German Torpedo Boat and Destroyer Operations in the Channel and North-See

Discussions on all aspects of the First World War not covered in the other sections. Hosted by Terry Duncan.
User avatar
Tanzania
Member
Posts: 927
Joined: 04 Jun 2009, 14:59
Location: Benghazi / Libya

Re: German Torpedo Boat and Destroyer Operations in the Channel and North-See

#16

Post by Tanzania » 19 Dec 2016, 09:32

I would like to join in the praise. My respect; really great work with the translations by jluetjen.

Regards Holger
“Day by day and almost minute by minute the past was brought up to date. . . . All History was a
palimpsest, scraped clean and reinscribed exactly as often as was necessary” – G. ORWELL 1984

User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

Brief des Reservisten Franz Reichardt des Torpedobootes „S 34“

#17

Post by jluetjen » 21 Dec 2016, 04:50

Letter from the reservist Franz Reichardt of the torpedo boat "S 34".
Wilhelmshaven, 28 January 1915.
S33.gif
The S34's sister ship -- the S33
S33.gif (35.14 KiB) Viewed 1704 times
Unfortunately, I am compelled to send you a mourning message. As you have probably already read, we had a heavy naval battle on Sunday, January 24th. In the course of this, our Armored Cruiser "Blücher" went under, I will briefly inform you of the battle of the battle, and on Saturday, January 23rd, at four o'clock in the afternoon, we anchored the anchors and went into the English coast We had driven the whole night, and had not noticed anything suspicious, we sighted an English squadron the next morning near the English coast, and immediately came the command: "To the guns!" Then you should have seen our blue boys, how the faces shone, when our wish was fulfilled, and finally come back to the Englishman. Even though the Englishman was in the majority, the battle was immediately accepted. On the 8th of October, the first shot of "Blücher" fell, when an English destroyer came too close, and on the third shot of the destroyer only a smoke cloud could be seen, and the proper dance was going on Heavy 34-centimeter grenades flew hurriedly near us into the water, hitting high water columns, a torpedo boat carrying two torpedo shots, which also met, on a shattered English battle cruiser, and then our "Blücher" received some hits which made them unable to maneuver. Now the Englishman was only shooting at "Blücher," which fought to the last, and broadside upon broadside fired against the Englishman, and now we were told: "Torpedoboats go to attack!" That would have been our safe ante. Because when torpedobots attack by day, not many come back. But when the Englishman saw that we were gathering with the torpedo boats to the attack, he withdrew and broke off the battle at about half an hour. "Blücher" went under 1/2 1 PM (12:30), fighting until the last moment, with a flag flying.

A cool model of the V25 -- the lead ship in the class. http://www.shopssl.de/epages/es119126.s ... ucts/B-V25
Last edited by jluetjen on 21 Dec 2016, 04:57, edited 2 times in total.


User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

Re: German Torpedo Boat and Destroyer Operations in the Channel and North-See

#18

Post by jluetjen » 21 Dec 2016, 04:52

Tanzania wrote:I would like to join in the praise. My respect; really great work with the translations by jluetjen.

Regards Holger
Thanks Holger, but it's really just a case of effectively using Google Translate, and knowing enough German to clean up the rough spots of the translations. The Internet is a wonderful thing. Especially since the scanning of the original book now includes a pretty good OCR of the Franken font.

User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

Brief des Maschinistenmaates des Torpedobootes „T 77“

#19

Post by jluetjen » 26 Dec 2016, 16:56

Letter from the Machinist Mate on the Torpedo boat T77

(I can't seem to find any reference to a "T 77". The German Torpedo Boats were renumbered with "T-" numbers, but the lowest numbered boat in the series was the "T 91" (formally the "S 91") - John)

North Sea, March 13, 1915.
We are still here on outposts. Nothing has changed in our service. Will it ever come to a sea force? No one believes here any more. And we're burning to spank the Englishman's huge coat. What use all our visits in his waters if he does not fight? England had about 80 submarines at the beginning of the war. Sure, the number is now significantly larger, as we are working on U-boats. But you have not heard of these boats. And the reason? Whether it is due to the lack of courage, the lack of enthusiasm? This is a mystery to all of us. Their boats are just as powerful as ours. The battle at the Doggerbank (January 24, 1915) would have been much better for us, if instead of the slow, weakly armored "Blücher" (twelve 21-centimeter guns), another modern battle cruiser would be there The "Moltke" did not get a single hit, the "Derfflinger" one below the waterline, which put an antechamber out of operation. "The" Seydlitz "got the worst of them , By a coincidence, which will probably never happen again. The grenades went between the deck and armor of the aft two towers, a small, less heavily armored ring, into the ammunition hoist, bringing the ammunition ready to be ignited. An explosion of the entire ammunition chamber was guarded by the spirit of a machinist who, by tearing the flood valve, put the entire chamber under water. However, the flesh of its surface was stuck to the rim. The skirts in the aft ship are said to have been very powerful. This can also be understood when one considers that a cartridge, which is pushed into the pipe behind a 28-centimeter shell, contains eight hundredweight of powder. Several of these cartridges were in the elevator. This one shot has demolished the aft ship, but only inside, from the outside nothing can be seen, demolished rather heavily, and destroyed this one tower with two guns and all the necessary hydraulic and electric apparatuses. But the damage has all been repaired long time and the ships clear again to a new dance. This has been the only time that English ships have moved so far from their coast. The first doctrine that the German "luxury marine" can also bite has not been so, as the "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" have already proved, and the English losses in the first battle with these two ships are known The Emden in the Indian Ocean, and especially during the monsoon! Anyone who knows this ocean with its monster storms can get a picture of the tremendous hardships and the work done, especially the machine personnel. I can sing a song from my own experience. The "Karlsruhe" is still haunting the outside, and ammunition, provisions, and coals are not going out, and the admiralty has already taken care of it a few weeks ago. - That the A-Voot-Vlockade had so much success in the beginning, and now so little The fact that most of the shipping lines have stopped their traffic, and that this costs sacrifice - two boats are already gone - so that everyone will probably have reckoned with North Sea and Channel Squadron, the ships in the Mediterranean can probably move badly. It will not be a naval battle, for John Bull will not be able to deal with such a delicate affair without an overwhelming powerlessness, though there is not a single one in the Navy who does not make a decision with all his fervor. 7 1/2 months we are now in the war and have not yet seen one of the sneaks, nor had any opportunity to let our rage out. That is hard! At Helgoland, we are also not there. At noon we went to the shipyard to take coals and carry out small repairs in the machine. On the morning of the morning, at about ten o'clock, the order came suddenly: "Steam up in all the kettles!" On the 12th of June we were in the lock, and then we set off, and as much steam as the old men in the Aeizrams - mostly the Seewehr II In the three machines did not work at all, with 128 revolutions going on, the highest of what we had achieved in the seven months, but it was of no avail. "We were able to turn around near Helgoland, the disappointment In the course of these months there have now been various results, and the experiences which have been made have been exploited, so that from the middle of December to the beginning of February, we were on the outpost almost continuously during heavy weather. On February 24th a longer shipyard-time had come-the season is now not to take anything to the sea, and heavy storms alternate with a dense fog, so we are, unfortunately, now condemned to activity as before. The whole service does not change: 18 hours of day watch and leakage service change.

User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

Brief eines Steuermeisters des österreichisch-ungarischen Torpedobootszerstörers „Lika“

#20

Post by jluetjen » 26 Dec 2016, 18:00

Letter from the Tax-master (Purser) of the Austro-Hungarian Destroyer "Lika"

Here's a web page http://www.mateinfo.hu/images/dokumente ... ivalo.html related to another crewman on the Lika.
Lika.jpg
The Lika
On May 24, 1915, at four-thirty-five in the morning, we were close to the military radio and semaphore station Vieste (Italy). Soon after the command "Small flag galaxy!" Came the order: "Gun one: fire!" It was a well-intentioned accomplice in the Radiostation building, which was greeted with a loud aura. Through our strong morning greeting, the inhabitants of the small town are now awakened with fright, and while we are shot at the scene of the destruction, we hear the sound of storm-bells, and see people walking in a hurry. Many people are scarcely clothed.

Our task is solved. In a quick drive we are approaching our nearest port, and half an hour later Pelagosa comes into view. But hardly seen, a radiodeplica calls us to unite with our guide ship "Helgoland" - the course is reversed and the whole guide is south again, it is 5.45 am In the front of the starboard are smoke clouds in sight, and five minutes later we see, That an Italian destroyer, 45 degrees from the starboard of us, would be escaping from his persecutors, "Esepel" and "Tatra." There is no longer a superabundance for us; In the flank, our enemy immediately recognizes the side of the danger to him, for the first salute is coming singing, and a hunt is going on, which is a little difficult to describe, since each one has all his strength and energy The officers of the shooting-observing officers, and the muffled crash of the exploding enemy bullets, which, well-intentioned, clap in the immediate vicinity, and to whom we, By a hardly perceptible change of the course.
SMS_Tatra.jpg
The SMS Tatra
SMS_Tatra.jpg (63.55 KiB) Viewed 1670 times
In the engine room the heat has risen to 62 degrees Celsius. The heating and machine personnel are superhuman, but also our bluejackets on deck have already so well fought in these few minutes that we send a hit to the aft engine room shortly afterwards. But the enemy continues to escape at the same speed as the Austro-Hungarian ships in Kielwainline are able to recognize that a hostile battleship, "Viktor Emanuel", and a cruiser are approaching with the utmost exertion ... A flashing Our large caliber - over there a strong black cloud of smoke and - the enemy's fate is sealed.

But now came something which struck us greatly. Our opponent, the destroyer "Turbine," hoisted the surrender flag, which is a case which, as far as I know, has not yet happened in the present war, the next moment we are there, and it is difficult to imagine the figures floating in the water Hard hit "Aiuto, Austriaci!" Calls us from all sides. "Aiuto! Aiuto! "I am convinced that this would never happen with us and the German comrades.
Zeffiro.jpg
The Italian Destroyer Zeffiro, sister-ship to the "Turbine"
"The boats are clear on the strike," the commando, with the combined forces of two officers and thirty-one men, including the commandant, rescued them, and, during the rescue operation, the enemy ships slowed their flights and hoisted the Geneva flag, But the distance is getting shorter and we are already approaching each other, and we are now forced to stop our rescue work as quickly as possible and leave the ship in a burning and sinking condition, The enemy would not have compelled us - all men could have recovered.

It was high time, however, to get off the ground, for the first shot of 20-centimeter caliber was fired with great precision. The Commander's ship "Helgoland" appreciates only a small moment, so there is such an excellent reply that the Signori loses the desire for further shooting.describing a large circle to the east, the enemy disappears.
SMS_Helgoland.jpg
The Austro-Hungarian Scout Cruiser Helgoland

User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

Brief des Heizers P. Schneider des Torpedobootes „S 139“

#21

Post by jluetjen » 26 Dec 2016, 19:11

Letter from the heater (Fireman? Stoker) P. Schneider of the torpedo boat "S 139"
SMS_T_139.jpg
SMS (S) T 139
.
SMS_S_128.jpg
SMS S 128
29 August 1915

Now I will give you a little account of our life and activity here. As you know, we (with the Torpedo Boat S 128) were stationed in Warnemünde until the middle of March, drove from there to the sound of surveillance, carrying out the trade war, which was the most beautiful time I had so far. In the middle of March we went to Kiel to the shipyard to make major repairs, on the occasion of which everyone was given a twelve-day vacation.

On the 30th of April we drove from Kiel to the east, to Danzig, in order to operate from here on a joint basis with the army against the Russians. The first was the bombardment of Libau and its capture. We continued on the 6th of May from Gdansk, were early in Libau on the 7th of May, and approached the accompanying cruisers very near, for the Russians were no longer firing at sea, since they had already taken their guns from the forts. We received only machine gun fire, but without any effect. On the 8th, fire was opened from both sides on the signal of the troops, while the torpedo boats were commanded to penetrate into the ports. We were now heading for the southern entrance with all our strength. We stopped about 200 to 300 meters before, because only the roads were cleansed by mines; Besides, the Russians had blocked the entrances by steamer, which they had sunk. We were now standing with the machine stopped. The sea was mirror-like. The commandant said, "Take care, everything is contaminated with mines," but a terrible explosion had already taken place, and our aft ship had flown, but we managed to keep our boat floating with the aid of other boats , And we came to Gdansk by tugboat, and had six dead and five wounded.

Then I came to "S 126." (Sister ship to the S 128) At the beginning of July, we went with some cruisers and S. M. S. minelayer "Albatroß" to the completion of a mine task after the Finnish sea lanes. The thing had gone well. We were on the way back, and we parted on it. We, the 19th Half-Flotilla with S. M. S. Roon and Lübeck went south along the Russian coast, while the others rode around Gotland. The Russian armored cruiser "Rjurik" was damaged quite severely, but we were attacked by Russian armored cruisers, but we attacked them . Afterwards, we exchanged "S 126" with "S 144" (another ship of the same class as the S 139).
SMS Albatross at sea.jpg
Minelaying Cruiser SMS Albatross
The attachment Russian Cruiser Rurik.jpg is no longer available
Now we are constantly making patrols, searching for mines, the most dangerous thing for us. Otherwise there is nothing left for the navy, in any respect, the only thing that was good here before, the food, is, as we say, too little to live, too much to die for. Everything is wrong; Who risk life and health, do not get anything, and those who steal our time from our Lord are getting fat allowances.
Attachments
Russian Cruiser Rurik.jpg
The Russian Armored Cruiser Rurik

User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

Brief des Kapitänleutnants Claußen des Torpedobootes „V 99“

#22

Post by jluetjen » 26 Dec 2016, 23:38

Report of Captainleutnant (approximately equivalent to US Navy Lieutenant) Claussen of Torpedo Boat V 99
SMS_V_99.jpg
The V 99 at sea
Higher Constrast Drawings of the SMS V99.jpg
Design Drawings of the V99
It was on the 16th of August, a quiet, warm summer's day. We, "V 99" and "V 100", anchored about two in the afternoon at Lyfer place under land at the southern entrance of the bay of Riga together with the other light armed forces, who had the order to break in the Gulf of Riga as soon as a gap in the Minefields. The miners 'divisions had been working diligently on their dangerous work since early morning and had done a good deal, but in order to pass through the almost unbelievable confusion of miners' locks with which the Russians had contaminated the entrance to the sea bus, more than a day. So we had a night to anchor; Since we had already spent the preceding night in enemy waters and on the road, the rest could be desired. Even with regard to the coming exhausting days and nights in the Riga Gulf, this break-up to anchor was not unpleasant.

From our anchorage we could see in the distance the blurred forms of the countless mine-boats, which were carried out by lines of ships against disturbances from the Russian side. From time to time, a huge plume revealed that there was another mine. Now and then one could hear the thunder of the heavy guns, when the Russian destroyers and gun boats, and the" Slawa "ship had to be brought to a halt, (" Slawa "later got a good hit, which gave him the resurrection for The next time.)
slava-1910.jpg
The Slava in 1910
Thus a warlike picture took place before our eyes and ears, which we could pursue without envy and excitement, for we entered into the sea-bosom in any case, to whom to-day, ro tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow.

Since shortly after 6 o'clock the headlight of the overhead line flashes. The signal is intended for "V 99" and "V 100", although not addressed to us. The individual words of the signal crew on the bridge are taken with a keen eye, and like a rushing fire, more quickly than ever before the command has been sent, the whole boat spreads: "V 99" and "V 100" are still commanding the Gulf of RIga. Radiant looks everywhere. We were not able to take the lead. We two new, fast and well-armed boats, we should be the first of all the forces that were allowed to break into the gulf, and there seek and strike the enemy where we met him. No command has ever been taken with greater joy and greater pride than on our two boats, and never so quickly anchored as today on "V 99." Now, no one can be lost Water, the machines are going on, and we are about to take up our course along the coast, since, as dumb as we are, we must go a long way from a cruiser, and nothing more is told than the command of the skirmish. But we are all to know by heart, but he gives us his congratulations for our journey, which is a journey which is both dangerous and enviable, and now we are finally and finally dismissed, the hours which lie before us belong entirely to us.

First of all, it is important to choose a route where you will not meet mines. Surely avoiding them is almost impossible in the immense quantities of mines that are being worked on here. Near the coast, it is certainly safest, so this route is chosen. We can not run high on the shallow water of course, this disadvantage has to be accepted. Some suspicious little buoys are spotted on port, also on starboard. Mines are not, so we do not care anymore, we have no time to stop us. An hour is already driving north-east, just before us on the horizon some smoke clouds, the first visible sign of the enemy - perhaps we are experiencing something this evening. - "A black floating object starboard ahead!" The lookout announces it, through the glass, the head of a mine with its disgusting grains is clearly visible ahead of the country, so we are close to a barrier! And protruding from the water, otherwise we would be harmless in this barrier. The mine is steered towards port, and the rudder is scarcely on the spot again when two more mines, also on starboard, are landed on land. These guys of Russians have put a barrier up very close to land, in order to prevent shallow draft ships from penetrating the gulf. What now? How far the mines go to land, how wide the barrier is, to this question no one can answer us. But to reverse it? By no means, we must. If you dare nothing, you win nothing. So we drive the barrier along so close to land that the screws are already beginning to throw up sand, and they are happy too, without making an unpleasant acquaintance with a mine. The fact that we have discovered a mine field is, of course, immediately communicated to our senior staff by our staff.

The formerly smoked smoke clouds have come closer in the meantime. They turn out to be two Russian destroyers, who are thrown down on us in all our emotions. For the first time, not a disc, but a real enemy opponent before us! It is almost a childish joy. This will be a great start! In the first place, it is necessary to gain deep water in order to have free circulation; No one thinks of mines anymore. Everything is clear on the battle stations, the distance meter measures and reports the distances. The artillery officer gives his orders. Everything is clear. Ammunition is already abundant on the guns. The technical guard under the deck has been able to get through the speech tube from the upcoming fight. The distance meter reports 6599 meters. "Can I fire?" The question of the artillery officer to the commandant sounds already urgent, but it is not yet so far, the two of them are coming on with the same comfort, and they are certainly waiting for us at one of their mines To look up and fly in the air, and therefore do not think of an artillery fight. But what makes us stupid is that they wear the same insignia as us. But there can be no own forces, it must be the enemy. "Can I fire now?" "Fire permited!" At the same moment, our first iron greeting flew over. The volley is good. The artillery has been fired, and salve now follows salvo. Hit is not observed at dusk, but the enemy has certainly made unkindly acquaintances with one or the other of our shells. He turns up and returns our fire. Not bad. The first salvo is far, short, middle, only a little left out in the wake. But now he is restless, the shells fly far over us; He also turns off and runs away with a high drive to the east. We followed with utmost force. It had been too good to have a real opponent. He could not escape us. The distance decreases, but the darkness breaks. The Kimmel has covered itself with heavy clouds. 4000 meters distance. Because, it is possible to turn the two from over there and open the fire. Where did this courage come from? Over there, a third man is firing, he can not be seen in the dark, but the fire that flashes out of his guns is much greater than that of the destroyers, around us are counts of different calibers. So therefore the courage. The big brother, apparently a cannon boat, has strengthened the back of both of them. With the first shot from over there, we too have resumed the fire, but it is too dark, you can not see the impacts. The bullets of the Russian shells are also wildly mixed. It has no purpose to keep up. Almost as on appointment, the guns are silent on both sides. We steal back again, where we have come, the enemy shall not know what we are going to do for the night. Soon we lost sight of each other.

Now imagine our situation, and everyone will understand our proud feeling, which animates us from the first to the last man on board. The minefield, which was impossible to pass at night, are our offices. How did we want to find that pitiful hole through which we had slipped at day light, now the dark? So we could not return, thank God, no one, even the top management. Just behind us a fight - a real fight against a real equivalent enemy. And he had also withdrawn before us, we had met him too, that was quite clear. For this purpose "V 99" and "V 100" boats, which met all technical requirements, even the highest demands. In front of us a dark night, such a real torpedo boat night, and the sea of ​​Riga, which still belongs entirely to the enemy. What comes before the bow is an enemy and is accepted. All this together must satisfy the highest demands of the hardcore torpedo watch. With the feeling "no one can" we steamed into the night and the Gulf of Riga.

To the north-east it is in the direction of the moon-light. Many eyes peered forward and to the sides, far away today also sees the sharpest eye. It is important for us to be careful about driving fires. Smoke and fire must not betray us. The guards lie on their battle stations, sleep or shorten the time with conversation and mandolin play.

But nothing is sighted. It is 12 o'clock. The guard switches group by group. Still is still nothing. The Russians have safely retired to their hiding-places for the night. Why should they sail at sea at night, where their own territory is, and where it must be excluded, that enemy forces are in their waters? It's still nothing! We are heading south again. We have to wait in the vicinity of our gaps from yesterday evening, we can not be surprised at the days in the middle of the Gulf of Riga. It would be our sure death in the case of the Russians' impotence, but we have no prospect of giving them any losses which at least surpass our initial course. "Two vehicles, port-side six stroke!" Several outposts on the port announce it at the same time, on deck they are also seen, it is called to the bridge It's too late, they're going too fast, but they have not seen us, and they can not escape, we're setting off behind them and taking their course north. Portside ahead they come back in sight, only 800 meters off. With us extreme tension, this must be a dazzling aberrations. Everything is carefully dimmed, also the artillery guilders. But the gunman has his aim in mind, the headlights also. Everything is waiting for the fire command. We are also the leading destroyer as a leading boat. So keep on steaming, he is not just our shells, we've also thought of him a torpedo. They do not seem to notice anything. Now we have the anterior somewhat more astride than transverse. "Headlights are on!" "Fire!" The salve sits well. Two shot in the boat above water, an underwater hit. "Quickfire!" He is formally spilled by shells, especially "V 100" also takes up the bombardment of this destroyer. And still no man on the gun. This must have been a terrible awakening, some have not experienced it, for our shells, where they meet, do not damage anything near them. However, it is becoming too uncomfortable for him, he turns off and escapes our headlights with heavy smoke and steam. A few wild shots fired the two still in the area, which remains their whole counteraction.

We come behind for a moment, but they do not get back into our fire. We are proud to continue our journey. We proudly report to Senior Staff our experiences.

Shortly after 2am we are again on the coast between Domesnäs and Pissen. It is particularly dark today, it is no use to steer our barrier. So once more, as far as time and darkness permit, pushed forward to the north. But the enemy is not seen. At 4 o'clock we are back in the old place. It is quite bright but airy. Just now we are going to navigate along the coast with south-west course, on our lock of yesterday evening, when the outpost post reports a submarine dived aft. That is great! That still lacks us! The tower and the dark top-line are clearly visible through the glass; The bearing is located within the 10 meter line. So with utmost energy on it, before it can gain deep water. It must not escape. The front guns have already opened fire. But strangely, our opponent hardly moves from the spot, almost seems to emigrate to land. Now it is also clear that it is not a submarine, but an unfortunate fishing boat, the occupants of which are now getting away with the horror. They could have atoned for their ease of fishing in war waters. Mist and twilight had played this trick on us. We are going back on our old course along the coast.
Russian destroyer Novik.jpg
Destroyer Novik
But today we should not succeed in carrying out this plan, which has already been set twice. Already again announces the outpump post. This time it is a larger vehicle starboard eighth. Through the glass it can be seen as a single destroyer. The air of the air makes its outlines bigger and more massive than they seem otherwise. A single destroyer - that's something for us. We immediately take course from him with utmost force. Above all, we must also come here in deeper waters to be able to fight freely. Now he also sees us, he turns up and takes course on Domesnäs. Then we recognize his type - Hurra, it is the "Novik", which we had always wished for, built on the same shipyard as we, he only a little stronger than the individual of us, he proud of the Russian navy *. But the "Novik" is well aware of his strength, and, as we do not see through the fog, he has a number of destroyers behind him. He opens the fire, and his volleys are so good right from the beginning that we have no choice but to fire our own. At the same time, four destroyers are now emerging from the fog. We have apparently come to terms with a part of the strong Russian armed force, which is trying to interfere with our mine-sweeper divisions this day and is now on the way to taking its positions there. Further into the gulf, it is now impossible, we are cut off, and shot down by this number, so there is only left to retreat to our own forces, and this way leads through the difficult passage in the minefield. The fight with the "Novik" has become very lively, and volleys on volleys follow in short intervals. But even with us the hits are not enough. Already the first - port-side was flying under the bridge. He has torn up a lot of metal, but only two men have been badly wounded, from the gasoline and a heat from the fires. The second hit is already unpleasant, starboard ahead, several dead, some wounded, fire in two rooms. But if the grenades also meet where they want, and destroy as much human life and material as they can reach with their frightful explosions, there is no one on board who hesitates for a moment, irrespective of his duty, and where he is next to him, to do his work. The fires are soon extinguished, and the guns continue to fire, and some of them still have time to take on the severely wounded. Everyone has every opportunity to show that the fatherland is allowed to demand the most extreme of it, and everyone has shown it. The Russian report writes of a twenty-minute "bitter war." It was bitter, and according to our record n it took 30 minutes, a very long time for a destroyer's battle. Other ammunition is also, as far as it could still be brought to the guns, completely shot. But now back to the further course of the battle. The fight lasted for twenty minutes. "Many mines ahead!" In front of us, the buoys of a submarine barge are visible in a long line. (Underwater, many explosives are hanging on the ropes, which are said to be exploding on the side of the in-vehicle.) "Three times Extreme power back! " But the boat has too much drive, the Steven is still entering the lock - "The baking rooms!" - fortunately no explosion takes place, and the front gun control can resume their fire. We drive along the barrier, walk around the end, and then soon see our surface areas of yesterday evening. Now, in the fight, it is quite impossible to steer the flat part of our breakthrough with the perilous risk of arresting. So just go through! Just next to one of the visible mines, there will be no second. It is all well, and now, according to our calculations, a mine mine can no longer exist. There-a thrust from below, we have touched a mine: some oil-filled figures coming from the front turbine chamber show that it has hit under this space. Again the same thrust, this time something a bit terrible; In the bulkhead between the rear turbine and the officer's room. The three largest rooms are therefore full of water. The torpedo tube and the rear headlights are overturned and, what is most unpleasant, a whole number of people are thrown overboard. And all this still in the fight. We put the dingy out, "V 100" throws his cutter to water, so most of these people have been saved (they were then picked up by "V 108", the first boat that appeared on the battleground.) Fortunately, The machine has remained intact despite the two miners, and although no one is in the turbines, the four undamaged boilers deliver their steam, and the screws continue to rotate. Only when the control machine fails after a long time does the steam have to be switched off. In the meantime the battle has come to an end.

(* Clausser seems be referring the fact that as part of its 1912 construction programm, the Imperial Russian Navy placed orders for 22 large modern destroyers (the Orfey-class destroyer) for its Baltic Fleet. In order to speed delivery of these ships, orders for the ship's machinery were placed overseas, including in Germany. The outbreak of the First World War, with Germany declaring war on Russia on 1 August, led to delivery of these machinery sets to be stopped. The AG Vulcan shipyard in Stettin, (now Szczecin in Poland) proposed to use this machinery to power a class of large destroyers for the Imperial German Navy, which could be built within six months. The German navy was at first unenthusiastic about Vulcan's proposal, as its torpedo flotillas consisted of smaller torpedo boats, but Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz overcame these objections, and orders for four ships were placed with Vulcan (V99 and V100) and Blohm & Voss (B97 and B98). )

"Nowik", as a Russian report says, has been dragged into the town of Kreisstadt in a sinking state, and has been severely damaged, for example, the boiler installations are almost completely destroyed, with 13 dead and 19 wounded Fierce artillery fire of the "Novik" and the other four destroyers on our side? True, we had lost many dear comrades to "V 99", but neither a gun, nor a torpedo tube, nor a boiler or a turbine had been damaged in the fight with the Russians, and "V 100" had they at all The torpedoboot "G 102 "is not taken into the port, only the two mines have inflicted a damage on our good boat which should result in its full loss.

The other experiences are briefly the following:

When we lost our ability to steer, "V 100" took us into tow, and shortly thereafter two boats of the IXth Flotilla arrived to catch us, but the boat sank aft aft, and sat up aft It was later reduced and had to be spent.

On the 17th of August in the morning, at eleven o'clock, we put our beautiful boat, which had just grown to the candle by the last hours. We were temporarily embarked on the mother ships "Indianola" and "Inkola", and soon afterwards brought to Kiel, in order to put into service after a short rest "V 112." Fallen and severely wounded were immediately transferred to Libau, the fallen are there Solemnly and with all the military honors, was still given the honor that, on the 17th of August, Rear Admiral Eebbinghaus, and later, in Kiel, the commander-in-chief, Grandadmiral Prince Heinrich, spoke to us in words of great credit Had to give us his praiseworthy appreciation for our brave behavior, and the outward signs of recognition have been given to our boat to a great extent.
Last edited by jluetjen on 27 Dec 2016, 00:18, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

...The same battle from the Russian View

#23

Post by jluetjen » 27 Dec 2016, 00:07

Moonsund (Irbe) operation in 1915

( http://www.navy.su/daybyday/august/04/index.htm )

On the night of August 4, 1915 in the Gulf of Riga secretly entered the latest German destroyers "V-99" and "V-100" with a displacement of 1,300 tons. It is armed every one of them had three 88-mm cannon and six torpedo tubes. The destroyers were to attack the battleship "Slava", which has become a barrier to the passage of the German ships in the Irbe Strait and do not allow their trawlers to carry out work on the Russian minefields. The island of Saaremaa "V-99" and "V-100" on the go exchanged a few volleys from the destroyer escort "General Kondratenko" and "Hunter", and in the bay Arensburgskoy they were intercepted destroyers "Ukraine" and "Troop". After a 5-minute battle enemy ships began to depart from the bay to St. Michael the lighthouse, where about 4 o'clock in the morning met with the Russian destroyer "Novik".
Novik in battle.jpg
Novik during the battle with V99 and V100
Novik in battle.jpg (48.79 KiB) Viewed 1664 times
Making sure that the enemy in front of him, commander of the "Novik" Captain 2nd Rank MA Behrens ordered to open fire. For the third salvo covered head destroyer "V-99". The following shots knocked his mid-pipe and caused the fire on the forecastle and quarterdeck. The destroyer steamed and slowed down, but continued to shoot. Artillery officer "Novik" Lieutenant DI Fedotov suffered a fire on the second German destroyer. Smokescreen, set "V-100", made "Novik" on time to stop shooting, but soon he again found the enemy ships and fired at them alternately, again achieving a result. One of the destroyers sank to the stern and floating white and red flares and headed to shore. Another German ship tried to cover up his smoke screen and fire. At this time, "Novik" close to the Russian border minefield and was forced to stop the persecution.
Novik.jpg
Map of the Battle
(Note that in Russian "Novik" is spelled "Новик")

The battle lasted 17 minutes. During this time, "Novik" produced 23 102-mm shells and got 11 hits. Later it became known the outcome of the battle: on the German destroyers were killed and 21 missing people, 22 - were injured. "V-99", out of control, tangled in nets and anti-detonated two mines. Who came to the aid of the three German destroyers "V-99" was towed ashore, where he lay on the ground at a depth of 7 m. Only a few fragments from close unexploded shells hit the "Novik", losses were not there. During this battle, MA Behrens and DI Fedotov was awarded the Order of St. George 4-th degree.
V99 after being struck by mines.jpg
V99 after being hit by mines
Last edited by jluetjen on 27 Dec 2016, 00:34, edited 1 time in total.

The Ibis
Member
Posts: 417
Joined: 27 Dec 2015, 02:06
Location: The interwebs

Re: German Torpedo Boat and Destroyer Operations in the Channel and North-See

#24

Post by The Ibis » 27 Dec 2016, 00:21

Great stuff, jluetjen. Thanks for doing this.
"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." - Casey Stengel

User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

Brief des Matrosen Erwin Lang des Torpedobootes „V 69“

#25

Post by jluetjen » 27 Dec 2016, 17:05

Letter from the sailor Erwin Lang of the torpedo boat "V 69".

June 12, 1916.

You can believe that I am proud to write you today our glorious battle. I am happy to have such a major event behind me. It is so part of our German life to double the homeland twice. It was a joyous victory.

It was a splendid Wednesday evening, as we advanced north, a few nautical miles from Korn's reef. We gently explored the bloody horizon. Peacefully, almost windstill lay the expanse. No one thought of war. We went for the small cruiser "Frankfurt" submarine security.

It was all evening. Suddenly it was reported: "Enemy forces in sight." We could not see anything in the direction. The same was the "extreme power ahead", which was a joyous hunt. On the horizon, weak smoke columns were visible. We formed, and soon afterwards we entered into a light battle, which then became such a mighty battle.

Everywhere on the sides new smoke clouds, own and much, much more hostile.
Thundering and crashing. Impacts leave water jets behind to the sky. Powder quarry and smoke. Too bad that our heart still has to wait. Flashing of the guns. Other boats stomp and sway in the troubled sea. Ah, finally, go. Torpedo tube swiveled, adjusted, clear. Quickly our red Heinrich is hoisted. This bloodthirsty stander is called "proceeding and breaking through." With the utmost power, the cruisers grow rapidly, and the heart is throbbing, and the breath is stumped We'll still be faithful to the loves and the glorious homeland, for you and for yourself. Mute minutes, and we do tremendous things.

Happily secured. Immediately formed with our still all received boats. Our half-flotilla chef laughs. Proudly announces our guide boat: "Command executed with success. XII. Half-flotilla ready for a new breakthrough. "So let us go twice, and God was with us.

11 am at night. Still light in the north. To our luck for it a bit foggy. We are two boats. Command: "Seeking and destroying an enemy!" Everything is clear, we are looking sharply, and we are keenly watched, and no one takes the glass from his eyes, who first sees it, wins Then, a luminous, struck cruiser, blind shots he will go out into the darkness.

There is a wonderful morning. We are proud to go home. Thank you very much. Our commander looks at us so joyfully. We answer his looks.

So, it was such a small cut for you. No Englishman is more proud of his fleet. The Emperor was here, and gave our flotilla its highest and warmest thanks. For the bravery every commander got the E. K. I. Kl. It is to be worn by them for the team. Our teams will be awarded in the next few days. Be content with the. I hope the blood-young Lisel will soon be released another day. We sailors will help her.

Salvation, Victory and Peace!

User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

On-deck on a German Torpedo Boat

#26

Post by jluetjen » 20 Jan 2017, 01:57

Onboard Torpedoboot.jpg

User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

A few more pictures

#27

Post by jluetjen » 20 Jan 2017, 03:05

Torpedoboat Breakthrough.jpg
Torpedoboots breaking through a line of battle
Torpedoboat Flotilla.jpg
A Torpedoboot Flotilla
Torpedoboot at Full Speed.jpg
A Torpdeoboot at speed

User avatar
jluetjen
Member
Posts: 376
Joined: 10 May 2007, 22:23
Location: Westford, MA USA

Re: German Torpedo Boat and Destroyer Operations in the Channel and North-See

#28

Post by jluetjen » 20 Jan 2017, 03:12

Torpedoboat S131.jpg
Torpedoboot S131
Torpedoboot S5.jpg
SMS S5 in heavy seas
Torpedoboot V187.jpg
Torpedoboot V187 (see the story above)

Edward L. Hsiao
Member
Posts: 2102
Joined: 01 Aug 2003, 09:43
Location: Flagstaff,Arizona

Re: German Torpedo Boat and Destroyer Operations in the Channel and North-See

#29

Post by Edward L. Hsiao » 25 Sep 2017, 11:46

Gentlemen,

So far so good. Hopefully more to come!

Edward L. Hsiao

User avatar
Tanzania
Member
Posts: 927
Joined: 04 Jun 2009, 14:59
Location: Benghazi / Libya

Re: German Torpedo Boat and Destroyer Operations in the Channel and North-See

#30

Post by Tanzania » 03 Oct 2017, 12:32

In the night of 22 / 23. August 1915, two French destroyers sunk the German coastal-torpedo-boat “A15” near Ostend.
Translated German Source: https://weltkrieg2.de/kriegstagebuch-22-august-1915/

(This article was translated as authentically as possible. Terminology and linguistic usage correspond to the zeitgeist of the time,
and it seems to us a bit strange nowadays. To this, it must be borne in mind that this article was published during the II. World War.)
01_„A 15“ by the Flanders Torpedo Boat Flotilla and the Torpedo-Oberheizer Walter Schmidt.jpg
Translated Source: » Deutsche Seekriegsgeschichte - Fahrten und Taten in zwei Jahrtausenden «, pages: 558-565, Berlin 1940.

In the middle of August 1915 it became livelier before the coast of Flanders. Monitors were cleared by the British to take the strongly fortified
Flanders coast under fire. Shooting exercises at the mouth of the Themse River took place, where a true image of the coast. There were
produced tripods, which were to be sunk into the sea by steamers. From them, the detailed observations of the coastal bombardments should
be made. New shooting methods were tested and funds against the German submarine danger were devised. Rumours ran along the dunes,
and the torpedo flotilla of Flanders, small, seaworthy torpedo boats, had on the night of August 21st, which had been set for the British
bombardment, with six boats, each carrying four mines, the area between Nieuwpoort and Small-bank was contaminated, in order to make it
difficult for enemy forces to make their way there.

But the British had not come: bad weather had prevented them from opening the great apparatus which was thought necessary for the in-
marching of the monitors, their guards, and the observing and protective measures. On the following evening, 22nd August 1915, "A 5", "A 13"
and "A 14" were launched again in order to carry out the trade war in front of the mouth of the River Scheldt. Meanwhile "A 15" should cross as
an outpost-boat in front of Ostend. They do not suspect that at the same time, an English armed force, accompanied by vessels of all kinds,
steamers and trawlers - their number is stated as 100 - arrived at the south-end of the bank to North-Hinder light-ship and then clear up against
the coast.

The sea is restless, the storms of the last days are still working, and a long, high swell is running under the afterthought. Bright moonlight
reigns, the stars shine brightly, and the wake of the A-boat cruising in the east shines brightly over the dark sea. On the narrow and narrow
bridge stands the Commandant, Leutnant z.S. d.R. Guntermann, and looks over to port. There flashing flinching fire on the hilly dune strip
flashes the front, from which it flashes when the heavy long-barrel guns of the English at Dunkirk or the permanently-installed, German naval-
guns at Rottevale send their shells into the night. Sound thundering rolls down on launch, light balls stand too wide long, radiant, falling and
extinguishing, while red and green rockets hiss in a steep arc toward the sky. The ruthless front, which awakens at night to a resentful life.

Weighing in the knees, a Signalgast places the body between railings props and canvas cover of the tiny bridge - is not there a shadow, long,
low, over the sea? Is not there a second - just as long - just as narrow? "Advance; - Destroyer!" The Commander has already noticed the
shadows: "Hard port! Ultimate power ahead!" What is it? - Own submarines returning home? - Minelayers? - Net-steamers? - Outpost boats or
British destroyers on control? You have to be very careful here: just like at the land front, the lakefront is only really lively at night - who knows,
they are quite far off, at Middelkerke-Bank, and all alone with their little boat. The Commander sent a radio message, while the boat, with the
steering board's side, watered with the hard turning. Whether they remain undetected? The British looks bad at night. The Flanders drivers
knows this well. - Perhaps they did not see anything on the Destroyer bridges. After giving up the radio message, which they received, too,
the destroyers turn to the A-boat, multiply the journey, and try to cut off the small boat to the coast.

At exactly 12: 08 o’clock the first shot from a gun of the foremost destroyer ruptures the nocturnal silence. Whining raises the shell over "A 15",
breaks into the sea and tears a foaming serve from the darkness. The battle begins: a poor little 5-centimeter gun against big, powerful combat
destroyers! They fired back from their ridiculous gun, as much as possible - do not worry! The Terrier boldly barks at the big wolf dog. - With an
east-southeast course, the Commandant guided his boat to the coast, with 19 miles-all that can give it-he seeks to escape the 30, and more
miles of running destruction. The persecutors turn on the same course, - firing again and again, - bright red and yellow, - the fire flames from the
barely raised pipes - they shoot remarkably bad, these cousins! Then hit the first smash on board, - the five-centimetre gun of the A-boat fires
back in fury. "Hit!" Shouts the Bootsmannsmaat. "Hits!"

He just kept his headlight, just as the rear chaser did. He could turn away from this light source, which suddenly cut its limping beam into the
dark, and the headlamp, barely set, went out. A flame blazes up in the middle of the enemy, smoke and steam cover the whole big boat, this
destroyer sank back, disappears in the night. Grim laughs the crew of the 5-centimeter gun: "Do not be too cheeky, brothers!" But then shots
from the first destroyer hit the small A-boat: At 12:13 o'clock the oars and rowing machine drop out, and the aft of the two torpedo pipes fly
overboard. Further shells hit the front boiler room; - steam pipes and aft stand burst apart, hissing steam in white, wet and glowing clouds
over deck - the brave little boat is a heap of ruins. The crew extinguish properly the fires under the boilers and leave the machine room after
courageous men have even closed the large group valve.

On deck it looks bad when the last bravery of the machine crew rushes the iron stains of steam and overflowing splashes, pulling the fresh
air into the half-burned airways, and wiping the sweat from their brows, which biting them in their eyes. What they see is this: the machine,
and the screw, rotates with the rest of the steam, but the boat hits a circle with the rifled rudder - a circle that leads to the enemy destroyer.
Behind this, now again the destroyer which was struck from before, whose bridge and chimney they see under the smoke cloud, still hovering
over this ship, as a dark shadow-rift over the thinness. The A-boat slowly closes onto the destroyer, looking as if the roaring guns were running
in the fire-breathing jaws. "Machine stop!" The Commander shouts to the Machinist, which is standing next to him, still uninjured, who is tapping
the handle once more, although the telegraph has long since stopped. "Machine is no longer accepting orders, sir! Engine room is deserted!"

One of the Maschinistenmaat on the deck heard this, saluted and falls with a loud: "Yes! Machine stop! ", he turns and runs down the stairs.
He tears open the door to the engine room, completely covered in hot steam, wrap the twist, which every machine-room man carries in his
trousers or jacket pocket, around his hands, protects his eyes from the biting smoke with his left hand, and groped forward at the iron bars.
He actually finds the steam shut-off valve, rips it around and stops the machine!

They watch the enemy from the bridge of the A-boat, which slugless hard in the swell. The Signalgast does not leave the double glass from
the eyes: "Sir! The hit destroyer sacks! The other one, Herr Oberleutnant!", exclaimed the man," the other one turns off! He turns away- Sir! "
Everyone standing on the heap of boats, on the railing, on the ridiculously small bridge, behind the chimney, at the 5-centimeter gun, see it:
The big destroyer has stopped his fire and rushes away. Not to believe - a miracle - he is afraid of a torpedo - does he want to help the other?
No one knows - they look at each other mutely - do they still reach the coast? Will the boat be towed in? What about the water ingress; with the
risk of steam? "A 15" received eight to ten hits, slow and unstoppable it sinks away. Only a single English grenade - which, by the force of which
the aft torpedo ejection pipe had been swept overboard, detonated and all the others were bull's eyes. They tore large holes into the thin boat
body, punched, smooth bullet and terribly jagged, torn reef holes. Horrible now sounds in the general silence the gurgling and splashing of the
sea water penetrating into the lower space.

The Oberleutnant makes a tour: there is no longer much to do, he immediately sees - the boat is not to be held any more. As he goes up the
small bridge, which is actually only a short, low submarine tower, he gives an order: "Fire stars! Perhaps the others will notice that something
is going on here
!" – "What stars are to be fired, Oberleutnant? "Asks the Signalgast. "All we have is no matter now, man! Just make it to us
otherwise we drop off, before you have the fired the first
! "The man stooped, pulled the brass signal pistol out of the box at the rail, and loaded
the heavy, bulky thing. He fires, recharges, fires - always very steep in the air, the stars, red, white and green, bounce into the air, glow and
sparkle. No one seems to see them - neither the coast nor the three own east-facing boats have the slightest answer.

The Commandant rushes to the secret locker, pulls the key out of his pocket, opened, and hastily draws the red secret books, the cards, orders,
and letters from the compartments. He stuffs it into the canvas bag provided for this purpose and presses the large, heavy secret signal book.
"Base weight! Bend tightly! Overboard with the crap! Hurry!" A huge sweep, clapping, the shapeless bag disappears into the sea! The Ober-
leutnant
breathes: "The beefs would not be available for use, what? Get the flag and bring it here! " The crew gathered on the small, narrow
middle-deck, the Signalgast hurried to the aft mast, fetched the flag, folded it, and handed it over to his Commander. On the deck, they strive for
the wounded, combined them in the flicker of the flashlights, and hastily lobed lanterns, while the sea is already rushing greedily and mercilessly
over deck.
02_The crew leaving the sinking „A 15“.jpg
Original Source: Ink drawing by naval-painter, Walter Zeeden (1891-1961) for this article in the above mentioned book on page 563.

The commandant raises his arm and waves - all look at him on the bridge when he takes his hand to the cap: "Three Hooray for our Supreme
Warlord
!" Loudly, - the hissing of the effervescent steam echoes into the dark night, - through the west wind, - over the roar and clapping of the
sea. Then the Oberleutnant puts his hands to the prosecutor's mouth: "All the men out of the boat!" The small dinghy, the only one that they
have, is exposed, the wounded, they strip the blouses, jump into the cold water to reach the not too distant shore floating. Calls, orders: "Stay
with the boat! Quiet breathing, not too hasty swimming - all will be saved! Slowly swimming
!" Nine men are in the dinghy, the wounded, and a
few sailors and heaters on the belt. They drop the straps into the oarlocks and pull their load through the water in long, calm blows.

The Torpedo-Oberheizer Walter Schmidt is in the boat. He is wondering how the sea is moving. On the A-boat it was probably not realized as in
the small rescue boat, which is now on the coast. He observes the swimmers, who are beside them and behind the boat through the dark flood
panting the temptation to keep up. Is not there still a wounded man beside the boat? The Oberheizer looks exactly as the belt is pulled through:
a face covered with blood flows from the water again and again, unevenly pushing the arms into the water. He hesitates: that is impossible, a
wounded man in the water, and he is here in a relatively safe boat? This is outrageous! What did the Commander ordered? "The wounded in
the boat
!" and he, Walter Schmidt, had looked around and had not discovered any wounded in the dark. He was then one of the last to climb
into the dinghy, which danced on the water with the upper deck of the sinking A-boat. With a jerk the Oberheizer takes the belts and throws
them into the boat. He rises, shout out to the wounded man and slides into the water.

As the sea collapses over his head, a thought runs through his head. He clearly sees the room of his native church, the altar, the memorial
plaques of the fallen from 1864, 1866 and 1870/71, clearly as a sharp and colorful picture. Black, simple plaques with white writing. Immortelle
wreaths underneath, touching small, colorful flowers, half-twisted, decorated with colored ribbons and ribbons. And over the tables, close to the
wood-pots, of which the girls and boys used to sing, a golden word illuminates: "No one shows greater love than that he lost his life for his
friends". Strange, that in the dark night near the coast of Flanders, the slogan and the old memorial tablets must come upon him-in short, before
he emerges as a victim of the wounded, he looks at us as he is painfully and cautiously dragged into the boat by the men, dripping wet, bleeding
and utterly exhausted. Then a sea roars past, heavier, and larger than the previous ones. The comrades in the boat look for the Oberheizer but
cannot find him anymore. The place where the brave man's head had last appeared, remains empty. The Torpedo-Oberheizer Walter Schmidt
sunk quietly and unintentionally into the depths, dying for his wounded comrade.

On the coast, in the batteries and observances of the German guns, they recognized the combat as a vague flashing and extinguishing fire in
the distance. Nobody knows who is fighting there, the radio message of "A 15" came so mutilated that no one could make a verse out of him.
Only the three other boats of the flotilla, which are still in Ostend: "A 4", Oberleutnant z.S. Boldemann, "A 12", Oberleutnant z.S. Weishaupt,
and "A 16", Oberleutnant z.S. Hormel, guess what's going on outside. They make steam very quickly. At 2 o'clock at night "A 12" runs out and
finds around 3 o'clock in the morning at Ostend Bank the dinghy with the nine survivors, including three wounded. At six o'clock in the morning,
enemy forces are reported off the coast. One later counts near Zeebrugge: 7 monitors, 9 destroyers, 6 to 10 commercial steamers and about 40
fish-trawlers assembled there, when the bombardment of Zeebrugge started! -, and the seeking A-boats get the recall command. "A 14", with
Leutnant z.S. Ganguin continued later the search for survivors, supported by "A 12". In vain. It was later found that the two boats were looking
too far south from the place of loss of "A 15". The sea did not eject any of the crew of the sunken boat. –

Below a comparison of the two identical French Branlebas-Class Destroyers
Armament: 1 x 6.5-cm, and 6 x 4.7-cm quick-firing-guns and two 45-cm torpedo tubes.

"Branlebas" (08.10.1907 – 30.09.1915)
03_``Branlebas´´-destroyer.jpg
03_``Branlebas´´-destroyer.jpg (78.6 KiB) Viewed 1429 times
Original Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... troyer.jpg

"Oriflamme" (04.04.1908 – 27.05.1921)
04_``Oriflamme´´-destroyer.jpg
04_``Oriflamme´´-destroyer.jpg (79.75 KiB) Viewed 1429 times
Original Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... troyer.jpg


Below the German opponent of the Coastal-Torpedo-Boot Class A I (Which A I boat is shown below is not clear)
Armament: 1 x 5-cm quick-firing-gun L/40 and two 45-cm torpedo tubes.
"A 15" (15.07.1915 – 23.08.1915)
05_A I - Coastel torpedo boats.jpg
05_A I - Coastel torpedo boats.jpg (87.63 KiB) Viewed 1429 times
Original Source: https://i2.wp.com/weltkrieg2.de/wp-cont ... o-boat.jpg


According to the below pictured indication from the http://www.navweaps-forum, every of the 25 boats of the A I Class were armed with an:
5.0-cm-Torpedobootskanone L/40 (5.0-cm-TK L/40) auf Torpedobootslafette C/1914: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/5,0-cm-Sc ... anone_L/40
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_5cm-40_skc93.php

The German Navy Historian Erich Gröner mentioned that the following nine Boats: A 1, A 2, A 17, A 18, A 21 – A 25, were equipped with a:
5.2-cm-Schnelladekanone L/55 (5.2-cm-SK L/55) auf Mittelpivotlafette C/1903: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/5,2-cm-Sc ... anone_L/55

The artillery superiority of the two French destroyers becomes all the more evident by contrasting only the weight of the shells:
(2 x 6.5-cm, and 12 x 4.7-cm guns against 1 x 5-cm cannon) 56.34 kg versus 3.6 kg, which corresponds to a ratio of more than [/b]15:1[/b].

The boats of Type A I were a new development for the coast off Flanders. This 40 meter long type had its main focus in the torpedo-force,
but also failed due to lack of sea-qualities and low speed. The Type A II with 50 meters, and especially the Type A III with a length of 60
meters, offered later excellent seagoing behaviour and already had two or three 8.8 cm SK L/30 or L/35, however only one torpedo tube.
A-class torpedo boats: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-class_t ... 2.80.93A25
Küsten-Torpedo-Boote - A-Klasse: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-Boot

P.S.
I would translate the German navy rank: Torpedo-Oberheizer with: Sailor first class, engineering branch or NCO machine operator.
In this case, the term: ``Torpedo . . . ´´ refers not to the branch, but to the service on torpedo boats, and not to a large cruiser or battle ship.
Only the aftermath: ``. . . Oberheizer´´ shows service level and area of activity, as for example: Oberheizer, Obersignalgast, Obersanitätsgast.
Maybe someone has other suggestions or information?

Cheers Holger
“Day by day and almost minute by minute the past was brought up to date. . . . All History was a
palimpsest, scraped clean and reinscribed exactly as often as was necessary” – G. ORWELL 1984

Post Reply

Return to “First World War”