Torpedoboot S-70

[CNE503]

Hello,

Does anyone know where was the Torpedoboot typ 1892 S-70 (or T-70 if transformed in minesweeper) in August 1914?
It is the only one of this type that I couldn't track back...

Thanks!
Cheers,

CNE503

[CNE503]

No one?
I have to admit that it's a tough one!

Has anyone a good source (website if possible) that may possibly answer my questions about the WWI Torpedoboote?

Cheers,

CNE503

[jluetjen]

I'm confused. The first Torpedoboot program that I'm aware of is the 1898 program, which started with the S-90

[CNE503]

Hello,

Apparently, there were programs launched before 1898. See here: http://www.german-navy.de/hochseeflotte ... index.html and here: http://www.german-navy.de/hochseeflotte ... index.html.

Anything about the S-70?

Cheers,

CNE503

[jluetjen]

I'm pretty sure that you've already done a thorough web search. I suggest that you keep your eyes open for some contemporary German language books from the Hochseeflotte. Searching the German language sites will most likely be the most productive.

[CNE503]

Hello,

Yes, I did a web search but when it comes to individual little boats such as S-70, it is not sufficient...
It's a pity, but I hardly speak German... Anyway I will stay on station whether someone has something about this torpedoboot.

Thank you and best regards from France.

CNE503

[jluetjen]

What do you know about the boat so far? Do you know the flotilla that it was in? Do you know where it was based? What flotilla(s) were it's sister-boats in?

[jluetjen]

Here's a couple of modern sources. Since you're already in Europe, finding and ordering books is easer than from here in the US. As far as translation, using Google translate is what I usually since "Mine Deutsch ist nicht so gut." I've detailed elsewhere on this forum how you can use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software when scanning in pages to convert to computer text, which you can then run through google translate. The software even does a pretty good job with the old German Franken font.

Anyhow, here's a modern book that may be helpful. https://www.amazon.de/Schiffe-Kaiserlic ... 3763762477

You often may find something by searching administrative minutia like the "Organizational provisions for the staff of the Imperial Navy": https://books.google.com/books?id=GS9EA ... ne&f=false
or Google translated into English... https://translate.google.com/translate? ... rev=search

Also keeping an eye open on the memorabilia markets often is helpful. As I mentioned earlier, you'll sometimes see books from that era come up for sale which might have something useful. While sometimes pricey, they will often have information and pictures that are not published elsewhere.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Kaiserl ... 00&bih=793

[jluetjen]

Another source is to always review the bibliography of books that you get. They can often point you a sources that you weren't aware of. For example...

"Imperial German Navy Deployment, 1914" http://www.gwpda.org/naval/fdgn0001.htm

By the way, they listed the following information that may be helpful for you...

North Sea (Minesweeping)
TB: T66-73

Further down they have the somewhat conflicting information...

3rd Minesweeping Division D8 (leader), T25, T29, T31, T33, T34, T35,

T36, T37, T40, T41, T71, T72, T73.

1 Auxiliary minesweeper division with 8 fishing boats

Minelayers Albatross, Nautilus and Pelikhan.

Auxiliary Minelayers (9)

Auxiliary Cruisers Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse and Victoria Luise converting.

Tenders (attached to fleet flagship, battle squadrons etc.), D4, D5, = S96, S98, T11, T14, T15, T20, T70, T88, T89. Diverse Auxiliary fleet support vessels.

Note the following sources that they used:
Sources:
•Conway's
•Halpern
•Taylor's "German Warships of World War I"

If you can find any of these 3 source, you could most likely get even closer using their sources.

Interestingly, the author of that web page includes this at the end, which could point you to some interesting sources.

The above fleet list is based on "Die Deutsche Hochseeflotte am 2. August 1914" which is to be found here,. This, although an excellent article and which filled a number of gaps in my own knowledge, has to my mind a number of errors and omissions. These I have attempted to correct and I have added a number of pertinent notes and comments. The original is in German, which I do not speak or read, apart from a knowledge of naval terminology. Any changes from the original are my responsibility. I also used a copy of the "Rangliste der Kaiserliche Marine" for 1914. Much additional information and confirmation came from fleet lists in the Polish language book 'Pierwsza Wojina Swiatowa Na Morzu' by Jan Gozdawa-Golebiowski and Tadeusz Wywerka Prekurat.

I have also used numerous other sources, (mostly books: Conways, Groener, Campbell, Halpern, Goldrick, Pavlovich etc. and some internet sites) to help amend the original. To save space I have not listed these in full but would be happy to provide a list if requested.

Who'd have thought looking through Polish sources would be helpful?!

[CNE503]

Great info! Since G-88 and G-89 (later T-88 and T-89) were missing in my list, what you have quoted avoid me to ask a question about them: they were probably used as tenders like the S-96 and S-98 (that I have found yet in this role) and like, it looks probable too, the S-70/T-70.

So far, 31 Torpedoboote are missing in my order of battle (it is not so much, I guess, comparing to the figure of 219 that were launched between 1885 and July 1914!), not included the three aforementioned:
- S/T-13, S/T-16, S/T-18, S/T-19, S/T-22 and S/T-27 (six Torpedoboote typ 1885);
- S-95, S-104, S-105, S-106, S-122, S-123, S-124, S-125, S-129, S-132, S-133, G-135, G-136 and G-137 (14 grosse Torpedoboote typ 1898);
- S-138, V-150, G-175, V-180, V-181, V-182, V-183, V-184 and V-185 (nine grosse Torpedoboote typ 1906);
- V-1 and S-13 (two grosse Torpedoboote typ 1911).

Except for the latter ones, it is possible that these boats were also used in 1914 as tenders or auxiliary minesweepers because of their old pattern.

Many thanks again! I will apply your advices.
Cheers,

CNE503

[jluetjen]

The "Die Deutsche Hochseeflotte am 2. August 1914" can be found on the web, although the link in the previous article is now dead. I glancing at it (Google can do a complete translate), I noticed a number of generic references to "old torpedo boats". Chances are the boats you are looking for are in there.