Vorpostenboot

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Vorpostenboot (also referred to as flakships or outpost boats)[1][2] were the patrol boats that served under the Kriegsmarine during the World War II period. They were used most prominently around coastal areas and in coastal operations. They were tasked with, among other things, coastal patrol, ship escort, and naval combat.[1] Technical data and designs, as well as wreckages found, show that the Vorpostenboot was largely based on pre-war fishing ships.[3]

Warships as such were not present in sufficient numbers in the Kriegsmarine, so many different types of boats were modified for use in combat. This was also true of the Vorpostenboot. Among various other non-combative ships fishing boats were most prominent in these respects, although yachts were used too. Fishing ships were believed to have been considered ideal for alteration because they existed in such large numbers and were simple in make up and design, and also because they were hardy and seaworthy in rough waters. There are believed to have been several hundred Vorpostenboot active and enlisted for service by the Kriegsmarine during the World War II period.[3]

Vorpostenboot were armed more to provide anti-air support, rather than anti-surface protection, although they were armed for both. They had an artillery armament of 88 mm guns, as well as a varied assortment of automatic anti-aircraft guns. These anti-aircraft guns could range anywhere from 20 mm, 37 mm, 40 mm to 88 mm.[1] Large numbers of heavy and light machine guns were also present, and there was also an arsenal of depth charges stored on board as well,[4] for which there were sometimes up to four launchers. Crewed by up to approximately sixty to seventy men,[5] most of whom were gunners or combat-oriented, the Vorpostenboot became particularly feared by the Royal Navy for their fire power and efficiency in battle.[4] However, while Vorpostenboot were able to successfully deal with lighter naval forces such as small motor gun boats, as well as several larger ship types, they were typically not powerful enough to engage and destroy a fully fledged warship such as a destroyer.[3]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Hart, p.233
  2. ^ Campbell, p.93
  3. ^ a b c Kriegsmarine; Vorpostenboot. Retrieved on 4 January 2007.
  4. ^ a b Hart, p.234
  5. ^ Vorpostenboot; statistic. Retrieved on 5 January 2007.

[edit] References