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German trawler V 606 Fladengrund

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History
NameFladengrund
NamesakeFladengrund
Owner
  • Norddeutsche Hochseefischerei (1923–39)
  • Kriegsmarine (1939–44)
Port of registry
BuilderG. Seebeck AG, Wesermünde
Yard number418
LaunchedMay 1923
CompletedJune 1923
Commissioned22 September 1939
Out of service26 April 1944
Identification
  • Fishing boat registration PG 340 (1923–39)
  • Code Letters KRBT (1924–34)
  • Code Letters DEZH (1934–44)
  • Pennant Number V 708 (1939–44)
  • Pennant Number V 606 (1944)
FateBombed and sunk
General characteristics
Type
Tonnage258 GRT, 98 NRT
Length40.13 m (131 ft 8 in)
Beam7.09 metres (23 ft 3 in)
Depth3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine, 53nhp
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Speed10 knots (19 km/h)
Armament1 x 88mm cannon, various 20mm guns

Fladengrund was a German fishing trawler which was built in 1923. She was requisitoned by the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. She was used as a Vorpostenboot. She was sunk by a British aerial attack in April 1944.

Description

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The ship 40.13 m (131 ft 8 in) long, with a beam of 7.09 metres (23 ft 3 in). She had a depth of 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in). She was assessed at 258 GRT, 98 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 32 centimetres (12+58 in), 52 centimetres (20+12 in) and 84 centimetres (33+116 in) diameter by 60 centimetres (23+58 in) stroke. The engine was built by G. Seebeck AG., Wesermünde, Germany. It was rated at 53 nhp. It drove a single screw propeller.[1] It could propel the ship at 10 knots (19 km/h).[2]

History

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Fladengrund was built as yard number 418 by G. Seebeck AG., Wesermünde, Germany.[2] She was launched in May 1923 and completed in June. Owned by the Norddeutsche Hochseefischerei,[2] her port of registry was Wesermünde. She was allocated the Code Letters KRBT,[1] and the fishing boat registration PG 340.[3] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DEZH.[4]

On 22 September 1939, Fladengrund was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine. Designated as a vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 7 Vorpostenflotille as V 708 Fladengrund.[3] She was armed with an 88mm cannon and a number of 20mm guns.[5] On 8 February 1944, she was reallocated to 6 Vorpostenflotille as V 606 Fladengrund.[3] On 26 April 1944, Fladengrund was bombed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay west of Saint-Nazaire, Loire-Inférieure and south of Belle Île, Finistère, France (47°06′N 2°58′W / 47.100°N 2.967°W / 47.100; -2.967) in an attack by a Royal Air Force Handley Page Halifax aircraft with the loss of 21 of her 38 crew. Survivors were rescued by V 603 Carsten.[3][5][6]

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Video of a dive on the wreck of Fladengrund in 2017

References

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  1. ^ a b "Fladengrund (57613)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. FIL-FLE (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930–1931. Retrieved 11 March 2024 – via Southampton City Council.
  2. ^ a b c Gröner 1993, p. 204.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1993, p. 210.
  4. ^ "Fladengrund (59790)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. FIU-FLE (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 11 March 2024 – via Southampton City Council.
  5. ^ a b "Le V606" (in French). Plongée Anges. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  6. ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1944, April". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 11 March 2024.

Sources

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  • Gröner, Erich (1993). Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945 (in German). Vol. 8/I: Flußfahrzeuge, Ujäger, Vorpostenboote, Hilfsminensucher, Küstenschutzverbände (Teil 1). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-4807-5.