Schnellboot Totally Explained

Everything about E-boat totally explained

The Schnellboot or S-boote ("fast craft") was a type of German torpedo boat that saw service during World War II. The S-boote were approximately twice as large as their American and British counterparts. By comparison with the Allied craft, the S-boote were better suited for the open sea and had a substantially longer range at approximately 700 nautical miles. These vessels were known to the Allies as "E-boats".

History

After the Treaty of Versailles most of Germany's military production was severely curtailed. Small patrol craft were not. The S-boote trace their lineage back to a private motor yacht — a 22 ton dispacement 34 knot craft called Oheka II, which had been built in 1927 for wealthy financier and patron of the arts, Otto Kahn, by the German shipbuilding company Lürssen.
   This design was chosen because the theatre of operations of such boats was expected to be the North Sea, English Channel and the Western Approaches. The requirement for good performance in rough seas dictated the use of a round-bottomed displacement hull rather than a flat-bottomed planing hull that was more usual with small, high speed boats. Lürssen overcame many of the disadvantages of such a hull and, with the Oheka II, produced a craft that was fast, strong and seaworthy. This attracted the interest of the German Navy who, in 1929, ordered a similar boat but fitted with two torpedo tubes. This became the S-1 and was the basis for all subsequent S-boote.
   S-boote were often used to patrol the Baltic Sea and the English Channel in order to intercept shipping heading for the English ports in the south and east. As such they'd be up against Royal Navy and Commonwealth contingents in Motor Gun Boats (MGBs) and Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) and Motor Launches and frigates and destroyers. They were also transferred in small number to the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea by river and landtransport. Some small S-Boote were built as longboats for auxiliary cruisers.
   Crews could earn an award particular to their work - denoted by a badge depicting an E-boat passing through a wreath. The criteria were good conduct, distinction in action, participating in at least twelve enemy actions. It was awarded for a particularly successful mission, displays of leadership or being killed in action. It could also be awarded under special circumstances such as when another decoration wasn't suitable.

Variants

The Schnellboot design evolved over time. The first had a pair of torpedo tubes on the fore deck. Types were:-

S-26 class: Entered service in 1940. 40 m hull. Torpedo tubes covered by forward deck. ;S-30 class

S-38 class ;S-38b class: Improved 38 class with armoured bridge.

S-100 class: From 1943. 2 x 20 mm gun amidships and 37 mm gun aft. ;S-151 class

Type 700: late war design proposal with stern torpedo tubes and 30 mm gun turret forward. 8 boats built, but completed to S-100 design specification

Specification

Length: 34.9 m = 114.5 feet
Weight: up to 120 t
Speed: 43.8 kts
Engines: Three 20-cylinder 2000 hp Daimler Benz MB501 diesels driving three shafts.
Armament:
- 2 x 53.3 cm (= 21 inches) torpedo tubes, with room for 2 torpedoes for reloading.
- 1 x 20 mm gun, (20 mm single on early boats, Zwilling and special bow version on later classes)
- 1 x 40 mm gun (40 mm Bofors) on some S38 class boats

Other armament carried on different models included 3.7 cm Flak 42 (S-100) or, rarely, a quad 2 cm Flakvierling mount.

Post War Service in the (British) Royal Navy

At the end of the war about 34 S boats were surrendered to the British. Three boats, S-130 (renamed P5230), S-208 (P5208) and S-212 (P5212) were retained for trials. P5230 and P5208 were subsequently used for clandestine intelligence gathering missions in the Baltic sea under the cover of "British Baltic Fishery Protection Service" until 1957. This unit was commanded by John Harvey-Jones (who subsequently became chairman of ICI).

Survivor

The only surviving S-boot is the S-130. This is privately owned but in the care of the British Military Powerboat Trust in Southampton, England. The S-130 was commissioned on October 21st 1943 and took an active part in the war, participating in the Exercise Tiger attack and attacks on the D-day invasion fleet.

Further Information

Get more info on 'E-boat'.

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