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History
Name	A. R. Giese (1934–35); Saarland (1934–44);
Owner	Reederei Siebert & Co. (1934–39); Kriegsmarine (1939–44);
Port of registry	Wesermünde, Germany (1934–39); Kriegsmarine (1939–44);
Builder	Deschimag Seebeckwerft
Yard number	520
Launched	27 June 1934
Completed	4 August 1934
Commissioned	25 September 1939
Out of service	26 August 1944
Identification	Fishing boat registration PG 416 (1934–39); Code Letters DEWJ; ; Pennant Number V 407 (1939); Pennant Number V 411 (1939–44);
General characteristics
Type	Fishing trawler (1934–39); Vorpostenboot (1939–44);
Tonnage	435 GRT, 162 NRT
Length	51.35 metres (168 ft 6 in)
Beam	8.00 metres (26 ft 3 in)
Draught	4.65 metres (15 ft 3 in)
Depth	3.74 metres (12 ft 3 in)
Installed power	Triple expansion steam engine, 91nhp
Propulsion	Single screw propeller
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h)

Saarland was a German fishing trawler that was built as A. R. Giese. Renamed in 1935, she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the Second World War for use as a Vorpostenboot. She served as V 407 Saarland and V 411 Saarland. She was sunk in the Gironde in 1944 by a boiler explosion.

Description

The ship was 51.35 metres (168 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 8.00 metres (26 ft 3 in). She had a depth of 3.74 metres (12 ft 3 in) and a draught of 4.5 metres (14 ft 9 in).^[1] She was assessed at 435 GRT, 162 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 35 centimetres (13+3⁄4 in), 55 centimetres (21+5⁄8 in) and 90 centimetres (35+7⁄16 in) diameter by 65 centimetres (25+9⁄16 in) stroke. The engine was made by Deschimag Seebeckwerft, Wesermünde, Germany. It was rated at 91nhp. The engine powered a single screw propeller driven via a low pressure turbine, double reduction gearing and a hydraulic coupling.^[2] It could propel the ship at 12 knots (22 km/h).^[1]

History

The ship was built as yard number 520 by Deschimag Seekbeckwerft, Wesermünde for the Reederei Siebert & Co., Wesermünde. She was launched on 27 June 1934 and completed on 4 August. The fishing boat registration PG 416 was allocated.^[3] She was allocated the Code Letters DEWJ.^[2] On 22 January 1935, she was renamed Saarland.^[1]

Saarland was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine on 25 September 1939 for use as a vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 4 Vorpostenflotille as V 407 Saarland. On 16 October she was redesignated V 411 Saarland.^[4] On 26 August 1944, she was attacked at Le Verdon-sur-Mer, Gironde, France by Bristol Beaufighter aircraft of 236 Squadron, Royal Air Force and 404 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force.^[5] She suffered a boiler explosion and sank in the Gironde.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Gröner 1993, p. 205.
^ ^a ^b "A. R. Giese (68211)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. A (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
^ Gröner 1993, pp. 205, 212.
^ ^a ^b Gröner 1993, p. 212.
^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1944, August". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 11 September 2015.

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.