine. Their whereabouts are uncertain:

"MTB 5" (BPB 60' - 25 t) was holed in a storm on 29.09.1940 and given up by her Norwegian crew in the Channel. It drifted ashore in the Seinebight.

MTB 5 of Type BPB 50 Foot - Picture: Imperial War Museum

"MTB 17" (BPB 60' - 22 t) was shot to a wreck on 21.10.1940 off Oostend by the German Navy Artillery and brought in on the 22.10.1940.

"MTB 335" (type Fairmile C) was shot to fire by the 2. SFltl during the night 10./11.09.1942 in the Northsea and brought in to Den Helder the 11.09.1942.

Q 326 of type Fairmile C leaving Lowestoft harbour - Picture: Imperial War Museum

MTB 314 (ex USS PT 56 = Typ ELCO 77'), which had been given over from USN to RN in February 1949, was captured by the Kriegsmarine heavily damaged off Toruk on 14.09.1942. She was repaired and commissioned as fast minesweeper "RA 10". She was sold to an English person  and got the name "Affitti e Prestitli".

Elco 77' PT-Boat of USN - Picture from Gorson L. Rottman: US Patrol Torpedo Boats

"RA 12" in the Shipyard at Palermo - Picture from Storia Militare No. 18

 

Russian Lootboats

Two Sovjet lootboats assigned to the 1. SFltl in 1942  (TKA-47 from the Baltic Sea and TKA-111 stranded and salvaged off Eupatrorija) of 17,8 t displacement (length: 19,1 m, beam: 3,3 m; draft: 1,2 m) armed with 2 x 53,3 cm torpedoes and 1 x 12,7mm-MG propelled by 2 GAM 34 BSF Gasoline-Enginges each of 800 - 850 PS were faster than 50 knots but had severe corrison-problems. The crew consisted of 6 to 8 men.

TKA-45 at high speed - Picture: Unknown

 

S-Boat-Types

 Armament

Organization Pictures
War Zones Bearers of Knights Cross Losses of S-Boots Whereabouts of the S-Boats