German trawler V 313 Eifel

History
Name
  • Marie Richardson (1929–36)
  • Eifel (1936–54)
Owner
  • Deutsche Fischerei Gesellschaft (1929–36)
  • Norddeutsche Hochseefischerei (1936–41)
  • Kriegsmarine (1941–45)
  • Norddeutsche Hochseefischerei (1945–54)
Port of registry
BuilderNV IJsselwerft
Launched1929
CompletedMarch 1930
Commissioned20 April 1941
DecommissionedMay 1945
Out of service1954
Identification
  • Code Letters KRSF (1930–34)
  • Fishing boat registration PG 392 (1930–41)
  • Code Letters DFBE (1934–54)
  • Pennant Number V 313 (1941–45)
  • Fishing boat registration BX 283 (1945–54)
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Type
Tonnage290 GRT, 112 NRT
Length41.45 m (136 ft 0 in)
Beam7.25 m (23 ft 9 in)
Draught3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)
Depth3.98 m (13 ft 1 in)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine, 96nhp
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Speed10 knots (19 km/h)

Eifel was a German fishing trawler that was built in 1929 as Marie Richardson. Renamed Eifel in 1936, she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the Second World War for use as a Vorpostenboot, serving as V 313 Eifel. Returned to her owners post-war, she was scrapped in 1955.

Description

The ship 41.45 metres (136 ft 0 in) long, with a beam of 7.25 metres (23 ft 9 in). She had a depth of 3.98 metres (13 ft 1 in) and a draught of 3.65 metres (12 ft 0 in).[1] She was assessed at 290 GRT, 112 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 34 centimetres (13+1⁄2 in), 58 centimetres (23 in) and 94 centimetres (37 in) diameter by 66 centimetres (26 in) stroke. The engine was built by C. D. Holmes & Co., Hull, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. It was rated at 96nhp. It drove a single screw propeller.[2] It could propel the ship at 10 knots (19 km/h).[1]

History

Marie Richardson was built by NV IJsselweft, Gorinchem, South Holland, Netherlands for Deutsche Fischerei Gesellschaft AG, Germany. She was launched in 1929 and completed in March 1930. The fishing boat registration PG 392 was allocated,[3] as were the Code Letters KRSF. Her port of registry was Wesermünde[2] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DFBE.[4] In 1936, she was sold to the Norddeutscher Hochseefisherei.[3]

She was scheduled to have participated in Unternehmen Seelöwe in 1940. On 20 April 1941, Eifel was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 3 Vorpostenflotille as V 313 Eifel. In 1945, she was returned to her owners. She arrived at W. Ritscher, Hamburg for scrapping on 28 December 1954.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Gröner 1993, p. 236.
  2. ^ a b "Marie Richardson (61704)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. M (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930–1931. Retrieved 14 November 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
  3. ^ a b c Gröner 1993, p. 237.
  4. ^ "Marie Richardson (63065)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. MAR (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 14 November 2022 – via Southampton City Council.

Sources

  • Gröner, Erich (1993). Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945 (in German). Vol. 8/I: Flußfahrzeuge, Ujäger, Vorpostenboote, Hilfsminensucher, Küstenschutzverbände (Teil 1). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-4807-5.