German trawler V 604 Fritz Reiser

History
Name	Fritz Reiser (1924–47); Le Merlu (1947–54);
Owner	Kämpf & Meyer (1924–29); C. Meyer (1929–39); Kriegsmarine (1939–44); Pool de Lorient (1944–54);
Port of registry	Wesermünde, Germany (1923–33); Wesermünde, Germany (1933–39); Kriegsmarine (1939–44); Lorient, France (1944–54);
Builder	J. C. Tecklenborg AG, Geestemünde
Yard number	405
Launched	15 November 1924
Completed	4 December 1924
Commissioned	22 September 1939
Identification	Fishing boat registration PG 360 (1924–39); Code Letters KSCF (1924–34); ; Code Letters DEZU (1934–43); ; Pennant Number V 706 (1939–43); Pennant Number V 604 (1943–44); Codel Letters FNFN (1944–54); ;
General characteristics
Type	Fishing trawler (1924–39, 1944–52); Vorpostenboot (1939–44); School ship (1952–54);
Tonnage	278 GRT, 107 NRT
Length	40.72 m (133 ft 7 in)
Beam	7.37 metres (24 ft 2 in)
Depth	3.68 m (12 ft 1 in)
Installed power	Triple expansion steam engine, 56nhp
Propulsion	Single screw propeller
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h)

Fritz Reiser was a German fishing trawler which was built in 1924. She was requisitoned by the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. She was used as a Vorpostenboot. She was seized by France in 1944, and was renamed Le Merlu in 1948. She was scrapped in 1954.

Description

The ship 40.72 m (133 ft 7 in) long, with a beam of 7.37 metres (24 ft 2 in). She had a depth of 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in). She was assessed at 278 GRT, 107 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 33 centimetres (13 in), 53 centimetres (20+7⁄8 in) and 86 centimetres (33+7⁄8 in) diameter by 72 centimetres (28+3⁄8 in) stroke. The engine was built by J. C. Tecklenborg AG., Geestemünde, Germany. It was rated at 55 nhp. It drove a single screw propeller.^[1] It could propel the ship at 10 knots (19 km/h).^[2]

History

Fritz Reiser was built as yard number 405 by J. C. Tecklenborg AG., Geestemünde, Germany.^[2] She was launched on 15 November 1924 and completed on 4 December. Owned by Kämpf & Meyer,^[3] her port of registry was Wesermünde. She was allocated the Code Letters KSCF,^[1] and the fishing boat registration PG 360. She was sold to the Hochseefischerei Cark Kämpf Partenreederei in 1929.^[3] On 6 April 1932, her boilers were damaged at sea, leaving her drifting 80 nautical miles (150 km) north of the Horns Reef. She radioed of a tow.^[4] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DEZU.^[5]

On 22 September 1939, Fritz Reiser was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine. Designated as a vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 7 Vorpostenflotille as V 706 Fritz Reiser. On 19 August 1943, she was reallocated to 6 Vorpostenflotille as V 604 Fritz Reiser. In 1944, she was seized at Saint-Nazaire as a prize of war by France.^[3] She was sold to the Pool de Lorient. Her port of registry was Lorient, Morbihan and the Code Letters FNFN were allocated.^[6] Her name was changed to Le Merlu in 1947. She became a school ship in 1953 and was scrapped in 1954.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b "Fritz Reiser (57695)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. FRI-FYL (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930–1931. Retrieved 20 February 2024 – via Southampton City Council.
^ ^a ^b Gröner 1993, p. 223.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1993, p. 225.
^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 46102. London. 8 April 1932. col F, p. 8.
^ "Fritz Reiser (60037)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. FRI-FRO (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 20 February 2024 – via Southampton City Council.
^ "LAZ-LE Lloyd's Register 1949-50". Lloyd's Register of Shipping. London: Lloyd's of London. 1950.

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.