German trawler V 102 Cressida

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History
Nazi Germany
NameCressida
BuilderLübecker Maschinenbau - Gesellschaft
Yard number380
Launched1939
Commissioned1 October 1939
Decommissioned1945
FateSurvived the war and returned to civilian service, sank off the coast of Greece on 23 December 1962
General characteristics
Class and typeConverted Cargo ship
Length234 ft (71 m)
Beam34.6 ft (11 m)
Height11.8 ft (3.6 m)
Installed power1500 APK
PropulsionMotor, oil, 2-stroke single-acting
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)

V 102 Cressida was a German cargo ship which was converted into a Vorpostenboot for the Kriegsmarine during World War II.[1]

History[]

Cressida was built in Lübeck in early 1939 as a cargo vessel by the shipbuilder . On 1 October 1939, the ship was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine as V 102 and was placed in the 1 Vorpostenflotille.[2] The ship participated in the German invasion of Denmark in April 1940, escorting the steamer and tugs and alongside V 103 Sylvia and several minesweepers. The group landed three companies of the 170th Infantry Division at Middlefart.[3]

In June of 1940, the ship was converted into a Sperrbrecher, or a ship with a reinforced hull designed to clear a path through minefields. It was designated as Sperrbrecher 32 and was moved into the 3 Sperrbrecher-flotille, where it served for the duration of the war.[2]

After the war, the ship was given into the control of The Netherlands and was officially transferred on 5 September 1947, delivered by the German tugboat to Amsterdam from Bremerhaven. The ship was renamed Gernik during its service to the Netherlands. In 1952, the ship was completely renovated in Vlissingen, receiving a new engine.[2]

On 23 December 1962 while carrying cargo from Haifa, Gernik ran aground on Karpathos off the coast of Greece during a storm.[4] While all of the crew made it safely ashore, the ship was declared a total loss.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ "Vorpostenboote der deutschen Kriegsmarine 1939-45". www.wlb-stuttgart.de. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  2. ^ a b c d "Stichting Maritiem Historische Data - Schip". www.marhisdata.nl. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  3. ^ "Norwegian Campaign, Battles of Narvik, April 1940". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  4. ^ "Cressida (5613911)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
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