German submarine chaser UJ-121 Jochen

History
Germany
Name
  • 1939: Jochen
  • 1939: UJ-121 Jochen
OwnerC Andersen
OperatorNazi Germany Kriegsmarine
Port of registryNazi Germany Hamburg
BuilderNorderwerft, Hamburg
Yard number721
CompletedMay 1939
Identification
FateSunk by mine, 1940
General characteristics
Typefishing trawler
Tonnage523 GRT, 198 NRT
Length178.0 ft (54.3 m)
Beam27.6 ft (8.4 m)
Depth13.5 ft (4.1 m)
Installed power
Propulsion1 × shaft; 1 × screw
Speed12 knots (22 km/h)
Sensors and
processing systems
Notessister ship: Uwe

UJ-121 Jochen was a steam trawler that was built in Germany in 1939, and converted into a submarine chaser at the beginning of the Second World War. A mine sank her in the North Sea in 1940, with the loss of 13 of her crew.

Building and registration

In 1938–39 Norderwerft Köser & Meyer in Steinwerder, Hamburg built a pair of trawlers for the fishing fleet of C Andersen. The first was built as yard number 720, and launched on 29 January 1939 as Uwe.[1] Her sister ship was built as yard number 721; launched as Jochen; and completed that May.[2]

Jochen's registered length was 178.0 ft (54.3 m); her beam was 27.6 ft (8.4 m); and her depth was 13.5 ft (4.1 m). Her tonnages were 523 GRT and 198 NRT. She had a cruiser stern, and a single screw. She was equipped with wireless direction finding, and an echo sounding device.[3]

Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau (DeSchiMAG) built her engines in its Seebeck works at Wesermünde in Bremerhaven. Her main engine was a three-cylinder triple-expansion engine. It was supplemented by an exhaust steam turbine, which drove the same propeller shaft via DeSchiMAG's patent Bauer-Wach system of a Föttinger fluid coupling and double-reduction gearing. The combined power of her reciprocating engine plus exhaust turbine was rated at 132 NHP,[3] and gave her a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h).[4]

Andersen registered Jochen at Hamburg.[3] Her port letter and number were HH 255,[2] and her wireless telegraph call sign was DKAL.[3]

Submarine chaser

The Kriegsmarine requisitioned Jochen shortly before the Second World War. She was converted into a submarine chaser, and on 28 July 1939 she was commissioned with the pennant number UJ-121. She joined the 12. U-Bootsjagdflottille ("12th Submarine Chaser Flotilla"), which was formed in September 1939 at Wilhelmshaven.[2]

On 2 September 1940, UJ-121 Jochen was approaching Ostend in German-occupied Belgium when she struck a mine. She sank, and 13 members of her crew were killed.[4] Her wreck blocked the channel that was used by the 2. Schnellbootflottille ("Second E-boat Flotilla").[5]

References

  1. ^ "M 1607 Uwe" (in German). Historisches Marinearchiv. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "U-Bootsjagd-Flottillen 1939-40" (in German). Württembergische Landesbibliothek. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Lloyd's Register 1940, JOC–JOH.
  4. ^ a b Lettens, Jan; Allen, Tony. "UJ-121 (Jochen) (+1940)". Wrecksite. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  5. ^ Kindell, Don (7 April 2012). "Naval Events, September 1940 (Part 1 of 2) Sunday 1st – Saturday 14th". Naval-History.net. Retrieved 14 October 2024.

Bibliography