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Torpedo-S-Boat P- 6 (Projekt 183)
Since the developments for a Torpedo-S-Boat in the GDR did not show the required results the GDR had already accepted an offer of the SU in 1955 to deliver TS-Boats of Type P-6.
The delivery of 27 boats for the build up of a TS-Brigade with three department with nine boats each was the outset of the S-boat-forces of the GDR. The first six boats arrived at Parow on 08.10.1957, followed by three other boats on 19.10.1957.
Drawing from Mehl/Schäfer: Die andere deutsche Marine
Technical Data
| Shipyards | UdSSR | |||||
| Units built | 27 for GDR, totally about 320 | |||||
| From/to | 1956 - 1957 | |||||
| In Commission | 1957 - 1970 | |||||
| Displacement | 67 t | |||||
| Length | 25,4 m | |||||
| Beam | 6,2 m | |||||
| Draught | 1,25 m | |||||
| Propulsion | 4 x M 50 F-3 12-cyl. Diesel each 1190 HP | |||||
| Shafts/Propellers | 4 - 4 | |||||
| Speed | 42 kts | |||||
| Complement | 15 (2 Officers, 2 Petty Officers, 11 Ratings | |||||
| Armament |
|
Boats of the Type P- 6 in Formation - Picture: Archives Dieter Flohr
Boat 816 at High Speed - Picture: Archives Hans Mehl
Boat of Type P 6 at a Fleet Parade - Picture: Archives Hans Mehl
Boat of the Type "P 6" at Full Speed - Picture: Archives Dieter Flohr
Specials:
The boat was constructed in dependence to the American Elco-boats. The hull was built in double-diagonal kraweel (Sibirian spruce, it had an open command bridge for the CO and the Chief Engineer. The torpedoes were steam-gas propelled with a range of 10.000 m at 34 knots. Hydraulic targetting device for the twin mounted guns. Radarsuite "Sarnitza" later "Reja" with identification Friend-Foe "Nichrom".
TS 843 still with "Sarnitza"-Radar - Picture: Archives Förderverein
TS 864 with the new "Reja"-Radar - Picture: Archives Förderverein
Fake Attack off Rügen - Picture: Archives Förderverein
After decommissioning three boats were sold to Tansania, three boats were used in the border service without torpedo tubes, three boats were reconstructed as targetboats and two as rescueboats. Some hulls were left to the fishery production co-operatives (Fischerei Produktions Genossenschaften - FPG) for the breading of trouts.
Colours on Boats of Type "P 6" - Picture: Archives Hans Mehl
One wreck of a P 6-boat is still easy to visible off the harbour of the ex FPG Dranske. In total there shall have been sunk 13 boats as protection against silting. 15 boats (including "Willi Bänsch") were broken up without follow-on use.
Wreck of a Boat of Type "P- 6" in the Bight of Dranske/Rügen - Picture: Joachim Kretschmer
Three boats of Project 183 were reconstructed in spring 1969 for the 5part TV-movie "Rottenknechte". While they stayed P 6 inside the outside was composed to look like Worl War II S-Boats.
Two reconstructed P 6-Boats for the TV-Movie "Rottenknechte" - Picture: Archives Förderverein
Whereabouts of the Boats of Projekt 183
| Boat-No. | Name | Comm. | Decomm. | Last Hull-Number | Whereabouts |
| 183/1 | Julius Adler | 08.10.57 | 31.05.68 | 821 | Schoolboat S-21, broken up |
| 183/2 | Edgar André | 08.10.57 | 01.11.67 | 822 | Rekonstr. Z-Boat Z-83, 1971 broken up |
| 183/3 | Rudolf Breitscheid | 08.10.57 | 14.10.68 | 823 | Rekonstr. Rescue- Boat R-71, broken up |
| 183/4 | Rudi Arndt | 08.10.57 | 01.11.67 | 824 | broken up |
| 183/5 | Herbert Balzer | 08.10.57 | 01.11.67 | 825 | boken up |
| 183/6 | Willi Bänsch | 08.10.57 | 14.10.68 | 844 | Sunken 31.08.68 |
| 183/7 | Bernhard Bästlein | 19.10.57 | 01.11.67 | 827 | broken up |
| 183/8 | Arthur Becker | 19.10.57 | 01.11.67 | 828 | Sold to Tansania |
| 183/9 | Fritz Behn | 19.10.57 | 14.10.68 | 829 | Rekonstr. Z-Boat Z-84, 1971 broken upn |
| 183/10 | Hans Beimler | 30.10.58 | 01.11.67 | 862 | Rekonstr.Border-Boat GB-81, broken up |
| 183/11 | Hans Coppi | 30.10.58 | 01.11.67 | 863 | Sold to Tansania |
| 183/12 | Hanno Günther | 30.10.58 | 14.10.68 | 846 | Rekonstr. Border-Boat GB-82, broken up |
| 183/13 | Fritz Heckert | 30.10.58 | 01.11.67 | 866 | Sold to Tansania |
| 183/14 | Adam Kuckhoff | 30.10.57 | 14.10.68 | 845 | broken up |
| 183/15 | Arvid Harnack | 07.09.60 | 04.08.70 | 821 | broken up |
| 183/16 | Bruno Kühn | 07.09.60 | 04.08.70 | 822 | broken up |
| 183/17 | Erich Kuttner | 07.09.60 | 16.10.69 | 924 | Reconstr. Rescue-Boat R-72, broken up |
| 183/18 | Heinz Kapelle | 07.09.60 | 12.10.70 | 823 | broken up |
| 183/19 | Fritz Lesch | 07.09.60 | 10.10.69 | 825 | Rekonstr. Trials-Boat V-41, broken up |
| 183/20 | Wilhelm Leuschner | 07.09.60 | 21.10.70 | 824 | broken up |
| 183/21 | Fritz Riedel | 07.09.60 | 21.10.70 | 825 | broken up |
| 183/22 | Josef Römer | 07.09.60 | 10.10.69 | 829 | broken up |
| 183/23 | Max Roscher | 07.09.60 | 14.10.68 | 843 | Rekonstr. Border-Boat GB-83, broken up |
| 183/24 | Fiete Schulze | 07.09.60 | 31.07.69 | 863 | ex Willi Sachse, broken up |
| 183/25 | Anton Saefkow | 07.09.60 | 05.09.70 | 826 | broken up |
| 183/26 | Ernst Schneller | 07.09.60 | 20.01.69 | 864 | broken up |
| 183/27 | Wolfgang Thiess | 07.09.60 | 31.07.69 | 866 | broken up |