R boat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Class overview
Name: R41
General characteristics
Type: motor launch
Displacement: 125 tons (max)
Length: 37.80m
Beam: 5.80 m
Draught: 1.40 m
Propulsion: 2x MAN diesel engines; 1800 hp
Speed: 20 knots
Complement: 34
Armament: 1x 37 mm C/30 cannon
2 x 20mm cannon
7.92 mm machine guns, mines and depth charges

The R boats or Raumboote in German were a group of General purpose motor launches built for the Kriegsmarine before and during World War II. A total of 299 boats were built and the German Navy used them in every theatre including the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Black Sea. These boats were used for convoy escort, coastal patrol, minesweeping, minalaying and the rescue of air crews. About 140 R boats survived the war and were distributed amongst the Allies. Some were used by the "German Minesweeping service" to clear western Europe of sea mines. Twenty four boats ended up being transferred back to the post-war German Navy, the Bundesmarine in 1956 and were used until the late 1960s. An unusual feature of these ships is the use of Voith Schneider Propellers on some boats for extra manueverability.

[edit] Boat Classes

Class Boats Displacement Length Note
R1 R1-R16 60 tons 26 m built 1929-34
R17 R17-24 115 tons 37m Built 1934-38
R25 R25-R40 110 tons 35.4m Built 1938-39
R41 R41-129 125 tons 37.8 m Built 1939-43
R130 R130-150 150 tons 41.1m built 1943-45
R151 R151-217 125 tons 35.4m built 1940-43
R218 R218-300 140 tons 39.2 m built 1943-45, R291-300 unfinished at the end of the war
R301 R301-312 160 tons 41 m built 1942-45, 2 - 533mm torpedo tubes added
R401 R401-448 140 tons 39.2m launched 1943-45 mostly not completed at end of the war

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946
  • Hervieux, Pierre German Motor Minesweepers at War 1939-1945 in Warship 2002-2003, Conway's Maritime Press
  • German Navy.de