Kriegsmarine S-boat Flotilla

Contents: Introduction Minensuchboote (minesweepers) Torpedoboote (torpedo boats) - small destroyers armed with two sets of torpedo tubes and similar to the Allied destroyer escort Raumboote - trawlers pressed into military service which were literally "outpost vessels perfoming a patrol service and giving early warning of the approach of enemy forces Tenders: "Mothership vessels for flotillas of smaller vessels such as E-boats and U-boats Tankers and auxiliaries - provided crucial refuelling facilities to U-boats. Most were hunted down and destroyed during the course of the war Blockage breakers Miscellaneous - including former cruise liners acting as troopships. The Wilhelm Gustlov was sunk in the Baltic by a Soviet submarine carrying thousands of passengers including women and children fleeing the approaching Red Army. It was the greatest single loss of life in a maritime disaster yet few people have heard of the ship. Also training ships and Hitler's personal yacht, which was in fact a large steam powered vessel.