![]() SMS A 68 | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Operators | |
Built | 1914–1918 |
In service | 1914–1950 |
Planned | 113 |
Completed | 92 |
Cancelled | 21 |
Lost | 30 |
The A-class torpedo boats were a class of German single-funnelled torpedo boat/light destroyer designed by the Reichsmarineamt for operations off the coast of occupied Flanders in the First World War. The "A" designation was to avoid confusion with older classes and designs. They were classed officially as "coastal torpedo boats" (German: Küstentorpedoboote) to differentiate from larger, ocean-going torpedo boats.
Six groups of vessels were built under the class between 1914 and 1918, increasing in displacement from 109 tons to 335 tons. All had a raised forecastle, shallow draught, and carried one (for most) or two (for A1-A25) 17.7 in (45 cm) torpedo tubes amidships.
General characteristics (A1 to A25) | |
---|---|
Displacement | 109 t (107 long tons) [1] |
Length | 41 m (134 ft 6 in) wl [1] |
Beam | 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) [1] |
Draught | 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) [1] |
Installed power | Coal-fired, single-shaft, triple-expansion steam engine, 1,200 ihp (895 kW) [1] |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) [1] |
Range | 900 nautical miles (1,700 km; 1,000 mi) at 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph) [1] |
Complement | 28 [2] |
Armament |
|
All 25 were ordered in 1914, and were designed and built by A.G. 'Vulcan', at their Hamburg yard.
Name | Yard No. | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
A1 | 20 | 16 January 1915 | 29 January 1915 | |
A2 | 21 | 17 March 1915 | 23 March 1915 | |
A3 | 22 | 24 June 1915 | 13 July 1915 | |
A4 | 23 | 26 June 1915 | 30 June 1915 | |
A5 | 24 | 5 May 1915 | 10 May 1915 | |
A6 | 25 | 3 April 1915 | 8 April 1915 | |
A7 | 26 | 2 February 1915 | 19 April 1915 | |
A8 | 27 | 25 April 1915 | 21 May 1915 | |
A9 | 28 | 4 August 1915 | 6 August 1915 | |
A10 | 29 | 16 August 1915 | 23 August 1915 | |
A11 | 30 | 4 June 1915 | 7 June 1915 | |
A12 | 31 | 28 April 1915 | 2 May 1915 | |
A13 | 32 | 15 May 1915 | 21 May 1915 | |
A14 | 33 | 22 July 1915 | 27 July 1915 | |
A15 | 34 | 10 July 1915 | 15 July 1915 | |
A16 | 35 | 16 June 1915 | 19 June 1915 | |
A17 | 36 | 8 June 1915 | 6 July 1915 | |
A18 | 37 | 2 July 1915 | 20 July 1915 | |
A19 | 38 | 9 September 1915 | 15 October 1915 | |
A20 | 39 | 27 August 1915 | 1 September 1915 | |
A21 | 40 | 1 June 1915 | 29 June 1915 | |
A22 | 41 | 22 May 1915 | 8 June 1915 | |
A23 | 42 | 5 May 1915 | 29 May 1915 | |
A24 | 43 | 12 June 1915 | 6 August 1915 | |
A25 | 44 | 13 July 1915 | 27 July 1915 |
General characteristics (A26 to A55) | |
---|---|
Displacement | 227–229 t (223–225 long tons) [4] |
Length | 49 m (160 ft 9 in) LWL [4] |
Beam | 5.32–5.62 m (17 ft 5 in – 18 ft 5 in) [4] |
Draught | 2.34 m (7 ft 8 in) [4] |
Installed power | Oil-fired, single-shaft, geared turbine steam engine, 3,250 hp (2,424 kW) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) [4] |
Range | 690 nautical miles (1,280 km; 790 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) [4] |
Complement | 29 [4] |
Armament |
|
All 30 were ordered in two batches - 24 vessels in 1915, and 6 added later. All were designed and built by F. Schichau Werke, at their Elbing yard. The second batch were 2 tonnes heavier, and had a breadth of 5.82 metres (18ft 5.25in).
Name | Yard No. | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
A26 | 959 | 20 May 1916 | 22 July 1916 | |
A27 | 960 | 27 May 1916 | 12 August 1916 | Surrendered on 20 August 1920. |
A28 | 961 | 10 June 1916 | 26 August 1916 | Surrendered on 20 August 1920. |
A29 | 962 | 15 June 1916 | 9 September 1916 | Surrendered on 20 August 1920. |
A30 | 963 | 15 July 1916 | 28 September 1916 | |
A31 | 964 | 1 July 1916 | 30 September 1916 | Surrendered on 20 August 1920. |
A32 | 965 | 15 July 1916 | 14 October 1916 | |
A33 | 966 | 29 July 1916 | 30 October 1916 | Surrendered on 15 September 1920. |
A34 | 967 | 20 July 1916 | 8 November 1916 | Surrendered on 15 September 1920. |
A35 | 968 | 19 August 1916 | 1 December 1916 | Surrendered on 20 August 1920. |
A36 | 969 | 14 August 1916 | 27 November 1916 | Surrendered on 20 August 1920. |
A37 | 970 | 12 August 1916 | 24 November 1916 | Surrendered on 15 September 1920. |
A38 | 971 | 17 October 1916 | 14 March 1917 | Surrendered on 15 September 1920. |
A39 | 972 | 12 September 1916 | 16 December 1916 | Surrendered on 20 August 1920. |
A40 | 973 | 2 September 1916 | 8 December 1916 | |
A41 | 974 | 8 December 1916 | 16 March 1917 | Surrendered on 20 August 1920. |
A42 | 975 | 1 November 1916 | 5 January 1917 | |
A43 | 976 | 25 December 1916 | 2 April 2017 | |
A44 | 977 | 10 March 1917 | 30 April 1917 | Surrendered on 15 September 1920. |
A45 | 978 | 8 November 1916 | 15 June 1917 | Surrendered on 3 September 1920. |
A46 | 979 | 24 March 1917 | 22 May 1917 | |
A47 | 980 | 23 April 2017 | 22 June 1917 | |
A48 | 981 | 9 June 1917 | 31 July 1917 | |
A49 | 982 | 19 May 1917 | 20 August 1917 | |
A50 | 988 | 8 July 1917 | 20 August 1917 | |
A51 | 989 | 16 May 1917 | 26 July 1917 | Scuttled at Fiume on 29 October 1918. |
A52 | 990 | 18 January 1917 | 1 April 1917 | |
A53 | 991 | 3 February 1917 | 7 April 1917 | |
A54 | 992 | 22 February 1917 | 14 April 1917 | |
A55 | 993 | 10 March 1917 | 27 April 1917 |
General characteristics (A56 to A67) (A80 to A91) and (A96 to A113) | |
---|---|
Displacement | 330–335 t (325–330 long tons) [7] |
Length | 59.3–60.12 m (194 ft 7 in – 197 ft 3 in) LWL [7] |
Beam | 6.42 m (21 ft 1 in) [7] |
Draught | 2.21–2.34 m (7 ft 3 in – 7 ft 8 in) [7] |
Installed power | Oil-fired, geared turbine steam engine, 6,000 shp (4,474 kW) [7] |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) [7] |
Range | 800 nautical miles (1,500 km; 920 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) [7] |
Complement | 50 [7] |
Armament |
|
These 42 vessels were ordered in three batches - A56 to A67 in 1916, A80 to A91 in 1917, and A96 – A113 in 1918. Designed by A. G. Vulcan, who built all of them except for A83, A84 and A85, which were built by Howaldtswerke at Kiel, while the hulls of A64 to A67 were subcontracted to Seebeckwerft. None of the 1918 batch of 18 vessels were ever completed, and they were all stricken on 3 November 1918, some being up to 35% complete (these were broken up on the stocks) but none being launched.
Name | Yard No. | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
A56 | 476 | 28 February 1917 | 14 April 1917 | Sunk by mine on 12 March 1918. |
A57 | 477 | 28 February 1917 | 28 April 1917 | Sunk by mine on 1 March 1918. |
A58 | 478 | 31 March 1917 | 19 May 1917 | Sunk by mine on 16 August 1918. |
A59 | 479 | 13 April 1917 | 9 June 1917 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A60 | 480 | 15 May 1917 | 23 June 1917 | Sunk by mine on 23 June 1917. |
A61 | 481 | 15 May 1917 | 11 July 1917 | Surrendered on 15 September 1920. |
A62 | 482 | 8 June 1917 | 25 July 1917 | Surrendered on 15 September 1920. |
A63 | 483 | 16 June 1917 | 11 August 1917 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A64 | 484 | 30 March 1918 | 8 August 1918 | Surrendered on 15 September 1920. |
A65 | 485 | 30 March 1918 | 24 August 1918 | Surrendered on 3 September 1920. |
A66 | 486 | 23 June 1918 | 20 September 1918 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A67 | 487 | 23 June 1918 | not completed | Stricken (incompleted) on 3 November 1919. |
A80 | 514 | 24 October 1917 | 21 December 1917 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A81 | 515 | 27 November 1917 | 10 January 1918 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A82 | 516 | 27 March 1918 | 1 June 1918 | Scuttlked at Fiume on 29 October 1918. |
A83 | 614 | 18 May 1918 | 28 May 1918 | Stricken (incompleted) on 3 November 1919. |
A84 | 615 | 18 May 1918 | 19 April 1918 | Stricken (incompleted) on 3 November 1919 |
A85 | 616 | 18 May 1918 | 6 June 1918 | Stricken (incompleted) on 3 November 1919 |
A86 | 535 | 5 February 1918 | 16 March 1918 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A87 | 536 | 21 February 1918 | 8 April 1918 | Surrendered on 15 September 1920. |
A88 | 537 | 2 March 1918 | 27 April 1918 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A89 | 538 | 22 March 1918 | 14 May 1918 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A90 | 539 | 6 April 1918 | 6 June 1918 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A91 | 540 | 27 April 1918 | 22 June 1918 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A96 - A113 | 575 - 592 | none launched | Stricken on 3 November 1918 |
General characteristics (A68 to A79) | |
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Displacement | 330 t (325 long tons) [7] |
Length | 60.2 m (197 ft 6 in) LWL |
Beam | 6.41 m (21 ft 0 in) [7] |
Draught | 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) [7] |
Installed power | Oil-fired, geared turbine steam engine, 5,700 shp (4,250 kW) [7] |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) [7] |
Range | 800 nautical miles (1,500 km; 920 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) [7] |
Complement | 50 [7] |
Armament |
|
These twelve vessels were ordered in 1916, and were designed and built by F. Schichau at Elbing.
Name | Yard No. | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
A68 | 994 | 11 April 1917 | 13 June 1917 | Surrendered on 3 September 1920. |
A69 | 995 | 28 April 1917 | 4 July 1917 | Surrendered on 3 September 1920. |
A70 | 996 | 19 May 1917 | 23 July 1917 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A71 | 997 | 9 June 1917 | 13 August 1917 | Sunk by mine on 4 May 1918. |
A72 | 998 | 30 June 1917 | 1 September 1917 | Sunk by mine on 14 May 1918. |
A73 | 999 | 7 July 1917 | 21 September 1917 | Sunk by mine on 20 January 1918. |
A74 | 1000 | 4 August 1917 | 9 October 1917 | Surrendered on 3 September 1920. |
A75 | 1001 | 11 August 1917 | 26 October 1917 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A76 | 1002 | 1 September 1917 | 12 November 1917 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A77 | 1003 | 22 September 1917 | 27 November 1917 | Sunk by mine on 20 January 1918. |
A78 | 1004 | 13 October 1917 | 15 December 1917 | Surrendered on 3 September 1920. |
A79 | 1005 | 8 November 1917 | 12 January 1918 | Sunk by mine on 10 July 1918. |
General characteristics (A92 to A95) identical to A68 to A79 batch except: | |
---|---|
Length | 59.4 m (194 ft 11 in) wl [7] |
Draught | 2.08–2.12 m (6 ft 10 in – 6 ft 11 in) [7] |
Installed power | Oil-fired, geared turbine steam engine, 5,700–6,000 shp (4,250–4,474 kW) [7] |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 26.5 knots (49.1 km/h; 30.5 mph) [7] |
These last four vessels were designed and built by F. Schichau Werke, at their Elbing yard, with a slight variation in their dimensions from the 1916 design. The first two served in a minesweeper flotilla and the last two in an escort flotilla prior to the surrender.
Name | Yard No. | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
A92 | 1019 | 16 March 1918 | 24 May 1918 | Surrendered on 15 September 1920. |
A93 | 1020 | 9 April 1918 | 18 June 1918 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A94 | 1021 | 27 April 1918 | 19 July 1918 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
A95 | 1022 | 25 May 1918 | 19 August 1918 | Surrendered on 30 September 1920. |
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