AVorpostenboot (pluralVorpostenboote) was an auxiliary warship used by Germany in both World Wars. Many vorpostenboote also served in other roles, such assperrbrecher (mine clearance) andweather ships. During World War II, theVorpostenboote were organized into severalsurface flotillas which were in turn attached to variousGerman ports. Over 30Vorpostenflotillas were established to operate off the German, Channel,Baltic and Scandinavian coasts.
1Vorpostenflotille was active in the westernBaltic from 1 October 1939 to 1 October 1940, when it was redesignated 3Sperrbrecherflotille.[1][2]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 101Schwan | 1,311 GRT, 724 NRT.[3] | Compound steam engine, single screwpropeller.[3] | 1938.[3] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Later served asSperrbrecher 31 andSperrbrecher 131. Survived the war, used byGerman Mine Sweeping Administration. Claimed by United Kingdom as aprize in 1947, renamedWeltonwold, laterRhineland. Sold toSouth Africa in 1956. RenamedHerriesbrook, laterInyoni. Scrapped 1962.[4] | |
| V 102Cressida | 1,046 GRT, 477 NRT.[5] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[5] | 1939.[6] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Survived the war and returned to civilian service, ran aground and sank offKarpathos, Greece on 23 December 1962.[7][8] | |
| V 103Sylvia | 1,049 GRT.[9] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Survived the war, transferred to German Mine Sweeping Administration.[10] | |||
| V 104Falke | 998 GRT, 480 NRT.[11] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[11] | 31 July 1909.[10] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Bombed and sunk offLorient, Morbihan, France, 8 August 1944.[10] | |
| V 105Cremon | 268 GRT, 104 NRT.[12] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[12] | 1922.[13] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Struck amine and sank in theNorwegian Sea offBergen, Norway on 11 April 1940.[14] | |
| V 106Phönix | 999 GRT, 530 NRT.[15] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[15] | 28 January 1913.[10] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Scuttled atSaint-Nazaire,Loire-Inférieure, France on 25 August 1944.[16] | |
| V 107Botilla Russ | 996 GRT, 586 NRT.[17] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[17] | 1922.[17] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Struck amine and sank off the coast ofFinistère, France on 28 January 1944.[18] | |
| V 108Friedrich Karl | 1,262 GRT, 589 NRT.[19] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[19] | 1938.[19] | Struck a mine and sank offBorkum on 23 December 1942.[20] | ||
| V 108Porjus | 764 GRT, 355 NRT.[21] | Diesel engine, single screw propeller.[21] | 24 April 1937.[22] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Survived the war and returned to civilian service, wrecked off the coast of "Cheka" on 27 November 1976.[22] | |
| V 109Flamingo | 975 GRT, 402 NRT,[23] 1,035 DWT.[24] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[23] | 1909.[23] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Struck a mine and sank offLindesnes, Norway on 18 February 1945.[24] | |
2Vorpostenflotille existed from September 1939 to December 1944, when it was disbanded. Many vessels were redesignated within the unit, later designations are shown in brackets[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 201Seydlitz (V 211) | 449 GRT, 167 NRT.[25] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screwpropeller.[25] | 1936.[25] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Sunk in the English Channel offBarfleur, Manche, France by British aircraft on 20 March 1944.[26] | |
| V 202Franz Westermann (V 205) | 481 GRT, 178 NRT.[27] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[27] | 1937.[27] | 1 October 1939.[1] | Sunk in an Allied air raid onSt. Peter Port,Guernsey on 15 June 1944.[28][29] | |
| V 203Heinrich Buermann (V 207) | Sunk in an Allied air raid onLe Havre, France on 14 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 204Dorum | 470 GRT, 171 NRT.[31] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[31] | 1937.[31] | 10 September 1939.[1] | To 4Vorpostenflotille, October 1939 | |
| V 205Hermann Bösch (V 202) | 470 GRT, 170 NRT.[32] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[32] | 1937.[32] | 10 September 1939.[1] | Shelled and sunk in theEnglish Channel offLa Hague, France byHMS Calpe andHMS Cottesmore on 28 July 1942.[33] | |
| V 206Gauleiter Telschow (V 209) | 428 GRT, 159 NRT.[34] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[34] | 1937.[34] | 12 September 1939.[1] | Torpedoed and sunk in theNorth Sea offHeligoland byHMS Sturgeon on 20 November 1939.[35] | |
| V 207Otto Bröhan (V 206) | 1 x 88mm gun, 1 x 20mm cannon (1939–43), 1 x 88mm gun, 5 x 20mm cannon (1943–44).[36] | 510 GRT, 189 NRT.[37] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[37] | 28 December 1937.[38] | 6 October 1939.[1] | Scuttled atCaen,Calvados, France on 12 June 1944.[30] |
| V 208Gebrüder Kähler (V 201) | 460 GRT, 170 NRT.[39] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[39] | 20 October 1937.[38]> | 24 September 1939.[1] | Struck amine and sank in theWesterschelde on 5 September 1940.[40] | |
| V 209Carl Röver (V 203) | 396 GRT, 151 NRT.[41] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[41] | July 1933.[42] | 28 September 1939.[1] | Severely damaged in an engagement withHMS Eskimo andHMCS Huron in the English Channel on 13 July 1944. Withdrawn from service September 1944.[43] | |
| V 209Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff | 381 GRT, 147 NRT.[44] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[44] | 17 September 1928.[42] | 23 December 1939.[1] | Sunk by Allied aircraft at St. Peter Port on 24 July 1944. | |
| V 210R. Walther Darré (V 208) | 391 GRT, 151 NRT.[45] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[45] | July 1933.[42] | 28 September 1939.[1] | Sunk in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy on 4 July 1944 by British MTBs.[46] | |
| V 211Friedrich Busse (V 212) | 438 GRT, 166 NRT.[47] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[47] | 7 November 1934.[48] | 16 September 1939.[1] | Scuttled at Caen on 12 June 1944.[30] | |
| V 212Hinrich Hey (V 210) | 422 GRT, 156 NRT.[49] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[49] | 6 October 1934.[50] | 24 September 1939.[1] | Sunk in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy, by British Motor Torpedo Boats on 4 July 1944.[46] | |
| V 213Claus Bolten | 282 GRT, 109 NRT.[51] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[51] | 25 September 1937.[52] | 18 June 1940.[52] | Sunk in an engagement withHMS Eskimo andHMCS Huron by the Channel Islands on 28 June 1944.[53] | |
| V 213Zieten (V 204) | 422 GRT, 156 NRT.[54] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[54] | 16 October 1934.[48] | 17 September 1939.[48] | Scuttled atNantes,Loire-Inférieure, France in 1945.[48] Subsequently, raised, repaired and became the French Navy survey ship and later merchant fishing trawlerAstrolabe. Scrapped 1953.[55] | |
| V 214Spica | 325 GRT, 123 NRT.[56] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[56] | 5 November 1930.[57] | 17 September 1939.[57] | To 8Vorpostenflotille, 21 October 1939.[57] | |
| V 214Teutonia | 487 GRT, 188 NRT.[58] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[58] | 17 June 1937.[59] | 28 September 1939 (as M 1507).[59] | Became a French fishing trawler post-war. Scrapped 1961.[59] | |
| V 215Baden | 321 GRT, 126 NRT.[60] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[60] | June 1930.[61] | 23 September 1939.[61] | To 4Vorpostenflotille, 21 October 1939.[61] | |
| V 215Hela | Sunk in theBaltic Sea offHel,Danzig-West Prussia by Soviet aircraft on 16 April 1945.[62] | |||||
| V 215Oliva | 321 GRT, 126 NRT.[63] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[63] | 25 March 1920.[64] | 1 June 1942 (as V1523).[64] | Scuttled atSaint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine on 6 August 1944.[65] Raised and repaired post war, returned to owners. Scrapped 1957.[64] | |
| V 216Goëland | Sunk atSaint-Malo, France on 6 August 1944.[1] | |||||
| V 222 | Scuttled atBrest, France on 18 August 1944.[65] | |||||
| V 223 | Scuttled at Brest, France on 18 August 1944.[65] | |||||
| V 224 | Scuttled at Brest, France on 18 August 1944.[65] | |||||
| V 225 | Scuttled at Brest, France on 18 August 1944.[65] | |||||
| V 226 | Scuttled at Brest, France on 18 August 1944.[65] | |||||
| V 227 | Scuttled at Brest, France on 18 August 1944.[65] | |||||
3 Vorpostenflotille was established in September 1939.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 301Weser | 650 GRT, 245 NRT.[66] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screwpropeller.[66] | September 1938.[67] | 27 September 1939.[67] | Struck amine and sank in theBaltic Sea offLangeland, Denmark on 25 November 1939.[35] Subsequently, raised, repaired and returned to service. Returned to owners December 1941. Scrapped in 1962.[67] | |
| V 302Bremen | 408 GRT, 156 NRT.[68] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[68] | April 1929.[61] | 30 September 1939.[61] | Returned to owners post-war. Scrapped in 1953.[61] | |
| V 303Tannenberg | 372 GRT, 140 NRT. | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[69] | May 1935.[70] | 23 September 1939.[70] | Sunk on 5 January 1941. Raised, repaired and returned to service. Returned to owners post-war. Converted to cargo ship in 1958. Wrecked in 1978.[70] | |
| V 304Breslau | 295 GRT, 115 NRT.[71] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[71] | May 1925.[42] | 30 September 1939.[42] | Wrecked at the entrance to theNoordzeekanaal, 17 September 1940.[42] | |
| V 305Ostpreussen | 372 GRT, 140 NRT.[72] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[72] | June 1935.[70] | 30 September 1939.[70] | Returned to owners post-war. Converted to cargo ship 1957, scrapped 1958.[70] | |
| V 306Fritz Hincke | 381 GRT, 147 NRT.[73] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[73] | August 1929.[42] | 23 September 1939.[42] | Struck a mine and sank in theNorth Sea offIJmuiden, Netherlands on 5 January 1940.[74] | |
| V 307Württemberg | 374 GRT, 141 NRT.[75] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[75] | 26 November 1929.[76] | 25 September 1939.[76] | Returned to owners post-war. Scrapped July 1957.[76] | |
| V 308Oscar Neynaber | 314 GRT, 120 NRT.[77] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[77] | 30 October 1929.[52] | 17 September 1939.[52] | Torpedoed and sunk in the Baltic Sea by theSovietMotor Torpedo BoatTKA-12 on 23 September 1941.[52][78] | |
| V 309Martin Donandt | 367 GRT, 142 NRT.[79] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[79] | August 1927.[42] | 28 September 1939.[42] | Struck a mine and sank in the Baltic Sea offVentspils, Latvia on 28 October 1941.[80] | |
| V 310Rosemarie | 292 GRT, 112 NRT.[81] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[81] | September 1924.[42] | 29 April 1941.[42] | Returned to owners post war. Scrapped in 1953.[42] | |
| V 311Osdorf | 250 GRT, 99 NRT.[82] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[82] | 1 September 1921.[83] | 20 April 1941.[83] | Returned to owners post war. Sold to Norway in 1951 and rebuilt as a coaster. Lost in a collision in 1956.[83] | |
| V 312Hanseat | 305 GRT, 109 NRT.[84] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[84] | 5 August 1926.[85] | 3 May 1941.[85] | Ran aground and was wrecked on 20 August 1942.[85] | |
| V 313Eifel | 290 GRT, 112 NRT.[86] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[86] | 1929.[87] | 20 April 1941.[88] | Returned to owner post-war. Scrapped 1955.[88] | |
| V 314Heinrich Lehnert | 269 GRT, 103 NRT.[89] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[89] | September 1918.[90] | 27 April 1941.[90] | Redesignated Vs 314Heinrich Lehnert on 1 October 1943. Returned to owners post-war, scrapped 1950.[90] | |
| V 315Bris | 1 x 75 or 88mm cannon, 2 x 37mm anti-aircraft guns, 4 to 10 x 20mm machine guns, 6 x depth charge throwers.[91] | 589 GRT,[90] displacement 1,250 tons.[91] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[90] | 14 June 1941.[90] | 3 February 1942.[90] | Collided withHendrik Fisser 7 and sank in the Baltic Sea offGroßendorf,Danzig-West Prussia on 12 March 1945.[91] |
| V 316 | Torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea offDen Helder, Netherlands by Allied aircraft on 25 September 1943.[92] | |||||
| V 317Wega | 337 GRT, 128 NRT.[93] | Compound steam engine, single screw propller.[93] | 23 December 1931.[52] | 29 November 1939.[94] | Returned to owners post-war. Scrapped 1955.[52] | |
4Vorpostenflotille was formed in September 1939 and was disbanded in September 1944. Many vessels were re-designated within the unit. Later designations are shown in brackets.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 401Nordland (V 411) | 393 GRT, 152 NRT.[95] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[95] | 3 October 1922.[96] | 4 September 1939.[96] | Redesignated V 411 on 7 September 1939, but then returned to civilian use.[97] Captured byHMS Hostile off the Lofoten Islands 7 April 1940,[98] became the salvage vessel HMSNordland. Sold in 1948 and became the sludge carrierTulipfield. Scrapped atAntwerp, Belgium in October 1965.[97] | |
| V 401Dr. Adolf Spilker (V 402) | 435 GRT, 168 NRT.[99] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[99] | 22 August 1936.[100] | 16 September 1939.[100] | Scuttled atBayonne, France on 21 August 1944.[65] | |
| V 402Hans Loh (V 406) | 464 GRT, 159 NRT.[101] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[101] | 23 November 1936.[70] | 17 September 1939.[70] | Struck a mine and sank in the Gironde Estuary on 18 August 1944.[65] | |
| V 403Germania (V 410) | 427 GRT, 168 NRT.[102] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[102] | 11 July 1934.[103] | 17 September 1939.[103] | Attacked by Allied aircraft and sank in theGironde Estuary, 12 August 1944 with the loss of three of her crew.[103][104][65] | |
| V 404Deutschland (V 403) | 432 GRT, 161 NRT.[105] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[105] | July 1934.[70] | 3 September 1939.[70] | Struck amine and sank offVlissingen, Netherlands on 5 September 1940 with the loss of four of her crew.[40][70] | |
| V 404Baden | 321 GRT, 126 NRT.[60] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[60] | June 1930.[61] | 23 September 1939 (as V 215Baden).[61] | Scuttled atBordeaux,Gironde, France, 26 August 1944.[65] Raised post-war, repaired and returned to service as the French cargo shipDocteur Edmond Papin.[61] | |
| V 405J. Hinrich Wilhelms | 440 GRT, 162 NRT.[106] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[106] | 6 October 1934.[70] | 22 September 1939.[70] | Scuttled at Bayonne on 30 August 1944.[1] Repaired post-war and entered French merchant service. Scrapped 1974.[70] | |
| V 406Jan Mayen (V 401) | 654 GRT, 246 NRT.[107] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[107] | 29 September 1938.[70] | 23 September 1939.[70] | Scuttled at Bayonne on 22 August 1944.[1] Refloated post-war, served as a French and Dutch fishing boat. Converted to a cargo ship in early 1970s, in service until at least 1982.[108] | |
| V 407Saarland (V 411) | 435 GRT, 162 NRT.[109] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[109] | 27 June 1934.[70] | 25 September 1939.[70] | Sunk atLe Verdon-sur-Mer byBeaufighter aircraft on 26 August 1944. | |
| V 407Dorum | 470 GRT, 171 NRT.[31] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[31] | 1937.[31] | 10 September 1939 (as V204Dorum).[1] | Scuttled, either in the Gironde or at Bordeaux on 28 August 1944.[65] | |
| V 408Haltenbank | 444 GRT, 166 NRT.[110] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[110] | September 1934.[70] | 20 September 1939.[70] | Torpedoed and sunk in theBay of Biscay byUSS Blackfish on 19 February 1943.[111] | |
| V 409August Bösch | 401 GRT, 155 NRT.[112] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[112] | 8 June 1934.[38] | 25 September 1939.[38] | Bombed and sunk atLes Sables-d'Olonne, France on 20 August 1944.[38] | |
| V 412Bremerhaven | 371 GRT, 139 NRT.[113] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[113] | August 1927.[61] | 23 November 1939.[61] | Torpedoed and sunk by HMMTB45 west ofSaint-Pol-de-Léon,Finistère, France on 25 November 1941.[61][114] | |
| V 413Ferdinand Niedermeyer | 266 GRT, 103 NRT.[115] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[115] | 18 September 1925.[42] | 23 May 1941.[42] | Sunk at Le Verdon-sur-Mer by Beaufighter aircraft on 21 August 1944.[65] | |
| V 414Sachsenwald | 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun, 1 ×3.7 cm SK C/30 AA gun, 2 ×2 cm C/30 quad AA guns, 2 × 2 cm C/30 AA guns, 2 × 1.5 cm AA guns, depth charges | 650 GRT, 240 NRT,[116] 1,425 tons displacement. | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[116] | June 1939.[117] | January 1940.[118] | Shelled and sunk in theBay of Biscay on 6 August 1944.[119] |
| V 415Gotland | ||||||
| V 420Alcyon | 266 GRT, 103 NRT.[120] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[120] | 1904.[121] | Sunk in the Gironde Estuary by Royal Air Force aircraft on 20 August 1943.[122] | ||
| V 421Rauzan | 259 GRT, 111 NRT.[123] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[123] | 10 April 1906.[123] | 1 October 1942.[124] | Lost in theEnglish Channel, 4 June 1944.[124] | |
| V 422Kergroise | 261 GRT, 84 NRT.[125] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[125] | July 1918.[90] | 13 October 1942.[90] | Bombed and sunk off Lorient by Allied aircraft on 30 June 1944.[90] | |
| V 423Keryado II | 320 GRT, 147 NRT.[126] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[126] | 1904.[127] | 20 August 1942 .[127] | Returned to owners post-war, scrapped 1955.[127] | |
| V 424Carl J. Busch | 305 GRT, 101 NRT.[128] | Diesel engine, single screw propeller.[128] | 14 April 1925.[129] | 1939.[130] | Sold to Norway post-war, eventually scrapped in November 1979.[130] | |
| V 427Victoire | 255 GRT, 72 NRT.[131] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[131] | 26 February 1908.[90] | 4 June 1941.[1] | To 13Vorpostenflottille as V 1311Victoire, 10 October 1942.[90] | |
| V 430 | 3 June 1944.[1] | |||||
| V 431 | 21 June 1944.[1] | |||||
| V 432 | 23 June 1944.[1] | |||||
| V 433 | 23 June 1944.[1] | |||||
| V 434 | 24 June 1944.[1] | |||||
| V 435 | 27 June 1944.[1] | |||||
5Vorpostengruppe was established in September 1939 and disbanded on 22 May 1940.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| Wandrahm (Schiff 4) | 1,228 GRT, 683 NRT.[132] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[132] | 29 November 1927.[133] | 30 September 1939.[1] | Later V 1801Wandrahm and V 6114Eismeer. ToSoviet Union post-war as factory shipOnega.[134] | |
| Birka (Schiff 8) | Unarmed | 1,000 GRT, 508 NRT.[135] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[135] | 23 June 1937.[136] | 5 September 1940.[137] | Struck amine and sank in theAltafjord, 1 June 1943.[137] |
| Neuss (Schiff 15) | 1,243 GRT, 673 NRT.[138] | Twodiesel engines, twin screw propellers.[138] | 11 October 1935.[139] | 30 September 1939.[139] | Returned to owners post-war. | |
| Nerissa (Schiff 20) | 992 GRT, 454 NRT.[140] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[140] | 6 June 1936.[139] | 7 September 1939.[139] | Torpedoed and sunk 28 June 1944.[139] | |
6Vorpostengruppe was established in September 1939 and disbanded on 22 May 1940.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| Dr. Heinrich Wiegand (Schiff 12) | 1,421 GRT, 797 NRT,[141] 2,500 DWT.[142] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[141] | 1 September 1938.[139] | 13 September 1939.[139] | To 6Vorpostenflotille in 1943.[1] | |
| Jupiter (Schiff 1) | 2,170 GRT, 1,357 NRT.[143] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[143] | 25 January 1895.[144] | January 1940.[1] | To Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut post-war. Scrapped 1949.[145] | |
| Möwe (Schiff 7) | ||||||
| Oldenburg (Schiff 35) | 2,312 GRT, 1,223 NRT.[146] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[146] | 29 June 1936.[147] | 12 October 1939.[1] | Torpedoed and sunk byHMS Sunfish on 14 April 1940.[147] | |
| Schürbek (Schiff 40) | 2,448 GRT, 1,435 NRT.[148] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[148] | 10 April 1930.[147] | 5 September 1939.[1] | Bombed and damaged at Hamburg on 12 March 1945. Declared aconstructive total loss. Scrapped 1948–49.[149] | |
6Vorpostenflotille was established on 1 January 1943 and disbanded in September 1944.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 601Dr. Heinrich Wiegand (Schiff 12) | 1,421 GRT, 797 NRT,[141] 2,500 DWT.[142] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[141] | 1 September 1938.[139] | 13 September 1939.[139] | Sunk in Allied air attack atWesermünde on 18 September 1944. Subsequently refloated, allocated to United States post-war.[139] | |
| V 602Richard C. Krogmann | 290 GRT, 110 NRT.[150] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[150] | 14 June 1928.[52] | 5 September 1939.[52] | Struck amine and sank in theCharente on 11 November 1943.[151] | |
| V 603Carsten | 258 GRT, 98 NRT.[152] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[152] | June 1923.[153] | 22 September 1939.[153] | Allocated to France post-war, scrapped 1954.[153] | |
| V 604Fritz Reiser | 278 GRT, 107 NRT.[154] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[154] | 15 November 1924.[85] | 22 September 1939.[85] | Seized by France in 1944.[85] | |
| V 605Arthur Duncker | 278 GRT, 107 NRT.[155] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[155] | 28 October 1924.[85] | 22 September 1939.[85] | Struck a mine and sank in theEnglish Channel offLa Pallice on 14 August 1944.[65] | |
| V 606Fladengrund | 1 x 88mm cannon, various 20mm guns.[156] | 258 GRT, 98 NRT.[157] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[157] | May 1923.[153] | 22 September 1939.[153] | Sunk in theBay of Biscay offBelle Île in a British air raid on 26 April 1944.[158] |
| V 607Düsseldorf | 259 GRT, 96 NRT.[159] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[159] | 6 April 1921.[85] | 8 August 1940.[85] | Sunk in French waters, 1944. Subsequently refloated, repaired and entered French service as the fishing vesselTurbot in 1948.[85] | |
| V 620Derfflinger | 298 GRT, 136 NRT.[160] | Diesel engine, single screw propeller.[160] | 16 February 1939.[161] | 9 October 1939.[161] | To French Navy post-war. Sold in 1948, became fishing trawlerAndré Guillaume. Scrapped December 1953.[161] | |
| V 621Mars | 268 GRT, 124 NRT.[162] | Diesel engine, single screw propeller.[162] | 8 June 1937.[161] | 10 September 1939.[161] | Sunk in the Bay of Biscay off Belle Île by Allied air attack on 6 July 1944.[46] | |
| V 622Almuth | 269 GRT, 120 NRT.[163] | Diesel engine, single screw propeller.[163] | 5 May 1937.[161] | 11 September 1939.[161] | Struck a mine and sank in the Bay of Biscay offSaint-Nazaire on 8 April 1944.[158] | |
| V 623Jupiter | 267 GRT, 126 NRT.[164] | Diesel engine, single screw propeller.[161] | 27 June 1936.[161] | 9 October 1939.[161] | Scuttled atNantes on 11 August 1944.[65] | |
| V 624Köln | 269 GRT, 121 NRT.[165] | Diesel engine, single screw propeller.[165] | 15 April 1937.[161] | 9 October 1939.[161] | Struck a mine 31 July 1943 and laid up. Seized by French in 1944, repaired and entered service with the French Navy in 1946. Rebuilt to transport ship in 1947 and renamedMolène. Sold in 1963 and became a fishing trawler again.[161] | |
| V 625Johann Schulte | 298 GRT, 136 NRT.[166] | Diesel engine, single screw propeller.[166] | 22 March 1939.[161] | 7 January 1940.[161] | Sunk 1945. Salvaged by the French, repaired and entered service with the French Navy in 1946. Rebuilt to transport ship in 1947 and renamedGapeau. Sold in 1969,[161] Scrapped in 1970.[167] | |
| V 626Le Tésterin | ||||||
| V 627Elise | ||||||
| V 628De Ruyter | ||||||
7Vorpostenflotille was established on 22 September 1939. It was disbanded in September 1944.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 701Este | Struck a mine and sank in theDanish straits on 21 October 1939.[168] | |||||
| V 702Memel | Shelled and sunk offAudierne byHMS Mauritius,HMS Ursa andHMCS Iroquois on 23 August 1944.[65][169] | |||||
| V 703Henry Fricke | Ran aground onAlderney and was wrecked on 14 January 1943.[170] | |||||
| V 704Claus Wisch | Struck a mine in theBaltic Sea offTrelleborg on 30 November 1939, beached but declared atotal loss.[35] | |||||
| V 704Richard C. Krogmann | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[150] | 290 GRT, 110 NRT.[150] | 14 June 1928.[52] | 5 September 1939.[52] | To 6Vorpostenflotille, 1 July 1943 | |
| V 705Carsten | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[152] | 258 GRT, 98 NRT.[152] | June 1923.[153] | 22 September 1939.[153] | To 6Vorpostenflotille, 1 July 1943.[153] | |
| V 706Fritz Reiser | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[154] | 278 GRT, 107 NRT.[154] | 15 November 1924.[85] | 22 September 1929.[85] | To 6Vorpostenflotille, 19 August 1943.[85] | |
| V 707Arthur Duncker | 278 GRT, 107 NRT.[155] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[155] | 28 October 1924.[85] | 22 September 1939.[85] | To 6Vorpostenflotille, 10 December 1943.[85] | |
| V 708Fladengrund | 1 x 88mm cannon, various 20mm guns.[156] | 258 GRT, 98 NRT.[157] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[157] | May 1923.[153] | 22 September 1939.[153] | To 6Vorpostenflotille, 8 February 1944.[153] |
| V 709Guido Möhring | Torpedoed and sunk in theBay of Biscay off Port Ley on 18 April 1941.[171][172] | |||||
| V 710Düsseldorf | 259 GRT, 96 NRT.[159] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[159] | 6 April 1921.[85] | 8 August 1940.[85] | To 6Vorpostenflotille, 9 April 1944.[85] | |
| V 711Senator Predöhl | ||||||
| V 712 | Struck a mine and sank in theEnglish Channel offCherbourg on 20 January 1944.[173] | |||||
| V 712Chemnitz | Struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Cherbourg on 20 January 1944.[173] | |||||
| V 713Leipzig | Struck a mine and sank in the Bay of Biscay offBrest on 19 July 1944.[46] | |||||
| V 714Neubau 168 | ||||||
| V 715Alfred I | Sunk in Bay of Biscay byHMCSQu'Appelle,Restigouche,Saskatchewan, andSkeena on 7 July 1944. | |||||
| V 716Alfred II | ||||||
| V 717Alfred III | Sunk in Bay of Biscay byHMS Mauritius,HMS Ursa andHMCS Iroquois on 23 August 1944. | |||||
| V 718 | ||||||
| V 719Neubau 240 | ||||||
| V 720 | ||||||
| V 721Neubau 308 | Shelled in English Channel by British ships on 6 July 1944, beached atPenmarc'h.[46] | |||||
| V 722Pilote XIII | Struck a mine and sank in the English Channel near Brest (Bertheaume bay) on 15 March 1944. The wreck position in WGS84 is 48°18,77'N – 4°41,03'W.[26] | |||||
| V 723Jeanne Marie | Shelled and sunk at Brest on 13 August 1944.[65] | |||||
| V 724St. Dominique | Struck a mine and sank in the Bay of Biscay off Brest on 4 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 725Petit Poilu | Bombed and sunk atPauillac, Gironde, France on 5 August 1944. | |||||
| V 726Antifer | ||||||
| V 727Goëland | Scuttled atSaint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, France on 14 August 1944. | |||||
| V 728Vierge de Nassabielle | ||||||
| V 729Marie Simone | Sunk in the Bay of Biscay byHMS Mauritius,HMS Ursa andHMCS Iroquois on 23 August 1944. | |||||
| V 730 Michel François | Sunk in the Bay of Biscay byHMS Mauritius,HMS Ursa andHMCS Iroquois on 23 August 1944. | |||||
8Vorpostenflotille was formed in September 1939 and disbanded in 1945. One vessel was redesignated within the unit.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 801Bayern | Struck amine and sank in theWadden Sea offAmeland on 9 June 1940.[174] | |||||
| V 801Max Gundelach | Sunk in theNorth Sea offTerschelling on 25 July 1943 by Allied action.[175] | |||||
| V 801Stoomloodsvartuig 17 | ||||||
| V 802Sagitta | ||||||
| V 803Stuttgart (V 806) | ||||||
| V 803Wiesbaden | Sank on 15 August 1944. | |||||
| V 804Skolpenbank | Struck a mine and sank in the North Sea offSchiermonnikoog on 17 October 1939.[176] | |||||
| V 804Spica | 325 GRT, 123 NRT.[56] | Compound steam engine, single screwpropeller.[56] | 5 November 1930.[57] | 17 September 1939 (as V 214Spica).[57] | Returned to owners post-war. Scrapped 1955.[57] | |
| V 805Island | Struck a mine and sank in theNorth Sea offTerschelling on 20 July 1943.[177] | |||||
| V 805MFL 8 | ||||||
| V 806Stuttgart | ||||||
| V 807Auguste Kämpf | Torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Terschelling byBeaufighter aircraft of theRAF on 29 April 1943.[178] | |||||
| V 807MFL 1 | ||||||
| V 808Reichspräsident von Hindenburg | Bombed and sunk in the North Sea offBorkum by RAF aircraft on 2 May 1941.[179] | |||||
| V 808Ehrensburger | ||||||
| V 809Konsul Dubbers | ||||||
| V 810Falkland | Torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea offLand Wursten by aircraft ofCoastal Command, RAF on 22 July 1944.[46] | |||||
| V 811Hugo Homann | Struck a mine in theEms estuary and sank on 6 May 1940.[180] | |||||
| V 811Claus Ebeling | ||||||
| V 812Amtsgerichsrat Pitschke | Sunk in an Allied air raid on 22 July 1944.[181] | |||||
| V 813Otto Krogmann | ||||||
| V 814Gotland | ||||||
9Vorpostenflotille was established on 27 September 1939. It was disbanded on 23 April 1945.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 901Senator Sprecher | ||||||
| V 902Senator Sachse | ||||||
| V 903Mainz | ||||||
| V 904Else Wilhelms | ||||||
| V 905Karl Bergh | ||||||
| V 906Schwalbe | ||||||
| V 907Spessart | ||||||
| V 907N. Elbing | ||||||
| V 908Claus Ebeling | ||||||
| V 909Flensburg | ||||||
| V 910 | ||||||
| V 911 | ||||||
| V 912 | ||||||
| V 913 | ||||||
| V 914 | ||||||
| V 915 | ||||||
| V 916 | ||||||
| V 917 | ||||||
| Schiff 7 Wega | 337 GRT, 128 NRT.[93] | Compound steam engine, single screw propller.[93] | 23 December 1931.[52] | 29 November 1939.[94] | To 3Vorpostenflotille, 1 May 1943.[94] | |
10Vorpostenflotille was established in September 1939. It was renamed 10 Sicherungsflottille on 1 October 1943.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 1001Thüringen | ||||||
| V 1001Stettin | ||||||
| V 1002Tilly | ||||||
| V 1002A. Kappelhof | ||||||
| V 1003Welle | ||||||
| V 1003Hanna | ||||||
| V 1004Johanna | ||||||
| V 1004Anna | ||||||
| V 1005Cremona | ||||||
| V 1005Amalie | ||||||
| V 1006Hayo | ||||||
| V 1006Elfriede | ||||||
| V 1007Käthe | ||||||
| V 1007Gesine | ||||||
| V 1008Walküre | ||||||
| V 1008Marie | ||||||
| V 1009Gertrud | ||||||
| V 1009 Cornelia | ||||||
| V 1010Allegro | ||||||
| V 1010Martha | ||||||
| V 1011Altair | ||||||
| V 1011Adeline | ||||||
| V 1012Anna Marie | ||||||
| V 1012Erika | ||||||
| V 1013Herinrich Brons | ||||||
| V 1014Richard Ohlrogge | Struck amine and sank in theGreat Belt on 20 July 1943.[182] | |||||
| V 1014Kiel | ||||||
11Vorpostenflotille was formed in September 1939. A few vessels were redesignated within the unit.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 1101Preußen | 425 grt | Single Screw propeller | 1930 | 1939 | Sunk in theNorth Sea offLangeoog by rockets fired by RAFBeaufighters on 13 August 1944.[183] | |
| V 1102Gleiwitz | Driven ashore and wrecked atHanstholm, Denmark on 30 January 1943.[184] | |||||
| V 1102Lützow | ||||||
| V 1103 Nordkap | Struck amine and sank in the North Sea offAmeland, Netherlands on 29 May 1942.[185] | |||||
| V 1103Reemt | ||||||
| V 1104Ernst von Briesen | Torpedoed in the North Sea offBorkum byCoastal CommandBeaufighters on 18 May 1943.[186] | |||||
| V 1104Weißenfels | Struck a mine and sank in the North Sea offCuxhaven on 14 February 1945.[187] | |||||
| V 1105Ernst Gröschel | Struck a mine and sank in the North Sea on 26 January 1943.[184] | |||||
| V 1105Jochen Homann | ||||||
| V 1106Heinrich Bueren | Struck a mine and sank in theElbe on 12 February 1945.[187] | |||||
| V 1106Neufundland | ||||||
| V 1107Portland | Torpedoed and sunk in theNorwegian Sea south ofStavanger byHMS Snapper on 25 June 1940.[188] | |||||
| V 1108Arctur | Torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea offTexel on 2 August 1943.[122] | |||||
| V 1109Antares | Struck a mine and sank in the North Sea offHaugesund on 29 May 1940.[189][190] | |||||
| V 1109Mähren | Bombed and torpedoed in the North Sea offDen Helder by Royal Air Force aircraft 13 June 1943.[191] | |||||
| V 1110Hermann Hinrichs | Torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea offVlieland by Coastal Command Beaufighters on 17 May 1943.[186] | |||||
| V 1111Christian Wendig | Bombed in the North Sea offSpiekeroog by Coastal Command Beaufighters on 21 July 1944, subsequently bombed again and sunk in theJade Bight.[46] | |||||
| V 1112 | ||||||
| V 1113 | ||||||
| V 1114 | Bombed and sunk in theGerman Bight by RAF aircraft on 26 April 1945.[62] | |||||
| V 1115 | ||||||
12Vorpostenflotille was formed on 26 September 1939. It was disbanded in December 1947.[1]
13Vorpostenflotille was established in September 1939. It was disbanded in January 1945.[1]
14Vorpostenflotille was established on 1 February 1943 and disbanded in 1945.[1]
† Losses:- V 1401Deister suffered aboiler explosion and sank in theNorth Sea offIJmuiden,North Holland, Netherlands on 26 April 1944;[158] a vessel designated V 1401 was bombed and sunk at IJmuiden on 24 August 1944.[65] V 1405Ritzebüttel (as V 2008Ritzebüttel) struck amine and sank in theBroad Fourteens offWestkapelle,West Flanders, Belgium on 25 February 1943. Ten crew were killed.[111][200] V 1408Aue wastorpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off IJmuiden byBristol Beaufighter aircraft of theRoyal Air Force on 29 April 1943. V 1409Limburgia was torpedoed and sunk inSeine Bay byHMMGB 38 andHMMGB 39 on 18 April 1943.[178] V 1411Zeemeeuw sank in the North Sea off IJmuiden on 5 July 1944.[46] V 1412Witte Zee was sunk in the North Sea in a battle withHMMTB 455,HMMTB 457,HMMTB 458,HMMTB 467,HMMTB 468,HMMTB 469 andHMMTB 470 on 14 July 1944.[46] V 1415Azimuth on 26 March 1944.[1] V 1416 was sunk at IJmuiden byMartin B-26 Marauder aircraft of the United StatesEighth Air Force.[26] V 1417Stoomloodsvartuig 11 was sunk in the North Sea offTerschelling,Friesland, Netherlands by British aircraft on 17 January 1945.[201]
15Vorpostenflotille was formed in September 1939. It was disbanded in 1945.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 1501Wiking 7 | Torpedoed and sunk in theEnglish Channel offCap d'Antifer on 27 September 1943.[92] | |||||
| V 1502Wiking 6 | 1939 | 1939 | Seized by Royal Navy at Emden on 29 October 1945. | |||
| V 1503Wiking 10 | 1939 | 1940 | Seized by Royal Navy at Emden on 29 October 1945. | |||
| V 1504Wiking 8 | 1939 | 1940 | Seized by Royal Navy at Emden on 29 October 1945. | |||
| V 1505Wal 8 | Bombed and sunk atLe Havre on 15 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 1506Wal 9 | Bombed and sunk in the English Channel off Le Havre on 15 June 1944.[202] | |||||
| V 1507Rau VI | Torpedoed and sunk in theSkaggerak byHMS Triton on 15 April 1940.[203] | |||||
| V 1507Rau I | Struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Cap d'Antifer on 12 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 1508Rau III | Torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel offBoulogne byRoyal NavyTorpedo Boat on 23 July 1941.[204] | |||||
| V 1509Rau II | Sunk in the English Channel off Cap d'Antifer by enemy action on 5 June 1944.[205] | |||||
| V 1510 Unitas 6 | Struck a wreck and foundered in the English Channel offDieppe on 2 June 1942.[206] | |||||
| V 1511Rau IV | ||||||
| V 1511Unitas 7 | Sunk in Allied air raid at Le Havre on 14 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 1512Unitas 8 | ||||||
| V 1513Linz | ||||||
| V 1514Beuthen | Struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Dieppe on 25 November 1942.[207] | |||||
| V 1515Rothienbaum | Bombed at Le Havre on 2 April 1942, raised asM3857 Rothienbaum, sunk again at La Pallice on 16 September 1943.[92] | |||||
| V 1516Rouen | ||||||
| V 1517Kerdonis II | ||||||
| V 1520Loodsboot 6 | ||||||
| V 1521Vimy | ||||||
| V 1522Dauphin | ||||||
| V 1523Deltra I | 321 GRT, 126 NRT.[63] | Triple expansion steam engine, single screw propeller.[63] | 25 March 1920.[64] | 1 June 1942.[64] | To 2Vorpostenflotille, 23 November 1943.[64] | |
| V 1524Patrice | ||||||
| V 1525Eglantine | ||||||
| V 1530 | ||||||
| V 1531 | ||||||
| V 1532 | ||||||
| V 1533 | ||||||
| V 1534 | ||||||
| V 1535 | ||||||
| V 1536 | ||||||
| V 1537 | Sunk in an Allied air raid on Le Havre on 15 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 1538 | ||||||
| V 1539 | ||||||
| V 1540 | Sunk in an Allied air raid on Le Havre on 15 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 1541 | Sunk in an Allied air raid on Le Havre on 15 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 1548Gebrüder Kähler | ||||||
| V 1549Berlebeck | ||||||
| V 1549Hoheweg | ||||||
The unit also operated theseFlower-class corvettes captured whilst under construction in France.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| PA 1 | 16 October 1940 | Captured June 1940 | Bombed and sunk byRoyal Air Force aircraft at Le Havre on 15 June 1944.[208] | |||
| PA 2 | 22 November 1940 | Captured June 1940 | Bombed and sunk by Royal Air Force aircraft at Le Havre on 15 June 1944.[209] | |||
| PA 3 | 29 November 1940 | Captured June 1940 | Bombed and sunk by Royal Air Force aircraft at Le Havre on 15 June 1944.[210] | |||
| PA 4 | Not completed | Captured June 1940 | Scuttled as ablockship atNantes in August 1944. | |||
16Vorpostengruppe was formed in July 1940. It was redesignated 16Vorpostenflotille on 20 September 1940.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| Koblenz (Schiff 9) | Struck a mine and sank in theNorth Sea offBergen, Norway on 11 April 1940.[14] | |||||
| Altenland (Schiff 18) | ||||||
| Schleswig (Schiff 37) | ||||||
16Vorpostenflotille was formed on 20 September 1940. It was disbanded in July 1945.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 1601 Skorpion | ||||||
| V 1601Lindormen | ||||||
| V 1602La Provence | Struck a mine and sank in theSkaggerak on 5 February 1943.[111] | |||||
| V 1603Termidor | ||||||
| V 1604Natter | ||||||
| V 1605Alma | ||||||
| V 1605Mosel | Bombed and sunk in the Skaggerak offJustøy byCanadianBeaufighters on 15 October 1944.[211] | |||||
| V 1606Girolou | ||||||
| V 1606Julius Fock | Sunk in theBaltic Sea offSteinort by Soviet aircraft on 7 December 1944.[212] | |||||
| V 1607Nord Caper | ||||||
| V 1608Sülldorf | Sunk offKristiansand by Beaufighters of235 and248 Squadrons andMosquitoes of 404 Squadron on 14 September 1944.[192] | |||||
| V 1609Othmarschen | ||||||
| V 1610Innsbruck | Sunk in theKattegat by Mosquitoes of 235 and 248 Squadrons on 7 March 1945.[213] | |||||
| V 1611Forst | ||||||
| V 1612Gotha | Sunk in the Kattegat by Mosquitoes of 235 and 248 Squadrons on 7 March 1945.[213] | |||||
| V 1613Jane | ||||||
| V 1613Riebo | ||||||
| V 1614Tormilind | ||||||
| V 1614Neerlandia | ||||||
| V 1615Tietie | ||||||
| V 1616Pirola | ||||||
| V 1617Jaweg | ||||||
| V 1620KOL 15 | ||||||
| V 1621SAG 29 | ||||||
| V 1622PIL 29 | ||||||
| V 1623PIL 76 | ||||||
17Vorpostenflotille was formed in June 1940. It was disbanded in 1945.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 1701Unitas 2 | Bombed and sunk inNarva Bay by Soviet aircraft on 8 May 1944.[199] | |||||
| V 1701Bahrenfeld | ||||||
| V 1702Unitas 3 | Collided withU-987 and sank in theBaltic Sea on 17 February 1944.[214] | |||||
| V 1703Unitas 4 | ||||||
| V 1704Unitas 5 | ||||||
| V 1705Rau XI | ||||||
| V 1706Rau XII | ||||||
| V 1707Wiking 4 | Sunk in the Baltic Sea offKotka by Soviet aircraft on 16 July 1944.[46] | |||||
| V 1708Süd III | Incorporated into Royal Netherlands Navy, decommissioned and scrapped in 1962.[215] | |||||
| V 1709Wal 1 | ||||||
| V 1710Natter | ||||||
| V 1715Kol 15 | ||||||
| V 1716SAG 29 | ||||||
| V 1717PIL 29 | ||||||
| V 1718PIL 76 | ||||||
18Vorpostengruppe was formed in July 1940. It was redesignated 18Vorpostenflotille on 3 October 1940.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| Wega (Schiff 7) | 337 GRT, 128 NRT.[93] | Compound steam engine, single screw propeller.[93] | 23 December 1931.[52] | 29 November 1939.[94] | To9 Vorpostenflottille, 1 July 1942.[94] | |
| Julius Pickenpack (Schiff 26) | ||||||
| Wilhelm Huth (Schiff 47) | ||||||
18Vorpostenflotille was formed on 3 October 1940. It was disbanded in 1945.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 1801Lutteur | NamedO 22 S when she sank in December 1941. She was subsequently salvaged and repaired. She was sunk in an Allied air raid onKiel, Schleswig-Holstein on 12 April 1944 but was salvaged in December 1944, repaired and returned to service.[216] | |||||
| V 1801Wandrahm | ||||||
| V 1802Orient | Sunk in theBaltic Sea offMemel,East Prussia by Soviet aircraft on 11 November 1944.[217] | |||||
| V 1803Le Havre de Grace | ||||||
| V 1804Excellent | ||||||
| V 1805Senateur Louis Brindeau | Sunk in an Allied air raid onLe Havre, Seine-Maritime, France on 15 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 1806Surmulet | ||||||
| V 1807Wagram | Struck amine and sank on 14 August 1942.[218] | |||||
| V 1808Dortmund | Struck a mine and sank in theBroad Fourteens on 23 May 1942.[185] | |||||
| V 1809Henry P. Newman | ||||||
| V 1810Condor | Bombed and sunk in theEnglish Channel offBoulogne, Pas-de-Calais, France on 2 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 1811Sylt | ||||||
| V 1812Halle | ||||||
| V 1813Thothn | ||||||
| V 1814Linz | Sunk in an Allied air raid on Boulogne on 16 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 1815Loodsboot 6 | Sunk in an Allied air rain on Boulogne on 16 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 1816Dauphine | ||||||
| V 1817Eglantine | ||||||
19Vorpostenflotille was formed in July 1940. It was redesignated 5Sicherungsflotille on 1 October 1943. One vessel was redesignated within the unit.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 1901Präsident Mutzenbecher (V 1924) | ||||||
| V 1901Richard Ohlrogge | ||||||
| V 1902Amsel | ||||||
| V 1903Fink | ||||||
| V 1904Stieglitz | ||||||
| V 1905Iltis | ||||||
| V 1906Gunther | ||||||
| V 1907Emden | ||||||
| V 1908Kranich | ||||||
| V 1909Brunhild | ||||||
| V 1910Wellgunde | ||||||
| V 1911Johann Georg | ||||||
| V 1912Fortuna | ||||||
| V 1913Leer | ||||||
| V 1914Alma II | ||||||
| V 1915Girolou | ||||||
| V 1916Weser I | Sank 20 June 1942 | |||||
| V 1921Habicht | ||||||
| V 1922Nürnberg | ||||||
| V 1923Ostpreußen | ||||||
| V 1925Unitas 9 | ||||||
| V 1926Ernst Schweckendieck | ||||||
| V 1927Johann Wessels | ||||||
20Vorpostenflotille was formed in July 1940. It was renamed 20Minensuchflotille post-war.[1]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 2001Pastor Pype | Wrecked in theWadden Sea on 5 March 1942. All 28 crew were rescued.[219] | |||||
| V 2001Uranus | Sunk in theBaltic Sea by Soviet aircraft on 2 May 1945.[220] | |||||
| V 2002Madeleine Louise | Bombed and sunk in theNorth Sea offTerschelling,Friesland, Netherlands byLockheed Hudson aircraft of407 Squadron,Royal Air Force on 15 May 1942.[185] | |||||
| V 2002Uran | ||||||
| V 2003Loodsboot 7 | Torpedoed and sunk in theNorth Sea off Terschelling byRoyal NavyMotor Gun Boats andMotor Torpedo Boats on 1 October 1942.[221] | |||||
| V 2004Loodsboot 12 | Torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea offIJmuiden,North Holland, Netherlands by a Motor Torpedo Boat on 2 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 2005Simone Marie | ||||||
| V 2006Christine Cécile | ||||||
| V 2007Hannover | ||||||
| V 2008Ritzebüttel | Struck amine and sank in theBroad Fourteens offWestkapelle,West Flanders, Belgium on 25 February 1943.[111][200] | |||||
| V 2009Niedersachsen | Sunk in theScheldt by Royal Navy Motor Torpedo Boats on 25 August 1944.[65] | |||||
| V 2010Frankfurt | ||||||
| V 2011Borkum | ||||||
| V 2012Kurland | ||||||
| V 2013Ekwator | ||||||
| V 2014Karel | ||||||
| V 2015 | ||||||
| V 2016 | Sunk in the North Sea by Royal Navy Motor Torpedo Boats on 16 October 1944.[196] | |||||
| V 2017 | ||||||
| V 2018Vogtland | Struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea off Terschelling on 28 March 1943. She was taken in tow by V 801Max Gundelach but struck another mine the next day and sank with the loss of four of her crew.[222] | |||||
| V 2019Seefahrt (later namedAdolf Hitler)[191] | Bombed and severely damaged in theScheldt on 28 June 1943 and was beached.[191] | |||||
| V 2020Alexander Becker | Torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea offEgmond aan Zee, North Holland by Royal Navy Motor Torpedo Boats on 10 June 1944.[223] | |||||
| V 2021Nürnberg | Sunk in the North Sea offDen Helder, North Holland byHMMTB 666,HMMTB 681,HMMTB 683,HMMTB 684,HMMTB 687 andHMMTB 723 on 9 June 1944.[30] | |||||
| V 2022Emil Colsmann | Torpedoed and sunk in theKattegat by theSoviet submarine L-21 on 23 March 1945.[213][224] | |||||
| V 2023Karlsburg | Sunk in an American air raid onSwinemünde on 12 March 1945.[213] | |||||
51Vorpostenflotille was formed on 23 December 1940. It was disbanded in June 1945. A number of vessels were redesignated within the unit.[225]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 5101Donner (V 5102) | Shelled and sunk in theSkaggerak byHMS Onslow andHMS Oribi on 27 December 1942.[226] | |||||
| V 5101Tornado (V 5105, V 5106) | ||||||
| V 5101Blitz (V 5102, V 5103) | Torpedoed and sunk inNordfjord byRoyal Air Force aircraft on 12 December 1944.[227] | |||||
| V 5102Orkan (V 5103, V 5104) | ||||||
| V 5103Taifun (V 5105, V 5106) | Collided with the NorwegiancoasterFjæra and sank on 9 August 1942.[228] | |||||
| V 5103Riese | ||||||
| V 5104Wirbel (V 5105) | ||||||
| V 5106Sturm (V 5107) ‡ | Sunk in a naval battle on 11 February 1944.[229] | |||||
| V 5106Sindbad | ||||||
| V 5107Sturm ‡‡ | Collided withCarl Rehder and sank atSognesjøen,Sogn og Fjordane, Norway on 16 September 1941.[230] | |||||
| V 5107Kormoran | ||||||
| V 5107Karmöy | Sunk inLødingen, Norway by aircraft fromHMS Invincible on 20 November 1944.[231] | |||||
| V 5108Föhn | Shelled and sunk in theSkaggerak byHMS Oribi on 27 December 1941.[232] | |||||
| V 5108Kiebitz | ||||||
| V 5109Kranich | ||||||
| V 5109Eber | ||||||
| V 5110Marabu | ||||||
| V 5110Elch | ||||||
| V 5111Odin | ||||||
| V 5112Tiu | ||||||
| V 5113Donar | ||||||
| V 5114Baldur | ||||||
| V 5115Frija | ||||||
| V 5116Unitas 1 | ||||||
‡ Formerly namedHareidingen.[225]
‡‡ Formerly namedAalesund.[225]
53Vorpostenflotille was formed on 23 December 1940. It was disbanded in June 1945. A number of vessels were redesignated within the unit.
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 5301Flamingo (V 5305) | ||||||
| V 5301Reiher (V 5302) | ||||||
| V 5301Seeteufel | ||||||
| V 5302Kranich (V 5303) | ||||||
| V 5302Seelöwe | ||||||
| V 5303Marabu (V 5306) | ||||||
| V 5303Sturmvogel | ||||||
| V 5303Seebär | ||||||
| V 5304Kormoran (V 5307) | ||||||
| V 5304Kiebetz (V 5307) | ||||||
| V 5304Seehund | ||||||
| V 5305Schnepfe (V 5308) | ||||||
| V 5305Jäger | ||||||
| V 5306Brachvogel (V 5308) ‡ | ||||||
| V 5306Schütze | ||||||
| V 5307Felix Scheder | Bombed and sunk in theNorwegian Sea offStad, Norway byFleet Air Arm aircraft based onHMS Furious andHMS Trumpeter on 12 September 1944.[192][233] | |||||
| V 5308O. B. Rogge | ||||||
| V 5309Seerobbe | ||||||
| V 5310Seewolf | ||||||
| V 5311Seeotter | Struck amine and sank off "Gejta", Norway on 5 July 1945 with the loss of 23 of her crew.[234] | |||||
| V 5312Brachvogel ‡‡ | ||||||
| V 5313Star XXIII | ||||||
‡Formerly namedJim.
‡‡ Formerly namedPol VIII.
55Vorpostenflotille was formed in December 1940. It was disbanded in June 1945. A number of vessels were redesignated within the unit.[92][225]
57Vorpostenflotille was formed in November 1940. It was disbanded in June 1945. A number of vessels were redesignated within the unit.[225]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 5701Thüringen | ||||||
| V 5702Eupen (V 5706) | ||||||
| V 5702Grane | ||||||
| V 5703Elsass (V 5705) | ||||||
| V 5703Lothringen (V 5704) | ||||||
| V 5704Warthegau ( V 5705) | ||||||
| V 5705Elsaß | Struck amine and sank in theNorwegian Sea offBodø,Nordland, Norway on 27 September 1943.[92] | |||||
| V 5706Ostmark | Ran aground and sank on 16 March 1941.[235] | |||||
| V 5707Südwind | ||||||
| V 5711Steiermark | ||||||
| V 5712Kärnten | ||||||
| V 5713Sudetenland | ||||||
| V 5714Tirol | ||||||
| V 5715Skaggerak | ||||||
| V 5716Flandern | ||||||
| V 5717Fritz Homann | ||||||
| V 5718Coburg | Lost on 18 November 1943.[225] | |||||
| V 5719Markomanne | ||||||
| V 5720Normanne | ||||||
| V 5721Turinge | ||||||
| V 5722Hornack | Sunk atRørvik,Nord-Trøndelag, Norway by Allied aircraft on 26 October 1944.[196] | |||||
| V 5723Möwe | ||||||
59Vorpostenflotille was formed in February 1941. It was disbanded in June 1945.[225]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 5901Bussard | ||||||
| V 5901Falkland | ||||||
| V 5902Rabe | ||||||
| V 5902Polarsonne | ||||||
| V 5903Elster | ||||||
| V 5903Polarfront | ||||||
| V 5904Sperber | ||||||
| V 5904Polarnacht | ||||||
| V 5905Habicht | ||||||
| V 5905Nordriff | Ran aground and was wrecked inLopphavet on 29 December 1942.[236] | |||||
| V 5905Varanger | ||||||
| V 5906Krähe | ||||||
| V 5906Nordpol | ||||||
| V 5907Geier | Shelled and sunk offLofoten, Norway byHMS Ashanti on 26 December 1941.[227] | |||||
| V 5907Südwind | ||||||
| V 5908Penang | ||||||
| V 5908Togo | ||||||
| V 5909Coronel | Struck amine and sank inVarangerfjord on 1 February 1943.[111][225] | |||||
| V 5909Jan Mayen | ||||||
| V 5910Westwind | ||||||
| V 5911Gauleiter Bohle | ||||||
| V 5911Nordkap | ||||||
| V 5912Köln | ||||||
| V 5912Polarstern | ||||||
| V 5913Wilhelm Söhle | ||||||
| V 5913Polarkreis | ||||||
| V 5914Vardö | ||||||
| V 5914Polarmeer | ||||||
| V 5915Heinrich Baumgarten | ||||||
| V 5916Yock | ||||||
| V 5917Othmarschen | ||||||
| V 5918Jane | ||||||
61Vorpostenflotille was formed in November 1940. It was disbanded in June 1945. A number of vessels were redesignated within the unit.[225]
63Vorpostenflotille was formed in May 1944. It was disbanded in 1945.[240]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 6301Krebs | ||||||
| V 6302Widder | ||||||
| V 6303Steier | ||||||
| V 6304Waage | ||||||
| V 6305Frauke | ||||||
| V 6306Orion | ||||||
| V 6307Mob-FD 2 Jupiter | Sunk by Soviet aircraft in Norwegian waters on 17 July 1944.[46] | |||||
| V 6308Mob-FD 1 Saturn | ||||||
| V 6309Mob-FD 3 Mars | ||||||
| V 6310Nordkap | ||||||
| V 6311Polarstern | Bombed and sunk inSyltefjord by Soviet aircraft on 22 October 1944.[196][240] | |||||
| V 6312Polarmeer | ||||||
| V 6313Westwind | ||||||
| V 6314Löwe | ||||||
| V 6315Wal 10 | ||||||
| V 6316Wal 11 | ||||||
| V 6321 | ||||||
| V 6322 | ||||||
| V 6323 | ||||||
| V 6324 | ||||||
| V 6325 | ||||||
| V 6326 | ||||||
| V 6327 | ||||||
| V 6328Kormoran | ||||||
| V 6329Kranich | ||||||
| V 6330 | ||||||
| V 6331 | ||||||
| V 6332 | ||||||
64Vorpostenflotille was formed in June 1944. It was disbanded in 1945.[240]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 6401Hagen | ||||||
| V 6402Hersing | ||||||
| V 6403Hildebrand | ||||||
| V 6404Midlum | ||||||
| V 6405Hermann | ||||||
| V 6406Hundius | ||||||
| V 6407Falke | ||||||
| V 6408Skagerak | Torpedoed and sunk offFolda, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway byHNoMS Utsira on 16 January 1945.[201] | |||||
| V 6409Cimber | ||||||
| V 6411Thor | ||||||
| V 6412Frigga | ||||||
| V 6413Fro | Sunk offTrondheim, Norway by aircraft based onHMS Pursuer on 14 November 1944.[217] | |||||
| V 6414Seeschwalbe | ||||||
| V 6415Kondor | ||||||
| V 6416Albatros | ||||||
| V 6417Loki | ||||||
| V 6421 | ||||||
| V 6422 | ||||||
| V 6423 | ||||||
| V 6424 | ||||||
| V 6425 | ||||||
| V 6426 | ||||||
| V 6427 | ||||||
| V 6428 | ||||||
| V 6429 | ||||||
| V 6430 | ||||||
| V 6431 | ||||||
| V 6432 | ||||||
| V 6433 | ||||||
| V 6434 | ||||||
| V 6435 | ||||||
| V 6436 | ||||||
| V 6437 | ||||||
| V 6438 | ||||||
| V 6439 | ||||||
| V 6440 | ||||||
| V 6441 | ||||||
| V 6442 | ||||||
| V 6443 | ||||||
| V 6444 | ||||||
| V 6445 | ||||||
| V 6446 | ||||||
| V 6447 | ||||||
| V 6448 | ||||||
| V 6449 | ||||||
| V 6450 | ||||||
65Vorpostenflotille was formed in May 1944. It was disbanded in 1945.[240]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 6501Samoa | ||||||
| V 6502Kiautschou | ||||||
| V 6503Star 14 | ||||||
| V 6504Claus Ebeling | ||||||
| V 6505Rau IX | ||||||
| V 6506 Torlyn | ||||||
| V 6507Othmarschen | Lost in theDanish straits on 3 October 1945.[240] | |||||
| V 6508Jane | ||||||
| V 6509Habicht | ||||||
| V 6510Celle | ||||||
| V 6511Salier | ||||||
| V 6512Togo | ||||||
| V 6513Elster | ||||||
| V 6514Krähe | ||||||
| V 6515Hast I | ||||||
| V 6516KFK123 | ||||||
| V 6517 | Torpedoed and sunk off northern Norway by theSoviet submarine V-2 on 11 October 1944.[241] | |||||
| V 6521 | ||||||
| V 6522 | ||||||
| V 6523 | ||||||
| V 6524 | ||||||
| V 6525 | ||||||
| V 6526 | ||||||
| V 6527 | ||||||
| V 6528 | ||||||
| V 6529 | ||||||
| V 6530 | ||||||
| V 6531 | ||||||
| V 6532 | ||||||
| V 6533 | ||||||
| V 6534 | ||||||
| V 6535 | ||||||
| V 6541Drott | ||||||
66Vorpostenflotille was formed in May 1944. It was disbanded in 1945.[240]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 6601Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde | ||||||
| V 6602Rother Adler | ||||||
| V 6603Güldener Löwe | ||||||
| V 6604Churprinz | ||||||
| V 6605Markgraf von Hindenburg | Lost on 8 March 1945.[240] | |||||
| V 6606Wappen von Hamburg | ||||||
| V 6607Charlotte Sophie | Lost on 18 June 1945.[240] | |||||
| V 6608Steiermark | ||||||
| V 6609Kärnten | ||||||
| V 6610Sudetenland | ||||||
| V 6611 | ||||||
| V 6612 | ||||||
| V 6613 | ||||||
| V 6614 | ||||||
| V 6615 | ||||||
| V 6616 | ||||||
| V 6617 | ||||||
| V 6621Dorothea | ||||||
| V 6622Rummelpott | ||||||
67Vorpostenflotille was formed on 1 July 1944. It was disbanded in 1945.[240]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 6701Rotges | ||||||
| V 6702Windhuk | ||||||
| V 6703 | ||||||
| V 6704 | Scuttled atVadsø,Finnmark, Norway on 15 October 1944.[196] | |||||
| V 6705 | ||||||
| V 6706 | ||||||
| V 6707 | Sunk atKirkenes, Finnmark by Soviet aircraft on 16 October 1944.[196] | |||||
| V 6708 | ||||||
| V 6709 | ||||||
| V 6710 | ||||||
| V 6711 | ||||||
| V 6712 | ||||||
| V 6713 | ||||||
| V 6714 | ||||||
| V 6715 | ||||||
| V 6716 | ||||||
| V 6717 | ||||||
| V 6718 | ||||||
| V 6719 | Struck amine and sank in theBaltic Sea offSwinemünde,Pomerania on 26 September 1944.[192] | |||||
| V 6720 | ||||||
| V 6721 | ||||||
| V 6722 | ||||||
| V 6723 | ||||||
| V 6724 | ||||||
| V 6725 | ||||||
| V 6726 | ||||||
| V 6728Kormoran | ||||||
| V 6729Kranich | ||||||
| V 6730Polarfuchs | ||||||
| V 6731 | ||||||
| V 6732 | ||||||
| V 6733Widder | Sunk by Allied aircraft atHorten,Vestfold, Norway on 23 February 1945.[242] | |||||
| V 6734Stier | ||||||
| V 6735Löwe | ||||||
68Vorpostenflotille was formed in May 1944. It was disbanded in 1945.[240]
| Ship | Armament | Displacement | Propulsion | Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | Commissioned | Fate | ||||
| V 6801Viking | Sunk inÅlesund byBristol Beaufighter aircraft of theRoyal Air Force on 17 October 1944.[196] | |||||
| V 6802Flame | ||||||
| V 6803Burgunder | Lost on 17 August 1944.[240] | |||||
| V 6804Sachse | ||||||
| V 6805Geuse | ||||||
| V 6806Alemanne | ||||||
| V 6807Teutone | ||||||
| V 6808Rugier | ||||||
| V 6811 | ||||||
| V 6812 | ||||||
| V 6813 | ||||||
| V 6814 | ||||||
| V 6815 | ||||||
| V 6816 | ||||||
7Sicherungflotille was formed in February 1943 and was expanded in March 1943. It was disbanded in October 1944 and its vessels transferred to 13Sicherungflotille, which was disbanded on 24 April 1945.[243]
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