German torpedo boat Wolf

Last updated
Wolf
Wolf-1.jpg
Type 1924 (Raubtier-class) torpedo boats
History
War Ensign of Germany (1921-1933).svgWar ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Germany
NameWolf
Namesake Wolf
Builder Reichsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven
Yard number109
Laid down8 March 1927
Launched12 October 1927
Commissioned15 November 1928
FateSunk by mine, 8 January 1941
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type Type 24 torpedo boat
Displacement
Length92.6 m (303 ft 10 in) (o/a)
Beam8.65 m (28 ft 5 in)
Draft3.52 m (11 ft 7 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range1,997  nmi (3,698 km; 2,298 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Complement129
Armament

Wolf was the second of six Type 24 torpedo boats built for the German Navy (initially called the Reichsmarine and then renamed as the Kriegsmarine in 1935) during the 1920s. The boat made multiple non-intervention patrols during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. During World War II, she played a minor role in the occupation of Bergen during the Norwegian Campaign of April 1940. Wolf escorted minelayers once as they laid minefields in late April before beginning a refit that lasted until August. She was transferred to France around September and conducted offensive patrols in the English Channel as well as laying minefields herself. The ship struck a mine and was sunk returning from one such mission in January 1941.

Contents

Design and description

Derived from the preceding Type 23 torpedo boat, the Type 24 was slightly larger and faster, but had a similar armament. [1] The boats had an overall length of 92.6 meters (303 ft 10 in) and were 89 meters (292 ft) long at the waterline. [2] They had a beam of 8.65 meters (28 ft 5 in), and a mean draft of 3.52 meters (11 ft 7 in). The Type 24s displaced 932 long tons (947  t ) at standard load and 1,319 long tons (1,340 t) at deep load. Wolf's pair of Brown-Boveri geared steam turbine sets, each driving one propeller, were designed to produce 23,000 metric horsepower (17,000  kW ; 23,000  shp ) using steam from three water-tube boilers which would propel the ship at 34 knots (63  km/h ; 39  mph ). [3] The boats carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 1,997 nmi (3,698 km; 2,298 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph). Their crew numbered 129 officers and sailors. [4]

As built, the Type 24s mounted three 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/28 [Note 1] guns, one forward and two aft of the superstructure, numbered one through three from bow to stern. They carried six above-water 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships [2] and could also carry up to 30 mines. After 1931, the torpedo tubes were replaced by 533 mm (21 in) tubes [1] and a pair of 2 cm (0.8 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns were added. [6]

Construction and career

Wolf was laid down at the Reichsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven (Navy Yard) on 8 March 1927 [3] as yard number 109, [7] launched on 12 October 1927 and commissioned on 15 November 1928. [3] The boat was initially assigned to the 3rd Torpedo Boat Half-Flotilla and by the end of 1936 she was assigned to the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla. She made several deployments to Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Around June 1938, Tiger was transferred to the 3rd Torpedo Boat Flotilla which was renumbered as the 6th Flotilla on 1 July. [8]

Second World War

Wolf supported the North Sea mining operations that began on 3 September 1939. On 17–19 October Wolf, together with her sister ships Iltis and Leopard and three destroyers, patrolled the Skagerrak to inspect neutral shipping for contraband goods. On 13, 18 and 19 November, the 6th Flotilla and one or two light cruisers met destroyers returning from minelaying missions off the English coast. The flotilla made another contraband patrol in the Skagerrak on 24–25 November. [9]

During the Norwegian Campaign, Wolf and Leopard were assigned to Group 3 under Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) Hubert Schmundt on the light cruiser Köln, tasked to capture Bergen harbor. After loading troops of the invasion force in Cuxhaven, the torpedo boats and the depot ship Carl Peters proceeded independently to rendezvous with the rest of Group 3 on the afternoon of 8 April. Under orders to land his troops before dawn on 9 April, Schmundt's ships entered the Korsfjorden around midnight. They were spotted shortly afterwards by a Norwegian patrol boat which alerted the Norwegian defenses. All ships flashed light signals identifying them as British ships whenever challenged, but the Norwegians were not fooled. Schmundt ordered Leopard to assume the lead just before they entered the Byfjorden leading to Bergen around 04:00. Kvarven Fort opened fire shortly afterwards, and then Hellen Fort, but they made no hits on the leading ships before they moved out of sight into Bergen harbor at 04:13 where they began landing their troops. [10]

Concerned that his small force could be counter-attacked by the numerous British ships reported to be operating in the North Sea and that they were within range of British bombers, Schmundt took Köln, Leopard and Wolf to sea early that evening. The torpedo boats streamed their minesweeping gear and cut the cables of two mines which floated to the surface as they proceeded through the fjords. Worried that he might be intercepted after receiving further reports of British ships off the Norwegian coast, Schmundt took his ships into the Maurangerfjord where they anchored at 02:00. Schmundt headed for home as darkness was setting in and reached Wilhelmshaven the following evening. [11] Escorted by Wolf, two destroyers, and the torpedo boats Kondor and Möwe, minelayers laid a minefield in the Skaggerak on 29–30 April. En route, Leopard was sunk when she was accidentally rammed by the minelayer Preussen. Wolf was refitted in Stettin, Germany, from May to August. [12]

Now assigned to the 5th Torpedo Boat Flotilla, Wolf escorted the minelayers Stralsund and Skaggerak from Le Havre to Brest, France, on 28–29 September. The flotilla made an unsuccessful sortie off the Isle of Wight on 8–9 October. They made a second, more successful, sortie on 11–12 October, sinking two Free French submarine chasers and two British trawlers. The 5th Flotilla was transferred to St. Nazaire later that month. On 8 January 1941, Wolf and Kondor laid a minefield off Dover, but Wolf struck a mine off Dover on the return voyage and sank at 51°05′N02°08′E / 51.083°N 2.133°E / 51.083; 2.133 Coordinates: 51°05′N02°08′E / 51.083°N 2.133°E / 51.083; 2.133 with the loss of 45 crewmen. [13]

Notes

  1. ↑ In Kriegsmarine gun nomenclature, SK stands for Schiffskanone (ship's gun), C/30 stands for Constructionjahr (construction year) 1930. [5]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Gröner, p. 191
  2. 1 2 Sieche, p. 237
  3. 1 2 3 Whitley 2000, p. 58
  4. ↑ Whitley 1991, p. 202
  5. ↑ Campbell, p. 219
  6. ↑ Whitley 1991, pp. 47, 202; Whitley 2000, pp. 57–58
  7. ↑ Gröner, p. 192
  8. ↑ Whitley 1991, pp. 77–79
  9. ↑ Rohwer, pp. 2, 7–10
  10. ↑ Haar 2009, pp. 80–81, 101–102, 255–256, 261–262
  11. ↑ Haarr 2009, pp. 270–272
  12. ↑ Rohwer, p. 22; Whitley 1991, p. 209
  13. ↑ Gröner, p. 193; Rohwer, pp. 42–43, 45, 55; Whitley 1991, p. 109

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German torpedo boat <i>Seeadler</i> Type 23 torpedo boat of the German Navy

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German torpedo boat <i>Greif</i>

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German torpedo boat <i>Kondor</i>

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German torpedo boat <i>Falke</i>

Falke was the sixth and last Type 23 torpedo boat built for the German Navy. The boat made multiple non-intervention patrols during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. During World War II, she played a minor role in the Norwegian Campaign of 1940. Falke spent the next several months escorting minelayers as they laid minefields and damaged heavy ships back to Germany before she was transferred to France around September. She started laying minefields herself that month and continued to do so for the rest of the war. After a refit in early 1941, the boat was transferred to the Skaggerak where she was assigned escort duties. Falke returned to France in 1942 and was one of the escorts for the capital ships sailing from France to Germany through the English Channel in the Channel Dash. She helped to escort blockade runners, commerce raiders and submarines through the Channel and the Bay of Biscay for the next several years. The boat attacked Allied ships during the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944, but was sunk by British bombers that same month.

German torpedo boat <i>Möwe</i>

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German torpedo boat <i>Iltis</i> Type 24 torpedo boat

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German torpedo boat <i>Luchs</i>

Luchs was the fourth of six Type 24 torpedo boats built for the German Navy during the 1920s. The boat made multiple non-intervention patrols during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. During World War II, she played a minor role in the Battle of Kristiansand during the Norwegian Campaign of 1940. Luchs was sunk in Norwegian waters in July by either a British submarine or a floating mine.

German torpedo boat <i>Jaguar</i>

Jaguar was the sixth and last Type 24 torpedo boat built for the German Navy during the 1920s. The boat made multiple non-intervention patrols during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. During World War II, she played a minor role in the Norwegian Campaign of 1940. Jaguar spent the next several months escorting minelayers as they laid minefields and damaged heavy ships back to Germany before she was transferred to France around September. She started laying minefields herself that month and continued to do so for the rest of the war. After a refit in early 1941, the boat was transferred to the Skaggerak where she was assigned escort duties. Jaguar returned to France in 1942 and was one of the escorts for the capital ships sailing from France to Germany through the English Channel in the Channel Dash. She helped to escort blockade runners, commerce raiders and submarines through the Channel and the Bay of Biscay, as well as Norwegian waters, for the next several years. The boat attacked Allied ships during the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944, but was sunk by British bombers that same month.

German torpedo boat <i>Leopard</i>

Leopard was the fifth of six Type 24 torpedo boats built for the German Navy during the 1920s. The boat made multiple non-intervention patrols during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. During World War II, she played a minor role in the occupation of Bergen during the Norwegian Campaign of April 1940. Leopard was sunk at the end of the month when she was accidentally rammed by a minelayer that she was escorting.

German torpedo boat <i>T2</i>

The German torpedo boat T2 was one of a dozen Type 35 torpedo boats built for the Kriegsmarine during the late 1930s. Completed in 1939, she was not combat ready until mid-1940 when she spent several months escorting minelayers as they laid minefields. The boat returned to Germany after being damaged and supported operations in the Baltic Sea after the start of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941. T2 returned to France at the end of the year, escorting a commerce raider through the English Channel en route, and then escorted a pair of battleships and a heavy cruiser through the Channel back to Germany in early 1942 in the Channel Dash. The boat was placed in reserve upon her return and was transferred back to France in 1943 where she helped to escort blockade runners through the Bay of Biscay. In mid-1943 she returned to the Baltic and briefly served as a flagship of a submarine flotilla before being assigned to the Torpedo School. T2 was sunk in an air raid in July 1944, but was refloated several months later. She was never repaired and was scrapped in 1946.

German torpedo boat <i>T5</i>

The German torpedo boat T5 was one of a dozen Type 35 torpedo boats built for the Kriegsmarine during the late 1930s. Completed in 1940, she was assigned escort duties in June–July before she was tasked to escort minelayers as they laid their minefields in the North Sea and English Channel in August and September. T5 was transferred to Norway by November and escorted minelaying missions and supported operations in the Baltic Sea after the start of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941. T5 returned to France at the end of the year and then escorted a pair of battleships and a heavy cruiser through the Channel back to Germany in early 1942 in the Channel Dash.

German torpedo boat <i>T6</i>

The German torpedo boat T6 was one of a dozen Type 35 torpedo boats built for the Kriegsmarine during the late 1930s. Completed in 1940, she initially escorted ships through the Skaggerak before she was assigned to escort minelayers as they laid their minefields in the North Sea and English Channel in July. T6 started laying her own minefields two months later and was flagship of the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla when she struck a mine and sank when attempting to attack several convoys off the Scottish coast in November.

German torpedo boat <i>T7</i>

The German torpedo boat T7 was one of a dozen Type 35 torpedo boats built for the Kriegsmarine during the late 1930s. Completed in 1939, she was not combat ready until mid-1940 when she spent several months escorting minelayers as they laid minefields in the North Sea and the English Channel. The boat participated in an abortive attempt to attack several convoys off the Scottish coast in November. T7 returned to Germany for a refit in January 1941 and then supported operations in the Baltic Sea after the start of Operation Barbarossa in June. The boat was one of the escorts for several commerce raiders passing through the English Channel in late 1941 and then escorted German ships in Norwegian waters in mid-1942. She was briefly placed in reserve later that year and was then reactivated for service with the Torpedo School. T7 was sunk in an air raid in July 1944, but was refloated several months later. She was never repaired and was scrapped in 1947–1949.

German torpedo boat <i>T8</i>

The German torpedo boat T8 was one of a dozen Type 35 torpedo boats built for the Kriegsmarine during the late 1930s. Completed in 1939, she was not combat ready until mid-1940 when she spent several months escorting minelayers as they laid minefields in the North Sea and the English Channel. The boat participated in an abortive attempt to attack several convoys off the Scottish coast in November. T8 returned to Germany for a refit in January 1941 and then supported operations in the Baltic Sea after the start of Operation Barbarossa in June. She was briefly placed in reserve at the end of the year and was then reactivated for service with the Torpedo School. In February 1944 the boat returned to active duty and was assigned to the Baltic Sea area where she supported German operations. T8 escorted a bombardment mission in February 1945 and was sunk by British aircraft on 3 May.

German torpedo boat <i>T21</i> German torpedo boat

The German torpedo boat T21 was one of nine Type 37 torpedo boats built for the Kriegsmarine during World War II. Completed in mid-1942, she was transferred to Norway in March 1943 for escort duties. The ship returned to Germany in October and was assigned to the Torpedo School. T21 returned to active duty in May 1944 and supported German forces operating in the Baltic Sea. The boat began a major refit in December which had not been completed when the war ended in May 1945. She was allocated to the United States after the war, but was only used to dispose of gas munitions by scuttling her in deep water in 1946.

References

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