Hermann Bösch was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the Second World War for use as a Vorpostenboot, serving as V 205 Hermann Bösch and V 202 Hermann Bösch. She was shelled and sunk in the English Channel off La Hague, Manche, France by HMS Calpe and HMS Cottesmore on 28 July 1942.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hermann Bösch |
| Owner |
|
| Port of registry |
|
| Builder | Deschimag |
| Yard number | 593 |
| Launched | October 1937 |
| Completed | 24 November 1937 |
| Commissioned | 30 September 1939 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Shelled and sunk 28 July 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type |
|
| Tonnage | 470 GRT, 170 NRT |
| Length | 50.80 m (166 ft 8 in) |
| Beam | 8.03 m (26 ft 4 in) |
| Depth | 3.96 m (13 ft 0 in) |
| Installed power | Triple expansion steam engine, 96nhp |
| Propulsion | Single screw propeller |
| Crew | 35 (Kriegsmarine service) |
Description edit
Hermann Bösch was 50.80 metres (166 ft 8 in) long, with a beam of 8.03 metres (26 ft 4 in) and a depth of 3.96 metres (13 ft 0 in). She was assessed at 470 GRT, 170 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 64.6 centimetres (25+7⁄16 in) diameter by 64.9 centimetres (25+9⁄16 in) stroke. The engine was built by Deschimag Seebeck, Wesermünde and was rated at 96nominal horsepower. It drove a single screw propeller via a low-pressure turbine, double reduction gearing and a hydraulic coupling.[1]
History edit
Hermann Bösch was built as yard number 592 by Deschimag, Wesermünde.[2] She was launched in October 1937 and completed on 24 November.[3] She was built for C. C. H. Bösch. She was completed by Deschimag Seebeck, Wesermünde. Her port of registry was Bremerhaven.[1] The Code Letters DOTK and fishing boat registration BX 261 were allocated.[1][4]
On 30 September 1939, Hermann Bösch was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine and commissioned as the Vorpostenboot V 205 Hermann Bösch. She was redesignated V 202 Hermann Bösch on 20 October.[4] On 9 September 1941, she assisted V 208 R. Walther Darré in rescued the crew of the cargo ship Trifels, which had been torpedoed and sunk off Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, France by the Motor Torpedo Boat MTB 54.[5] On 28 July 1942, she was shelled and sunk in the English Channel off La Hague, Manche, France by HMS Calpe, HMS Cottesmore,[6] and two motor gun boats. Her captain survived,[7] but 34 crew were killed.[3] Vorpostenboot V 203 Carl Röver was damaged beyond repair in the same engagement.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Hermann Bösch (58857)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. HER (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1938–1939. Retrieved 21 May 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
- ^ Gröner 1993, p. 205.
- ^ a b Gröner 1993, p. 213.
- ^ a b "Vorpostenboote der deutschen Kriegsmarine 1939-45". www.wlb-stuttgart.de (in German). Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ "Naval Events, September 1941, Part 1 of 2, Monday 1st – Sunday 14th". Naval History. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1942, Juli". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ a b German Naval Staff Operations Division (1948). "War Diary German Naval Staff Operations Division, July 1942" (PDF). Washington D.C.: Office of Naval Intelligence. p. 355. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- 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.