 Mosel under attack byRCAFBeaufighters | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Germany | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | Moselle |
| Owner | Hans Kunkel |
| Operator | 1939: Kriegsmarine |
| Port of registry | 1937: Wesermünde |
| Builder | Schiffbau-Gesellschaft "Unterweser", Wesermünde |
| Completed | 1937 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sunk by air attack, 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | fishing trawler |
| Tonnage | 426 GRT, 158 NRT |
| Length | 163.3 ft (49.8 m) |
| Beam | 26.7 ft (8.1 m) |
| Depth | 12.3 ft (3.7 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 1 × shaft; 1 ×screw |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
TheGerman trawlerV 1605 Mosel was asteamtrawler that was built inGermany in 1937 asHans Loh. In 1939 she was converted into thenaval trawlerM-1903. In 1943 she became theVorpostenboot (patrol boat)V-1605. An Allied air attack sank her in theSkagerrak in 1944, killing 21 members of her crew. Her wreck is now arecreationalwreck diving site.
In 1937Schiffbau-Gesellschaft "Unterweser" inWesermünde,Bremerhaven, built a trawler for the fishing fleet of Hans Kunkel.Mosel was very similar toMain, which "Unterweser" had built for Kunkel in 1936,[1] except thatMosel was about half a metre longer.[2]
Mosel's registered length was 163.3 ft (49.8 m), herbeam was 26.7 ft (8.1 m), and her depth was 12.3 ft (3.7 m). Hertonnages were 426 GRT and 158 NRT. She had acruiser stern, and a singlescrew. She was equipped with wirelessdirection finding, and anecho sounding device.[2]
Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau (DeSchiMAG) built her engines in itsSeebeck works at Wesermünde. Her main engine was a three-cylindertriple-expansion engine. It was supplemented by an exhauststeam turbine, which drove the samepropeller shaft via DeSchiMAG's patentBauer-Wach system of aFöttingerfluid coupling anddouble-reduction gearing. The combined power of her reciprocating engine plus exhaust turbine was rated at 96NHP,[2] and gave her a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h).[3]
KunkelregisteredMosel at Wesermünde. Herport letter and number were PG 512,[4] and herwireless telegraphcall sign was DFCY.[2]
In 1939 theKriegsmarine requisitionedMosel, had her converted into a minesweeper, andcommissioned her asM-1903. She served in the19. Minensuchflottille ("19th Mine-hunting Flotilla"), which operated in theBaltic Sea.[5] In April 1940 the flotilla took part in theGerman invasion of Norway.M-1903 helped to rescue thecruiserLützow, which was damaged on 9 April in theBattle of Drøbak Sound.M-1903 also rescued the crew of the minesweeperM-1101 Fock & Hubert, which was stranded after hitting amine on 14 April.[6]
In 1944 the trawler was converted into the patrol boatV-1605. She joined the16. Vorpostenflottille ("16th Patrol Poat Flotilla"), which was based inGerman-occupied Denmark. That October she was assigned to escort the 1,202 GRTtankerInger Johanne fromOslo toKristiansand. On 15 October, an Allied force of 21Beaufighters and 17Mosquitoes fromBanff andDallachyWings attacked the tanker and her escort. The attack ignited the tanker's cargo of petroleum, and severely damagedV-1605 with 20mmautocannon fire. By the end of the attack,V-1605 was on fire from stem to stern, and sank just minutes after the aircraft disengaged. 21 members of her crew were killed.[3][6][7]Inger Johanne was also sunk, and 16 or 17 members of her crew were killed.[8][9]
In 2001V-1605's wreck was found just offJustøy insouthern Norway, at a depth of almost 50 metres (160 ft). The wreck has since become moderately popular with experienced recreational divers.[10]
