Dr. Adolf Spilker was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the Second World War for use as a Vorpostenboot, serving as V 401 Dr. Adolf Spilker and V 402 Dr. Adolf Spilker. She was scuttled at Bayonne, France in August 1944.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Dr. Adolf Spilker |
| Owner |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Builder | Schiffbau-Gesellschaft Unterweser AG |
| Yard number | 261 |
| Launched | 22 August 1936 |
| Completed | 22 September 1936 |
| Commissioned | 16 September 1939 |
| Out of service | 21 August 1944 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Scuttled |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 428 GRT, 159 NRT |
| Length | 54.56 m (179 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 8.10 m (26 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 3.77 m (12 ft 4 in) |
| Depth | 4.35 m (14 ft 3 in) |
| Installed power | Compound steam engine, 70nhp |
| Propulsion | Single screw propeller |
Description
editDr. Adolf Spilker was 54.56 metres (179 ft 0 in) long, with a beam of 8.10 metres (26 ft 7 in). She had a depth of 4.35 metres (14 ft 3 in) and a draught of 3.77 metres (12 ft 4 in).[1] She was assessed at 435 GRT, 168 NRT. The ship was powered by a compound steam engine which had two cylinders each of 33 centimetres (13 in) and two cylinders each of 72 centimetres (28 3⁄8 in) diameter by 70 centimetres (27 9⁄16 in) stroke. The engine was built by Christiansen & Meyer, Harburg, Germany and was rated at 70nhp. It drove a single screw propeller.[2]
History
editDr. Adolf Spilker was built as yard number 261 by Schiffbau-Gesellschaft Unterweser AG, Wesermünde, Germany.[1] She was launched on 22 August 1936 and completed on 22 September.[3] She was built for F. Busse, Wesermünde. The Code Letters DFCN were allocated,[2] as was the fishing boat registration PG 502.[3]
On 16 September 1939, she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine and commissioned with 4 Vorpostenflotille as the Vorpostenboot V 401 Dr. Adolf Spilker. On 16 October 1944, she was redesignated V 402 Dr. Adolf Spilker.[3] She was scuttled as a blockship at Bayonne, Basses-Pyrénées, France on 20 August 1944.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b Gröner 1993, p. 227.
- ^ a b "Dr. Adolf Spilker (07103)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. DIS-DOL (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1937–1938. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
- ^ a b c Gröner 1993, p. 232.
- ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1944, August". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 20 November 2022.
Sources
edit- 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.