E-boat

Encyclopedia : E : EB : EBO : E-boat

Historically, E-boat was the British and American term for the World War II German Schnellboot (S-Boot), a small, fast torpedo boat of approximately double the size of an American PT boat and the British MTB. It is believed that the E stood for "Enemy" [link][link]. Compared to the Allied craft, the E-boats were better suited for the open sea and had a substantially longer range at approximately 700 nautical miles.

Schnellboot under white Flagg after surrender at the end of WWII

Contents

1 History
2 Variants

2.1 S-26 class
2.2 S-38 class
2.3 S-38b class
2.4 S-100 class
2.5 S-170 class
2.6 Type 700

3 Specification
4 References
5 External links

History

After the Treaty of Versailles most of Germany's military production was severely curtailed. Small patrol craft were not. The E-boats trace their lineage back to a private motor yacht - a 22 ton dispacement 34 knot craft called Oheka II, which had been built in 1927 for wealthy financier and patron of the arts, Otto Kahn, by the German shipbuilding company Lürssen.

E-boats were used in the English Channel to intercept shipping heading for the English ports in the south and east. As such they would be up against Royal Navy and Commonwealth contingents in Motor Gun Boats (MGBs) and Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) as well as Motor Launches and destroyers.

Crews could earn an award particular to their work - denoted by a badge depicting an E-boat passing through a wreath. The criteria were good conduct, distinction in action, participating in at least twelve enemy actions. It was awarded for a particularly successful mission, displays of leadership or being killed in action. It could also be awarded under special circumstances such as when another decoration was not suitable.

Variants

The E-boat design evolved over time. The first had a pair of torpedo tubes on the fore deck.

S-26 class

Entered service in 1940

40 metre hull. Torpedo tubes covered by forward deck.

S-38 class

S-38b class

Improved 38 class with armoured bridge.

S-100 class

From 1943

2 x 20 mm gun amidships and 37 mm gun aft.

S-170 class

Type 700

late war design, only 8 built, stern torpedo tubes and 30 mm gun turret forward.

Specification

Length: 34.9 m
Weight: up to 120 t
Speed: 43.8 kts
Engines: Three 20-cylinder 2000 hp Daimler Benz MB501 diesels driving three shafts (propeller)s.
Armament:
*2 x 53.5 cm torpedo tubes, with room for 2 torpedoes for reloading.
*1 x 20 mm gun, (Flakvierling 20 mm on early boats, special version on S-100 class)
*1 x 40 mm gun (40 mm Bofors) S38 class boats

Other armament carried on different models included 3.7 cm Flak 42 (S-100) or a quad 2 cm Flakvierling mount

References

"German E-Boats 1939-45" by Gordon Williamson and Ian Palmer, Osprey, 2002, ISBN 1841764450
"German S-boote at War, 1939-1945" by Jean Philippe Dallies-Labourdette,UK: Histoire and Collections, 2003, ISBN 2913903495
"S-Boote: German E-Boats in Action (1939-1945)" by Jean-Philippe Dallies-Labourdette, US/UK: Histoire and Collections, ISBN 2913903495

Schnellboot in Action, Squadron Signal Publication. http://www.bmpt.org.uk/boats/S130/index6.htm

External links

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