Andreas wrote:That leaves the light cruisers. At least with those you are right. Hipper you did not mention, but she was available (repairs finished 4 September).
Actually Andreas, she wasn't at least not in the real world.
In Fantasyland™ she may have been operational (after an unsuccessful Arctic cruise, 25 July-9 August, she put into Wilhelmshaven for maintenance, 12 August-9 September), but infortunately when she put to
sea for trials when the work was completed on 30 September 1940 she suffered a major engine casualty, which put her out of action until 28 October.
As for the rest, I've had some fun digging into the reality.
KA Availability circa 15-30 September 1940
Heavy Units = zero
Light Units
CL Emden – built in 1921 and considered obsolete, used only as a training ship, although she was also utilized as a troop transport for Weserübung. Armed with 8 15cm, 2 8.8cm, and 2 2cm guns, 4 torpedo tubes, and 120 mines.
CL Königsberg – sunk 10 April 1940.
CL Karlsruhe – sunk 9 April 1940
CL Köln – the sole survivor of the K-class, they were collectively considered to be of short endurance and structurally unsound. Armed with 9 15cm, 6 8.8cm, and 8 2cm guns, 12 torpedo tubes, and 120 mines.
CL Leipzig – damaged by torpedoes of HMS Salomon 15 December 1939 and out of commission until 1 December 1940.
CL Nürnberg – armed with 9 15cm, 8 8.8cm. 8 3.7cm, and 4 2cm guns, 12 torpedo tubes, and 120 mines.
Bremse (training ship) – armed with 4 12.7cm, 4 3.7cm, and 2 2cm guns.
Number Available = Four, except they weren't part of the escort force, they were to be a diversion in the North
Sea.
Destroyers and Torpedo Boats
Z1-Z3 – sunk
Z4 – Available
Z5 – Available
Z6 – Available
Z7 – 25 August 1940 puts into Kiel following major engine casualty. Unavailable.
Z8 – Available
Z9 – sunk.
Z10 – Available
Z11-Z13 – sunk
Z14 – Available
Z15 – Available
Z16 – Available
Z17-Z19 – sunk
Z20 – Available
Z21-Z22 – sunk
Z23 – commissioned 15 September 1940 and working up until March 1941
Z24-Z25 – not commissioned yet.
Z26 – commissioned 11 January 1940 and possibly available.
Number Available or Possibly Available = 10
TB Möwe – torpedoed by HMS Taku on 9 May 1940 and in repair until spring 1943.
TB Seeadler – Available
TB Albatros – sunk by coastal batteries at Oslo Fjord 10 April 1940.
TB Greif – Available
TB Kondor – Available
TB Falke – Available
TB Wolfe – Available
TB Iltis – Available
TB Luchs – torpedoed and sunk 26 July 1940 by HMS Clyde.
TB Tiger – sunk in collision 25 August 1939.
TB Jaguar – Available
TB Leopard – sunk in collision 30 April 1940.
T1 – damaged by bomb hit 18 September 1940 and in repair until 5 October 1940.
T2 – Available
T3 – Heavily damaged in air attack at Le Havre 19 September 1940 and not re-commissioned until 12 December 1943.
T4 – commissioned 27 May 1940 and first operational 5 October 1940.
T5 – Available
T6 – Available
T7 – Available
T8 – Available
T9 – commissioned 4 July 1940 and first operational 5 October 1940.
T10 – commissioned 6 August 1940 and first operational 27 October 1940.
T11 – Available, but badly damaged by bombs on 17 September
T12 – commissioned 3 July 1940 and first operational 27 October 1940.
Captured
TB Panther – Norwegian, available, but used for coastal escort between Norway and Germany
TB Löwe – Norwegian, available, but used for coastal escort between Norway and Germany
TB Leopard – Norwegian, available, but used for coastal escort between Norway and Germany
TB Tiger – Norwegian, available, but used for coastal escort between Norway and Germany
TB Troll – Norwegian, too old for active duty and converted to a supply ship by fall 1940
TB Zick – Norwegian, available, but used as harbor patrol vessel in Norway
TB Zack – Norwegian, available, but used as harbor patrol vessel in Norway
KT1 – Norwegian, used as coastal patrol in Norway
NS28 – Norwegian, used as coastal patrol in Norway
Kürassier – Norwegian, used as coastal patrol in Norway
Tarantel – Norwegian, used as coastal patrol in Norway
Balte – Norwegian, used as coastal patrol in Norway, salvaged after being scuttled it was in poor condition
Admiral Deinhard – Norwegian, used as a utility harbor boat
Schlange – Norwegian, used as coastal patrol in Norway
Eidechse – Norwegian, used as coastal patrol in Norway
Schildkröte – Norwegian, built in 1899 and too old for service, used for harbor patrol in Norway
Seestern – Norwegian, built in 1900 and too old for service, used for harbor patrol in Norway
Qualle – Norwegian, built in 1902 and too old for service, used for harbor patrol in Norway
Krokodil – Norwegian, built in 1902 and too old for service, used for harbor patrol in Norway
Total Available = 12
Possibly or Nearly Available = 6
Available, but operating in Norwegian waters = 19 (only four of which may have been useful)
U-Boot
At the beginning of August there were 18 U-Boot available and two new boats became operational. However, two were lost and two old boats were retired as training vessels, leaving 16 available at the beginning of September. Another three became operational in September giving a maximum of 19 available (and the strength did not change in October, one joined but one was lost, leaving 19 – see Clay Blair’s two-volume history for additional details on the proposed operations).
Total Available = 19
S-Boot
31 were in commission, with two of those actually commissioning in September. Most accounts report about 24 operational along the Channel in September.
Support Vessels
To provide fire support for the landings the Germans planned on using a number of ancient, captured vessels. They were:
Norwegian – Harald Harfarge (1897) and Tordenskjöld (1897), each 2 21cm, 6 12cm, 6 7.6cm, and 6 1-pdr guns, their machinery was still capable of 14 kt. They were converted to AA batteries and renamed Nymphe and Thetis.
Holland – Vlieereede (1902) and Ijmuiden (1906), one with one and one with two 24cm guns
Denmark – Niels Juel (1918, 10 15 cm and 15.9 kts)) and Peder Skram (1910, 2 24cm and 4 15cm)
Smaller 'Escort' Vessels included (note that the numbers of each of these actually available is uncertain, I am going by the numbers specifically or typically assigned to each flotilla and I would be greatful for any additional information):
Minensuchboot – Either purpose designed minesweepers of the 1935-class (M1-39), which were armed with one 10.5cm and 2 2cm guns, 4 depth charges, and could carry 30mines in a mine laying role or fishing trawler conversions, typically with one 8.8cm and one or two 2cm guns. 29 of the 1935-class were available, plus at least 66 converted fishing trawlers were available according to the layout of the flotillas.
Vorpostenboot – Patrol boats typically armed with one or two 8.8cm, up to 9 2cm, and a number of MG. At least 67 were available according to the layout of the flotillas.
Räumboot – Mineclearing vessels converted from small fishing cutters and armed typically with three or four 2cm guns. At least 45 were available according to the layout of the flotillas.
Hope that helps.
by Christian W. on 25 Apr 2007 07:54 
