German trawler V 604 Fritz Reiser

History
Name	Fritz Reiser (1924–47) Le Merlu (1947–54)
Owner	Kämpf & Meyer (1924–29) C. Meyer (1929–39) Kriegsmarine (1939–44) Pool de Lorient (1944–54)
Port of registry	Wesermünde, Germany (1923–33) Wesermünde, Germany (1933–39)   Kriegsmarine (1939–44) Lorient, France (1944–54)
Builder	J. C. Tecklenborg AG, Geestemünde
Yard number	405
Launched	15 November 1924
Completed	4 December 1924
Commissioned	22 September 1939
Identification	Fishing boat registration PG 360 (1924–39) Code Letters KSCF (1924–34) Code Letters DEZU (1934–43) Pennant Number V 706 (1939–43) Pennant Number V 604 (1943–44) Codel Letters FNFN (1944–54)
Fate	Scrapped 1954
General characteristics
Type	Fishing trawler (1924–39, 1944–52) Vorpostenboot (1939–44) School ship (1952–54)
Tonnage	278  GRT, 107  NRT
Length	40.72 m (133 ft 7 in)
Beam	7.37 metres (24 ft 2 in)
Depth	3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Installed power	Triple expansion steam engine, 56nhp
Propulsion	Single screw propeller
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h)

Fritz Reiser was a German fishing trawler which was built in 1924. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. She was used as a Vorpostenboot . She was seized by France in 1944, and was renamed Le Merlu in 1948. She was scrapped in 1954.

Description

The ship 40.72 m (133 ft 7 in) long, with a beam of 7.37 metres (24 ft 2 in). She had a depth of 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in). She was assessed at 278  GRT, 107  NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 33 centimetres (13 in), 53 centimetres (20+7⁄8 in) and 86 centimetres (33+7⁄8 in) diameter by 72 centimetres (28+3⁄8 in) stroke. The engine was built by J. C. Tecklenborg AG., Geestemünde, Germany. It was rated at 55 nhp. It drove a single screw propeller. ^[1] It could propel the ship at 10 knots (19 km/h). ^[2]

History

Fritz Reiser was built as yard number 405 by J. C. Tecklenborg AG., Geestemünde, Germany. ^[2] She was launched on 15 November 1924 and completed on 4 December. Owned by Kämpf & Meyer, ^[3] her port of registry was Wesermünde. She was allocated the Code Letters KSCF, ^[1] and the fishing boat registration PG 360. She was sold to the Hochseefischerei Cark Kämpf Partenreederei in 1929. ^[3] On 6 April 1932, her boilers were damaged at sea, leaving her drifting 80 nautical miles (150 km) north of the Horns Reef. She radioed of a tow. ^[4] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DEZU. ^[5]

On 22 September 1939, Fritz Reiser was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine. Designated as a vorpostenboot . She was allocated to 7 Vorpostenflotille as V 706 Fritz Reiser. On 19 August 1943, she was reallocated to 6 Vorpostenflotille as V 604 Fritz Reiser. In 1944, she was seized at Saint-Nazaire as a prize of war by France. ^[3] She was sold to the Pool de Lorient. Her port of registry was Lorient, Morbihan and the Code Letters FNFN were allocated. ^[6] Her name was changed to Le Merlu in 1947. She became a school ship in 1953 and was scrapped in 1954. ^[3]

References

1. "Fritz Reiser(57695)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. FRI-FYL (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930–1931. Retrieved 20 February 2024– via Southampton City Council.
2. Gröner 1993, p. 223.
3. Gröner 1993, p. 225.
4. "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 46102. London. 8 April 1932. col F, p. 8.
5. "Fritz Reiser(60037)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. FRI-FRO (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 20 February 2024– via Southampton City Council.
6. "LAZ-LE Lloyd's Register 1949-50". Lloyd's Register of Shipping. London: Lloyd's of London. 1950.

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.