German trawler V 407 Dorum

Vorpostenboote of 4 Vorpostenflotille at Bremerhaven in 1940. V 407 Dorum closest to the quayside.
History
Name	Dorum (1937–44) General Aupick (1949–57)
Owner	Ernst Glässel (1937–39) Kriegsmarine (1939–44)
Port of registry	Wesermünde, Germany (1937–39)   Kriegsmarine (1939–44) France (1949–57)
Builder	Deschimag
Yard number	592
Launched	September 1937
Completed	10 October 1937
Commissioned	10 September 1939
Out of service	28 August 1944
Identification	Code Letters DFCX Fishing boat registration PG519 (1937– ) Fishing boat registration BB92 ( –1939) Pennant Number V 204 (1939) Pennant Number V 407 (1939–44)
Fate	Scuttled 28 August 1944
General characteristics
Type	Fishing trawler (1937–39, 1949–57) Vorpostenboot (1939–44)
Tonnage	470  GRT, 171  NRT
Length	50.80 m (166 ft 8 in)
Beam	8.03 m (26 ft 4 in)
Depth	3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
Installed power	Triple expansion steam engine, 96nhp
Propulsion	Single screw propeller

Dorum was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the Second World War for use as a Vorpostenboot , serving as V 204 Dorum and V 407 Dorum. She was scuttled at, or near, Bordeaux, Gironde, France on 28 August 1944.

Description

Dorum was 50.80 metres (166 ft 8 in) long, with a beam of 8.03 metres (26 ft 4 in) and a depth of 3.20 metres (10 ft 6 in). She was assessed at 470  GRT, 171  NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 35 centimetres (13+3⁄4 in), 55 centimetres (21+5⁄8 in) and 90.0 centimetres (35+7⁄16 in) diameter by 64.9 centimetres (25+9⁄16 in) stroke. The engine was built by Deschimag, Wesermünde. It was rated at 96nhp and drove a single screw propeller via a low pressure turbine, double reduction gearing and a hydraulic coupling. ^[1]

History

Dorum was built as yard number 592 by Deschimag, Wesermünde. ^[2] She was launched in September 1937 and completed on 10 October. ^[3] The ship was built for Ernst Glässel, Wesermünde. The Code Letters DFCX were allocated. ^[1] She initially carried the fishing boat registration PG519, which was later changed to BB92. On 10 September 1939, the vessel was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine. She was allocated to 2 Vorpostenflotille as V 204 Dorum. On 21 October, she was transferred to 4 Vorpostenflotille as V 407 Dorum. ^[4] On 28 August 1944, Dorum was scuttled, either in the Gironde, or at Bordeaux, Gironde, France. ^[5]

Post-war, Dorum was raised and repaired. In 1949, she was renamed General Aupick under French ownership. On 12 April 1957, she sprang a leak and sank in the Doggerbank ( 56°42′N3°42′E / 56.700°N 3.700°E / 56.700; 3.700 ). ^[3]

References

1. "Dorum(57037)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. DOR-DOU (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1938–1939. Retrieved 17 May 2022– via Southampton City Council.
2. Gröner 1993, p. 205.
3. Gröner 1993, p. 213.
4. "Vorpostenboote der deutschen Kriegsmarine 1939-45". www.wlb-stuttgart.de (in German). Retrieved 17 May 2022.
5. Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1944, August". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 17 May 2022.

Sources

• Gröner, Erich (1993). Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945 (in German). Vol. 8/I: Flußfahrzeuge, Ujäger, Vorpostenboote, Hilfsminensucher, Küstenschutzverbände (Teil 1). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN   3-7637-4807-5.