Warships of the Reichsmarine: The Destroyers and Torpedo Boats

T139 to T196 (S138-class)
Although built under different annual building programmes, these ships were all but identical. They are sometimes collectively referred to as the S138-class.

The S138-class as built. There were minor variations between individual ships, as shown below.

When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 525 tons to 689 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 231ft 11in to 243ft 5in (70.7m to 74.2m)
• Beam: 26ft (7.9m)
• Draught: 9ft to 10ft (2.75m to 3.06m)
• Propulsion:
  • T139 to T158: 2 triple-expansion steam engines, both of which drove a propeller
  • T168 to T196: 2 steam turbines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 30 to 32 knots
• Complement: 3 officers and 77 to 81 enlisted men
• Armament:
• T139 to T149: 1 x 3.5in (88mm) SK L/35 gun (1 x 1); 3 x 2in (50mm) SK L/40 guns (3 x 1); and 3 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (3 x 1)
• T151 to T155: 2 x 3.5in (88mm) SK L/35 guns (2 x 1) and 3 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (3 x 1)
• T156 to T196: 1 x 3.5in (88mm) SK L/35 gun (1 x 1); 2 x 2in (50mm) SK L/40 guns (2 x 1); and 3 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (3 x 1)

Service histories
T139 was stricken in 1927, renamed Pfeil and converted into a control ship for a radio-controlled target ship. Taken out of service in 1937, during the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour.

T141 was stricken in 1927, renamed Blitz and converted into a control ship for a radio-controlled target ship. She was scrapped in Wilhelmshaven in 1933.

T143 was stricken in 1927, and scrapped in Hamburg in 1930.

T144 was stricken in 1927, and scrapped in Essen in 1930.

T146 was stricken in 1928, and scrapped in Essen in 1929.

T148 was stricken in 1928, and scrapped in Wilhelmshaven in 1935.

T149 was stricken in 1927, and scrapped.

T151 was converted into a fast tug in 1937 and renamed Komet. During the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour. Ceded to the USA in 1945, and scrapped in Holland in 1949.

T152 was stricken in 1931, and scrapped in 1935.

T153 was renamed Edouard Jungman in 1938 when she became a gunnery school tender. Ceded to the USA in 1945, and scrapped in Holland in 1949.

T154 was stricken in 1928, and scrapped in 1935.

T155 served as a tender from 1936 onward. During the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour. She was bombed and sunk of 22nd April 1945 at Swinemunde.

T156 was converted into a submarine tender in 1934. During the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour. Renamed Bremse in 1944. She was scuttled in Kiel on 3rd May 1945, and broken up.

T157 was converted into a submarine tender in 1934. During the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour. She was mined and sunk in the Baltic on 22nd October 1943.

T158 was converted into a submarine tender in 1934. During the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour. Ceded to Russia in 1945, and renamed Prozorlivyy.

T168 was stricken in 1927, and scrapped in Hamburg.

T175 was stricken in 1926, and scrapped in Hamburg.

T185 was rearmed in 1920 at Wilhelmshaven with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 3 x 17.9in (450mm) torpedo tubes. Stricken in 1932, renamed Blitz and converted into a fast tug and control ship for a radio-controlled target ship. Ceded to Russia in 1945, and renamed Vystrel.

T190 was renamed Claus von Bevern in 1938 when she became an experimental ship. She was ceded to the USA in 1945, and scuttled in the Skagerrak in 1946.

T196 served as the Flagship of the Minesweeping Command from 1938 onward. Ceded to Russia in 1945, and renamed Pronzitelnyy.

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V1-class
Although built under different programmes, these ships were all but identical.

The V1-class as built.

When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 570 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 230ft 3in (70.2m)
• Beam: 24ft 9in (7.6m)
• Draught: 10ft 2in (3.1m)
• Propulsion: 2 steam turbines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 32 knots
• Complement: 3 officers and 71 enlisted men
• Armament: 2 x 3.5in (88mm) SK L/35 guns and 4 × 19.7in (500mm) torpedo tubes (4 x 1)

Service histories
V1 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She was stricken in 1939, and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven.

V2 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She was stricken in 1929, and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven in 1930.

V3 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She was stricken in 1929, and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven in 1930.

V5 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She was stricken in 1929, and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven in 1930.

V6 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She was stricken in 1929, and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven in 1930.

G7 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She served as a training ship from 1936 onwards. Renamed T107 in 1939, by which time her armament comprised 1 x 4.1in (105mm) (1 x 1) guns, 2 x 20mm AA guns (2 x 1), and 3 x 19.7in (500mm) (1 x 1 and 1 x 2) torpedo tubes. She was ceded to Russia in 1945 and renamed Porazaiuskyy. Probably scrapped in 1950.

G8 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She served as a training ship form 1936 onwards. Renamed T108 in 1939, by which time her armament comprised 1 x 4.1in (105mm) (1 x 1) guns, 2 x 20mm AA guns (2 x 1), and 3 x 19.7in (500mm) (1 x 1 and 1 x 2) torpedo tubes. She was ceded to the UK in 1945 and scrapped in 1946.

G10 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She served as a training ship form 1936 onwards. Renamed T110 in 1939, by which time her armament comprised 1 x 4.1in (105mm) (1 x 1) guns, 2 x 20mm AA guns (2 x 1), and 3 x 19.7in (500mm) (1 x 1 and 1 x 2) torpedo tubes. She was scuttled at Trave on 5th May 1945.

G11 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She served as a training ship form 1936 onwards. Renamed T111 in 1939, by which time her armament comprised 1 x 4.1in (105mm) (1 x 1) guns, 2 x 20mm AA guns (2 x 1), and 3 x 19.7in (500mm) (1 x 1 and 1 x 2) torpedo tubes. She was bombed and sunk in Kiel on 3rd April 1945.

S18 was stricken in 1931 and scrapped in Wilhelmshaven in 1935.

S19 was stricken in 1931 and scrapped in Kiel in 1935.

S23 was renamed T23 in 1932. Renamed T123 in 1939 when she became a training ship. Renamed again in 1939 (Komet) when she became a control ship for the radio-controlled target ship Hessen. She also served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour, and was ceded to Russian in 1945.