Tay we tiSH IPC RAFT 6 Text and colour illustrations by St Wi GERMAN ss from original documents S-Boats i Contents Design 1 Model Products 16 Modelmakers’ Showcase 22 Camouflage 42 S-Boats in Colour Photographs 46 Appearance 49 Plans 56 Post-War S-Boats 62 Selected References 64 ShipCraft 6: German S-Boats British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data | Wiper, Steve German S-boats. — (ShipCraft) | Copyright © Chatham Publishing 2006 1.Ship models — Germany | 2.Fast attack craft - Germany 3.Warships ~ Models - Germany First published in Great Britain in 2006 by I.Title Chatham Publishing, an imprint of Lionel 623.8'20158 Leventhal Ltd, Park House, 1 Russell | Gardens, London NW11 9NN ISBN-13: 9781861762788 www.chathampublishing.com ISBN-10: 186176278X And in the United States of America by All rights reserved. No part of this publication Classic Warships Publishing, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or PO Box 57591, Tucson, Arizona 85732 by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without either prior permission in writing from the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying. www.classicwarships.com Typeset and designed by Sally Geeve Printed and bound in China through Printworks ISBN 1.86176 278 X International LtdDesign LLOWING THE CONCLUSION of the Great War and the Treaty of Versailles, the German Navy, known then as the Reichsmarine, began a clandestine research and development program to develop an all-weather motor torpedo boat (MTB). Much effort was given to this project due to the fact that the Treaty of Versailles made no provision against Germany developing this type of warship. For this they went to the German firm of Lirssen, a yacht building firm near Bremen, Germany. Lirssen had a round bottomed, all weather motor yacht that he was marketing to wealthy Americans in the mid 1920s that had the characteristics that the Reichsmarine was asking for. The construction of Lurssen’s largest yacht consisted of aluminum frames, covered with mahogany planking, enabling the boat to withstand sea states far rougher than any other nations’ MTBs. This vessel was 74ft long and could also reach a top speed of 34kts, making it the fastest motor boat of this size in the world. The Reichsmarine awarded Lirssen the contract for one boat of a slightly larger design. This would be the first true MTB for the new German Navy, and the design genesis for all future S-Boats through the Second World War. 5-1, the prototype §-Boat, in her early days. (All illustrations by = courtesy of the author) = Type S-1 Design Specification MotorPower Cruise/Tap Speed Range Crew 550nm 12 S-Boat Type Displacement Length Beam Armament 38.8 to 51.6 tons 86ft 13.75SR = 2x 19.7in TT(2 torpedo), 3x BFZV-12 22/34kts 2xMG34, 41x 20mm @900hp ea Type S-1 TYPE 8-1 S-1 was commissioned into the Reichsmarine in August 1930 as an experimental craft called a Schnellboot. The torpedo tubes were made removable to hide them from Allied intelligence. In 1932, this vessel was officially named S-I, but the term Schnellboot would become the designation for this type of warship. Upon completion, the S-] was the largest MTB of its time. There were a lot of trials and experiments per- formed with this craft, as well as refits and modifications to it as the new German Navy (Knegsmarine in 1935) grew and developed new technologies. In 1938 Germany sold the S-1 to Spain.DESIGN ‘Type S-2, $-6 & S-7 Design Specifications Seat Type _Dislacenent Length Beam Armament MotodPower Grise/Tep Speed Range Crew TypeS2 465i063ions O1SN TATSR 2x 107M TT2wepede), 3xOFZVI2 —S0aKS 360m 12 2KMG34, 8 1x20mm. @T:00hp ea Types® Ob T5 uns 10020R TZ ZN TTIZtorpedo), SKMAN 30088 oom 18 2xMG3 8 ix20mm @t320np eR TypeS7 7895 tone 108.25 TER —-2xZIin TU torpedo), 3x MAN —S06KtS 60mm 2 3xMG36 6 ix20nm @Is20Npe8 TYPE S-2, S-6 AND 8-7 The Type $2 boats were hull numbers $2 through SS, four in all. These boats were built at the Larssen Boatworks and delivered to the Reichsmarine in 1932. They were very similar to the S-1, but had front doors hinged onto the torpedo tubes, supercharged motors and two special rudders added. These rudders, when both turned out to 30°, caused the boat to plane, reducing the stern wake and increased the top speed. This became known as the ‘Larssen Ejfekt’, for which the S-Boat became famous. ‘These four boats, and S-1 trained ‘a new core of German sailors for MTB duty throughout the early to mid late 1930s. As with S-1, all four Type S-2 were later sold to Spain as new Schneliboote became available The S-6, again built at Larssen in 1933, was a larger design to accommodate a new diesel motor. Diesel was attractive because it was not nearly as volatile a fuel as gasoline, making these vessels much safer. S-6 was also the first S-Boat to mount the larger 21in torpedo tubes. As new and improved boats became available, S-6 was also sold to Spain in 1938. Beginning with the Type S-7 boats, a knuckle was added to the bow, making a vast improvement in sea keeping abilities. The seven boats of the type, like S-6, were a much larger design, entering service from late 1934 through late 1935. Also for the first time, a MG34 machine gun was pedestal-mounted on the foredeck Below $-4 motoring ddven 8 wateray in Germany, about 194DESIGN ‘Above: A Type S-Zboat running at high speed. Note the Nai lag atthe stre, dating this photograph semetine about 1835. These boats were painted in the standard Kriegsmarine colours of Dunkelgrau,o¢ dark gray on the hall and ellgau, or light gry 00 the superstructure Right: The German 7Smm heavy machine gun G34, found rlitary This wae » very reliable weapos,fousd on ‘S-Boats witha petestal mourt onthe forecasle an¢ 31 the Second Werld Wa. Note the hull lack while the boats wore stl painted in thestancard dark and light grey patton. The decks were covered with a canvas, for traction painted very dark grey.DESIGN ‘Type $-14 and 8-18 Design Specifications SeoerTipe _Dipacenent Length Beam Amerent NoiorPower _Cruse/Top Speed Range Oiew TyeOM SaswtTinw 1O5R 7ZER axaInTH(topedo) SxuAN __ asn0i Fenn 24 SEMGH & 120mm @2000h9 0a Type S18 925t0 117 tore TSHR 17.25R 2x2 TTCtorpedo), 3xUBSOI — 35OKtS Teonm 24 2RMGD 81 x2tmm @2t50%9 08 ‘TYPE 8-14 AND S-18 The Tupe S-14 boats were larger than _S-18 was the lead boat of eight. the preceding class to accommodate which was a new design that had more powerful motors, giving them a _ little outward appeerance differences, slightly higher top speed and better but were fitted with the new 20- sea keeping abilities. The four boats cylinder Daimler-Benz MB-511 diesel of this class were constructed at the that proved to be highly successful. Larssen Boatyard from 1936 to 1938 These boats also had a wedge added and were the first replacements for _ to the underside of the stern to force the older model S-Boats that were the water flow downwards, keeping sold to Spain. Their Maschinenfabrik the stern from squatting upon Augsburg-Narnburg (MAN) diesel acceleration. This group of boats engines were a new 1l-cylinder proved to be the most successful design that proved problematic. class built to that date. Ltt Both othese images show theDESIGN ete The new 5-26 nd Germany, May 190 ‘Type $-26 Design Specification S.Boat Type Displacement Length Baum Armament MotorPower Cuicaop Speed Range Crow TypeS-28 92510 11Stons 1148SN 1752R2x2IINTTUA pede), 3xMBSI1 3590.5H5 Toon 21 2xMG3t,& 120mm @2050h 02 ‘TYPE 8-26 designed with a raised open cockpit This small class of four boats, S-26 to the after half of the bridge, giving through S-29 were built in 1939 and the commander much better visibility. eee 1940. The dimensions of the hull were slightly larger than the previous Type S-18 boats, with a substantially built- up forecastle, enclosing the torpedo tubes and raising the height of the foredeck. The bridge was also re- As the war progressed, improvements were made to the armament. After 1942 2 single 20mm mount was added to the forecastle in a tub, and later in the war the after 20mm mount was up-graded to a single 37mm mount. motor tials at ‘ped. Note the large ‘muncated verblatrs ships. These were ‘aunige characteristic ‘olthe four beats athe Tipe $26 class.‘Type S-30 Design Specification ‘SBoatType Displacement Length Beam Amament MotorPower CruiseTop Speed Range Crow JweS30 e110 10ltone 107K 16OR 2x 2tin TTAtorpedo), 3xNBSOZ aSCOKe ‘00m 18 2xMGH, & 200m @1320hp «0 Top Thisis ore oftie TYPE S-30 boats that they were built alongside Type $0 bouts inthe port of Ostente, Belgium, along the Engish Channel Note the omoutlage application conthis boat Aight: This is «view of the midships area a Type ‘530 This paricular boat wer $3 The Type S-30 consisted of the hull numbers S-30 through S-37 and S-54 through S-61, totalling sixteen boats in the class. Originally the boats were being built for China, but the German government confiscated them and incorporated them into _ the Kriegsmarine. They were a little smaller than the Type 26 and Type 38 during the years 1939 through 1941. Their most distinguishing feature is the upswept shield abreast the bridge to protect the torpedo crew from spray. ‘As the war progressed, early models were later fitted with a forecastlemounted 20mm single in the traditional tub, while later models had this fitted as built.DESIGN ‘Above: This is «photograph of Type S-30 putting de, how Sy were usually kept close Aight A view ofthe torecastle ofthe $35, sbout the time of eon iy 198,‘$38 beat wes painted DESIGN ‘Type $-28 and $-38b Design Specifications SBom Type _Dissacemest Length Bean Armament MatorPower _Cuiseop Speed Range Grew TypeS28 Sw iiSions 11489N 16TH _2xZiin TT oped) SxMBSN 98005ue Toa 2 3XxNG34 tx 20mm @z200%p 00 Typesse> ore rzéene 1168IN 16:7 4x2IIN TTC topeKO, axMESIE 39K rom 2 2xNG344.1% 20mm @2200t» 08 81x40 Right: pe $-38 beat about mid wat Note the deck. Those wore used ier the slomens ane were Paintedto match te bat. ‘TYPE 8-38 & 38b ‘The Type S-38 was the next evolution of the Type S-26 class boats, hull dimensions remaining the same, but the motors and armament were improved. To do this the arrangements of the ventilators and deck fittings were modified, giving these boats a slightly different look. As the war progressed and encounters with Allied MTBs and MGBs increased and the need for better armament arose, the Type S38 were upgraded with single 20mm forward in a tub in the forecastle. Later, the aft 20mm mount was replaced by a Bofors 40mm mount aft. Beginning in late 1941, S-67, in a effort to reduce the silhouette, had a Plexiglass dome fabricated around and over the original cut-down bridge. Continuing this improvement, S68 had an aluminium dome fabricated. Most Type S-38 boats after S68 had armour-plated _ steel panelled domes fitted at the time of construction from 1942 onwards, with the new designation of Type S 38b. Some of these boats also showed variations in armament on the after mounting. Twin 20mm ‘Zwilling’, or a single 37mm mounts were found to bbe occasionally fitted. Type S-38 and S-38b boats built were S-38 through S-53, S-62 through $99, S101 through $-135, $-137 and S-138, for 91 boats in totalBelow: Kriegsmarine sailors load mines aboard this $-Boat in a Chansel port, about 1842. $-Boats performed many mi Second World War 10 saying operations during the Below: An aerial view of a Tipe $38 oat fron aster, showing many ofthe details ofthe main This beat i an early versions it stil mounts the single 20mm gun aft Note depts charges atthe was in the frent lower ‘enclosure, while the fs platform was the ater open cockpit atop the stucturDESIGN fight: crewman leaning the 20mm ‘mount en the forecastie ota Type $3, Nowy, rd almost all their vessels throughout the warDESIGN Above: Type §38b Above: An serial view ofthe 20mm single mountog ound on the af deck a Tipe $38 boat. Tis gu required a crew of three to four men and fied 120. This figure wes due to the fact that the magazines only held 20 rounds 12DESIGN Above: A Type S-380 boat arving in a performed within he ‘salty ofthese facilities. Tipe S-100 were fted with. Belove This isan image of an 20mm ‘Zwillng, or twin mount typically found amidships on - but inaly found mounted at on Tp ron $-1515DESIGN Type 8-100 and 8-700 Design Specifications ‘Boat Type Disacenent Length Beam Amament WMotaiPoner Grise/lip Speed Range Crew TypeS-100 100% 117 tons TH4BSR_T67SR 2x Din TTA torpedo). SxMBST _—_ S5NZBRS oon 30 3x20nm 8 1x37mm @2s00hp ea TypeS-700 1070 124tons 114.898 I67SR 4x 2tin TICtorpeo), 3x MBSIB — 352K orm 32 22mm, 1x30 @300Hp ea 81 4omm TYPE S-100 & S-700 construction techniques, but in The Type S-100 boats were an increased engine performance and evolution of the previous Type S38 boats. Their basic dimensions were the same as the Type S-38, but these vessels were constructed from the beginning with the armoured bridge. Their armament was also increased with an additional gun mount amidships, while additional armour protection was also added around the engine spaces. Other small differences about the Type S-100 boats were an overall simplification of construction, eliminating unnecessary fittings throughout the vessel, giving these boats a streamlined appearance. The hull numbers built for this Type S-100 were S-100, S-136, S-139 through S-150, S-167 through S-228, and $-301 through S-307, for a total of 83 boats in this class. As the construction of this class progressed, improvements were made not only in 14 also in the armament carried. 5-170 had the first set of Daimler-Benz MB 518 diesel motors, rated at 3000hp installed for testing, increasing the top speed to 45 kts. S-219 had its fuel capacity increased to extend the radius of action by 50nm. S-226 had a pair of rear-firing torpedo tubes installed, the basis for the design of the Type S-700 class. S-301 through $-307 were to receive the MB 518 motors, but it is believed that the production of these motors was canceled and these boats were built with the then standard MB S11 motors. There is also information pointing to, at the least, the experimental fitting of a 20mm ‘Flakvierling’, or quad mounting on a few boats, but no photographic evidence has been located to support this, only design drawings. The Type S-700 boats built carried the hull numbers S-701 through S-709, nine boats in all. The design benefited from all the experiments done on $170, $219, $226 and other Type S-100 boats. Like the 'S-301 through S-307 boats, they were to have the MB 518 motors, but it is possible that these boats were completed with the MB 511 motors. It is also quite possible that they were not built with the armament upgrades designed, but were basically a repeat of the Type S-100 class. aft A view o portion ol the bridge of $218, while in possession of the US Navy 1948.The item inthe foreground isDESIG & \ ‘Above: These two images ae ofthe Flak M427 mm single dual- purpose gun mount Rate ’Fakvierling 200m quad iva few 8-Beats during 1948. This was @DESIGN ‘Type S-151 Design Specifications Salve Disiacanent Length eam Amant ‘otiPower CrislTopSpees ‘Range Cw pe Sis Gt beine SON WER ZxZin TT torpedo, Sx WOOO tain om SMCS, 83x 15mm SON 48 120mm TYPE S-151 Type $-151 boats were much smaller Below: Bah of hese The Type S-151 class boats were than the Type S-38 that were being _Paswarpis wae talon originally Dutch MTBs under produced at the same time, They Sit Suse Bouwor construction when they were were, however better suited to the ype Ssvhoste captured during the German invasion of the Netherlands in May of 1940. ‘There were eight hulls numbering S- 151 through S-158. These were being license-built from a British Power Boat design by the Gusto Bootswerke in Scheidam. Originally they were to be armed with the Dutch 18in torpedo, but these were changed to the German 21in when construction was finished in 1942 on all eight boats. In outward appearances, these 16 navigate the European canal system ‘and small coastal waterways. These boats were deployed to the Mediterranean Sea to support the Afrika Korps. The secondary armament for these boats was a single MG34 machine gun on a pedestal mounting on the forecastle, a 15mm triple, or ‘Drilling’ mount amidships, and a single 20mm mount aft. At a later date, the aft mount was up-graded to a twin 20mm Zuilling The image let shows the nearly completed boat almost ready for ching, while the forces at Ancona tal.MODEL PRODUCTS Model Products FASCINATION has always existed for farships of the German Navy of the Second World War period. This may reflect the mystique of the Nazis and their unique level of evil, but I think it ie due to the fact that they managed to create a rather good navy considering the odds they were up against. Their warships had a constant design look to them and for the most part performed rather well. ‘The Schnellboot, S-Boat, or E-Boat was no exception. They developed into not only a vessel of very 1/700 The smallest scale kit is available in 1/700 from Pit Road /Skywave Models of Japan. The —S-Boat provided is an S-100 Type along with a kit of a USNavy PT Boat and a Royal Navy Vosper, all in one package, four of each supplied. The parts are very handsome appearance, but carried with that a very high reputation as one of the best motor torpedo boats of the war. For those reasons, a number of model kits in multiple scales have been produced with a healthy level of sales potential. There are finished models available in 1/1200, made of pewter castings, fully painted and ready for display, which is a really small presentation of this type of vessel. ‘These measure out to 1.14in (29mm) in overall length for an S-100 model finely cast and are quite detailed. There is, however, one glaring inaccuracy that a modeller may want to correct. The back side of the bridge is not provided in this kit, but minor scratch building should take care of this problem. ‘As you can see from the image of the kit parts shown to the left, they are very detailed. You can see the missing back side of the bridge area on the one-piece cast hull. Small pieces of styrene plastic cut to the Fight shapes will remedy this problem. Use the drawings provided in this book as your reference material 17‘MODEL PRODUCTS. Elo 4 Heller S-103 and S-211 1/400 These are two great kits in one box from Heller Models of France. The parts are well engineered, finely cast and very well detailed, as you can see by one of two parts trees pictured to the lef. What is provided in this box are two kits, the $103 and S211, as stated on the box. Heller does, however have the name plates wrong on each kit, but this can be fixed by simply switching them. What Heller is calling the $-211 is actually the $103, a Type $-38b, which is the type that had the armoured bridge added at a later date, as opposed to the Type S-100, which had the armoured bridge as built. There is an armament difference between the two, which Heller has faithfully represented here. ! } I 18MODEL PRODUCTS CHNELLBOOTE White Ensign Models Type S-38 1/350 This is just one of three S-Boat resin model kits available from White Ensign Models of England. They produce kits of the Type 5-7, $-38 and S-100 class boats. The kit shown, here is the Type S-38 and is typical of the high quality resin kits offered from WEM. The level of detail on this and the other kits is very high. The addition of the photo-etched brass components on these kits makes them absolutely outstanding to view when completed. ‘The quality of the resin casting is flawless, and the white metal pasts are among the best I have ever seen. Photo etch from WEM is legendary and thie set lives up to that status The instructions are very clear and easy to follow. Assembly is shown with exploded-view isometric drawings and the painting instructions and colour swatches are illustrated below I would recommend the use of WEM Colourcoats Paints for this model. These are the best quality model kits of S-Boats in the small scales, but the modeller should have very nimble fingers and a steady hand to attempt the assembly of a kit that is this exquisitely delicate. They would look stunning in a diorama attacking a USN Liberty Ship model! 19al MODEL PRODUCTS. Airfix ‘German E-Boat’ 1/72 This was one of the first model kits of an S-Boat, if not the first, produced back in 1975 by Airfix of England Airfix has since been sold to Humbrol Models of France. It is of the early ‘Type S-7 boats and was considered a g00d model in its time. The kit is now dated and has a few inaccuracies. The largest mistake that needs correcting is with the hull ‘The shape of the bow cross-section is not right, but this can be corrected by building up the hull to show the knuckle that is missing under the rubbing strake on the bow. The other noticeable inaccuracy is with the depth charges and their roll-off racks. ‘These are over-scale and new depth charges and racks need to be scratch built. Photos of both of these problem areas with this kit are provided within this book, as well as line drawings. There are other small inaccuracies in this model, but most modellers can deal with these problems. The instructions for this kit are very clear and easy to follow, showing all construction with exploded isometric view drawings. Decals are also provided and these are of a good quality. Very little is available for this kit in aftermarket products, due to the age of the kit and the low sales potential. Overall, this is a good model, but it will require a large amount of work to make it accurate. Recommended for modellers with advanced skill levels.fa MODEL PRODUCTS bases Seg Tee iriae Eee 10] 0 od F=f} Revell Germany S-100 class 1/72 This is just one of many exceptional kits from Revell AG of Germany, which is why I think they are the best model kits for your money. This model of the Type 5-100 is a really great kit. The accuracy is very good, casting is crisp and clean, and the fit is outstanding. The design of the kit is very well engineered, with part-fit near perfect. The level of detail is very good for this scale: in fact, the weapons in this kit have a finer casting than previous armoured vehicle kits in the same scale. 1 believe that the size of the finished model also makes this kit desirable, measuring out to an overall length of just over 19 inches. ‘There is, however, one major mistake in the kit. The propellers are completely wrong, which is puzzling, as reference for these items has been, and is, readily available. Aftermarket propellers are available to fix this. The instructions are outstanding. They are presented in the traditional exploded-view isometric drawings, but the level of detail here is the major bonus. The decals included with this kit are also very well manufactured and are of the highest quality, I think that this is one of the best plastic ship/boat model kits ever produced by any manufacturer. It is truly that good. Very highly recommended! Late Breaking News! Revell AG has announced an alternate version of the Type S-100 with the Quad 20mm ‘Flakvierling’ mount and new decals to be released for 2006. 21MODEL PRODUCTS: White Ensign Models ‘One of the most sought after items in the world of model building are photo-etched products, mostly from aftermarket manufacturers. One such is from White Ensign Models of England. they were the first to produce @ photo-etched set for the Revell AG Type S-100 kit in 1/72 scale. It is a very nice kit with many high detail parts to make your model look just that much better. Eduard Model Accessories The three photos to the right are of the photo-etched parts applied to the bare plastic kit components of the Revell AG S-100 kit from Eduard Model Accessories of the Czech Republic set. This company has done a fantastic amount of work to provide modellers with the utmost in detail. As good as the photo-etch is from Eduard, I would still recommend the WEM set above in conjunction with this set, to have absolutely all the components needed to make this kit as realistic as humanly possible! This Eduard set is highly recommended! 22 Schatton Modellbau Other aftermarket products manufactured for the Type S-100 kit in 1/72 scale are torpedoes and turned brass gun barrels. Schation Modellbau of Germany makes both items available, the quality being very good. The other company, Modell Brass, also of Germany makes only the gun barrels, and they too produce a fine product.FA = 2 ae F F = M4 = 2 A Fa FS cMK MK, also known as Czech Master's Kits from the Czech Republic is a aftermarket kit accessory manufac- turer that has figures and detail parts available. The quality of the product is very good, so much so that the availability is limited at most times. They are highly recommended! Hecker & Goros As you can the images in this section, Hecker & Goros of Germany produce see from MODEL PRODUCTS Revell AG In the area of accessories, Revell AG of Germany also offers a set of Kriegsmarine figures for both their U- Boat and S-Boat kits. These are made from vinyl - not to my liking - but they do have some good poses and they are correct in scale and their uniforms. Plenty of figures are provided in this set, but there are many dup- licates, so modification will become necessary to provide alternative poses. KSMG 213 (Seale 1272) outstanding figure sets for all Kriegsmarine Schnellhoote in 1/72 scale. All of their products come highly recommended!‘MODEL PRODUCTS Microglass This is a small company in the USA that specialises in large scale radio control mode! boats. One of their offerings is a Type S-100 boat in 1/32 scale. What you get with that kit is a fibreglass hull and a set of drawings. Microglass also offers detail parts for the same kit separately, as well as many types of electronic hardware for radio control. Highly recommended! Schneliboote Reference There are a number of books available on the subject of the German Navy motor torpedo boats of the Second World War period. These are amongst the best. Top left, working right is S-Boote from Histoire 24 & Collections, Die Deutschen Schneliboote 1914-1945 from Koehler, Warship Pictorial 15 - Kriegsmarine Schnellboote from Classic Warships Publishing, and Schneliboot in Action from Squadron/Signal Publishing. ‘The item at far right is the PAL format video Stukas der Meere - Deutsche Schneliboote im 2. Weltkrieg. All of these references will be a great help to any S-Boat modeller.Modelmakers’ Showcas HE COMPLETED MODELS in this section of the book range from those built by your average hobbyist, through advanced modellers, to those from professional model builders. Examples range from straight from the box to extensive modification, and represent the majority of S-Boat types from the Second World War era.SHOWCAS! Schnellboot 7 1/72 Scale Markus Fabke Airfix kit, which has been box. plastic‘MODELMAKERS’ SHOWCASEMODELMAKERS’ SHOWCASE Schnellboot 10 1/72 Scale Steve Brejnak Steve Brejnak, a resident of Michigan, Schnellbootweiss and dark grey USA, has also constructed this model decks. The air recognition marking on of the S-10 from the Airfix plastic the bridge top was in standard use for model kit. His version is an early-war this type of boat. variant, painted with an overall‘This model was slightly modified to make its appearance more true to scale and to improve this old model Kit’s accuracy. Scale correct size railing was installed, and Steve used the depth charge rails from the new Revell AG kit of the S-100, along with the smoke generators, torpedoes and 20mm gun on the rear deck.‘MODELMAKERS’ SHOWCASE Type S-38 1/72 Sc: Lutz Fuhrmann Lutz Fubrmann is a master model builder from Iserlohn, Germany. You can see by his work that he has an extensive knowledge of scratch ‘The camouflage pattern on this model was one a few patterns applied on the ‘S-Boats that operated off Finland and in the Baltic Sea. Compare all the deck fittings and weapons carried to 30 building, This project started with the Revell Germany 1/72 scale kit of the Type S-100 and is a major conversion to a mid-war square bridge Type S-38. those on the model of the Type S-100 and you will sce quite a few differences that were on these earlier boats. All of details were seratch buil The basi shepe ofthe bridge structure was scratch built and ‘dled on andthe decks Feconfigured'o fit bis" SHOWCASE MODELMAKERSMODBLMAKERS’ SHOWCASEMeer ee Sea Hunter’s Lair 1/35 See ee een Seca ceee oe eee re TO a ee can ROR ee cea remem ace Mes kie etary eee CetTese eta e Joseph Neumeyer Type S-100 used in this display is the Ota eC ae arts Some of the other models and figures Ree mC CeCe tg eT Reo rest of the diorama is scratch built.PemaPromaa ne aeraMODELMAKERS’ SHOWCASE 8-204 Tom Wilson ‘This finely crafted build of the Revell Tom’s work is very clean and lightly AG plastic kit was built by Tucson, weathered and looks scale-correct. Arizona model-builder Tom Wilson. This model represents S-204.Tom used the White Ensign Models photo-etch set to help further detail this model. He has also used small lengths of waxed thread to tie down the life rafts. Waxing the thread will eliminate any fraying, which tends to make the thread look unrealistic. Note the extra fine rigging. Even his ‘painting of the represented wood treads on the deck look like real wood, using his subtle weathering techniques.MODELMAKERS large Radio Contr ‘ealbe. Thief kit romSHOWCASE Type S-38b 1/25 RC Scale Norbert Friske ‘The Type S-38b Schnellboot in 1/25 scale measures out to a massive 55.5 inches in overall length, with a beam of just over 8 inches in width. That is big! This model was built from a fibreglass hull kit from ‘Schaffer Modellwerks of Germany. This model is built very cleanly, almost too clean. One would hesitate to put it in water, let alone run it in a pond with ducks!CAMOUFLAGE Camouflage ‘Typical eary-war camoutlage painting fr a Type S-7 boat, pained overall with S-Baat Whit, oF Tipe $-38 painted overall with Schnelbootweiss. \ 42CAMOUFLAGE ‘ype 5-38 painted overall witha very dark rey ‘and a small splotch patern eee To = Rei eee a PLATING Se a ‘ype S-38 pasted overall with Schnelibostwetss ane jagged splotch patterns of greens and browns for ‘operations off Finland. ‘Type $-8 painted overall with Schnelbostweiss ané wave pattems of proens and bues for operation off a ae {ype 5-38 painted overall with Schnelibootweiss j and sploten paterns of blues and browns for operations of Finland.CAMOUFLAGE Type S-38 painted overall with Schnellboonveise and splotcWstrine patterns of blues, greens and ‘browns for operations off inland . [An eatly Tipe $28 painted overall with ‘Schnellbootweiss and decks with dak gry. The forecasts deck was painted wih the Mediterranean thea of operations standard ar recognition markings. eleters] Eee Ig Type $-38 painted overall with Schnelibootweiss and decks with dark grey. This particular boat was fited with 2 370mm mount a \ An early Tpe $38 painted overal with SehntIhocnveie witha pttre of Helbaugran or Ligt Blue Grey ane decks with dark gra. mee IKE cane 44CAMOUFLAGE its Scholibsotweies, for this typeof vessel for ‘Schmlibootveise (S-Boat Waite) o (ower Hall rey) omer Hall Red) Camouflage Paint Colours for Kriegsmarine Schnellboote (Dark Brown) ight Brow) 48S-Boats in colour photographs 46tiding hatch pool Te sack pl appar bes ttt ‘grey-greenBelow: This Type $-18 boat above was photographed sometine soutate 1893, cr early 1940 was pained in ‘he taditoral Schnellboowess, with the deck, bridge root and all upper surfaces painted wit some form st Decktarte Aight This Type $18 boat wes photographed ‘sometime ater March 1940, twas pained in ark roy, Dunkelgrau, special camouflage applicationor the invasion of Norway. Appearance uring the early to the middle 1930s, the Schneliboote were painted in’ the traditional light grey, known as Hellgrau. Night man- oeuvres practised by the young German Navy showed that painting the small vessels white actually made them more difficult to see against a light horizon. Since the late 1930s it had been common practice for S-Boat operations to be at night, s0 the Kriegsmarine began to paint all these vessels white, or Schnettbootweiss. Below the waterline the boats were painted in a dark anti- fouling paint, Schiffsbodenjfarbe Grau, although some were later painted with a brownish-red Schiffsbodenfarbe Rot. The decks and upper horizontal surfaces were painted various shades of dark grey, Deckfarbe Dunkelgrau, or even a dark green, Deckjarbe Gran. 49APPEARANCE. 50 For recognition from the air, the S- Boats had the bridge tops painted with the German, or Nazi, national insignia red and the white circle with the swastika. In the case of operations in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, a series of insignia red and white Stripes were painted on the bow. At times when the crew knew they would not be seen by friendly aircraft, these recognition symbols were covered with canvas tarpaulin tied down to the deck and stained to match the surrounding colours, so as not to give away their identity to the enemy. Examples are shown here.APPEARANCE up atapierin one of the Below: A very rare picture of $-27,ene of only four of French prts onthe Enalish that class, on the Black Sea, about 19, painted in ‘Channel in German-occupied tetiory. was painted the tradtional with the traditional Sctnelltootunies scheme Below: A Tipe ¢ motrng into pi ‘This boat was els painted with the aditional Schnellbootweiss scheme, as were the vast majoty 51APPEARANCE Pattern camouflage was used on the Schnellboote when these vessels operated continuously in the close proximity of coastal fjords and bays. A basic guide on various patterns that were complementary to a particular theatre of such operations was furnished to each boat, making the patterns generally similar to each other, yet no two were exactly the same, nor were they symmetrical, port and starboard. Paint colours used were medium and light blue-greys, dark and light greens, and dark and light browns. All of these paints were applied over the Schnellbootweiss base paint in all their varieties. For a list of German language names of the colours and colour illustrations of patterns, see pages 42 to 45. about 1842, quite itty two tone blue-grey wih pattern of ba seys over Schnelboot Ivelss Thisvessel was forces during 198,APPEARANCE against Sovat orcs in the Baltic Sea daring the late summer of 194. Ther pater, as with other patterns, ‘Above: One more patter of bive-geys end possibly Below. This is $-35with a busy patter ofblue-greys teens over Schnallbocewaiss on this Tipe $28 and possibly greens. or browns over ‘operating in the Baltic about 1982. Scineltotwiss. This boat was operating in the Mediteranean during 141-43 53APPEARANCE Loft The camoutiage pattern of dark bie S: horizontal surfaces, while the deck wae ‘Above: A Type S-26 oat with a Schnellbostwoiss ‘dock, a vory rare applicaton, used is operations in the English ChannelAPPEARANCE Above: This is $95 wth the standard camouilage of Schnolbootweits, upen its surrender to Royal Navy forces in May 195, id the depot ship Cart Peters at Kil, Gomamy, ae [Above 5-212, wearing he standart Schoelibotwes, photographed about late 194, o arly 1985. oat was sucendered to the Royal Navy andlater 7 photo on page 63 Navy frees on 13 May, 1945, at Falixstowe,Engleed Information o a Tpe $-100 omeuflage is linited a only one daylight operatien Juve 1944 in the English Channel, soit is essumed ‘het these Heats dd nt weer any other camoutlage other than what is picured below, 55Plans 1yd4e 8 Ueid Ls57 O1YOde UI Ls/ aiyold ® Ueid ge-s adh lol 8 UeId g2-Sedky 3 PLANS.eyoud * URIs 001-S ed,PLANS Type S-30 & S-54 Plan & Profile Type S-26 Hull Station Lines 60lysed UPIed 002-S edAL o1udued UPI 00L-s adAy iPost-War S-Boats ‘Above: $:216 was surrendered to American forces 121 tothe United States fr evaluation. The cto above is of that boat in 1347 somewhere onthe storm Seaboard, quite possibly out ofthe New York Naval Shipyard esp ‘ime ofthis image, 1847, thay were both inthe Reyal Danish Noy 5:17 was a ip 28h while 5-26 asa Te $-100 These were two of hirtan 5-Boat ‘ceded by the United States to DenmarkPOST WAR S-BOATS ‘Above: This image i of P5212 wes taken at 21952 Below. The former Kriagamarine S-Boat in the ‘Spithead Naval Review forthe Reyal Navy, while photograph below was the fomer $28, surrendered new diosa ongse. This bos w to Groat Britain, renamed and incorporated ints the Royal Navy at MTB-S200 serving ito the mid- 1950s and retuned to 157, incorporated into r Roath view ofthe former Kriegsmarine “2h surrandered to Great Britain but later returned te Geman, 63‘SELECTED REFERENCES BOOKS Beaver, Paul, E-Boats and Coastal Graft, Patrick Stephens 1981 Breyer, Sigfried, Die Deutsche Kriegsmanne 1939-1945 #2, Podzun- Pallas Veriag 1986. Buffetaut, Yves, Les Vedettes aut Combat’, Marines Magazine #7, September 1996. Burger, Hugo, Schnellboote Vor Stalling Verlag 1943. Cooper, Bryan, The E-Boat Threat, MeDonall’s & Jane's Publishers 1976 Connelly, G. & Krakow, D., ‘Schnellboot in Action, Squadron /Signal Publications 2003. Dallies-Labourdette, Jean-Philippe, ‘S-Boat: German E-Boats in Action (1939-1948), Histoire & Collections 2003. Fock, Harald, Die Deutschen Schnellboote 1914-1945, Koehler Verlag 2000. Hervieux, Pierre, S-Boats at War 1939- 40, Warship, Volume VII, Naval Institute Press 1979. Hammelchen, Gerhard, Die Deutschen Schnellboote im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Mittler Verlag 1998, Hummelchen, Gerhard, Warship Profile #31 German Schnelboote (E- Boats}, Profile Publications 1973, Johnson, Frank, Deadliest ofthe “Torpedo Boats’, Sea Classics Magazine, Special Vol3 1994. Kemnade, Friedrich, Die Ajrika Footille, Motorbuch Verlag 1978. Kahn, Volkmar, Schnellboote im Einsa's 1939-1945, Motorbuch Verlag, 1986. Mayen, Jan, Alarm Schnelboote!, Stalling Verlag 1961 Moebius, PP., Schneliboote, Verlag Karl Kurtius 1943. Morozov, M., Schnellboote: German Fast Attack Craft of WWI’, Modelist Constuctor Magazine 1909. Reyman, Paul, Schatten Voraus! Sophie Toni, Franz Schneider Verlag, 1942. Tent, James, E-Boat Alert: Defending the Normandy Invasion Fleet, 1996. Whitley, M.J., German Coastal Forces, Naval Institute Press, 1992. Williamson, Gordon, German B-Boats 1939-45, Osprey 2002. Wiper, Steve, Kriegsmarine Schnellboote, Classic Warships Publishing 2001. Woltereck, Heinz, Seckriey im Osten, Verlag Quelle & Meyer 1943. 64 WARSHIP MODELLING WEBSITES www.dynamicdioramas.com www. hyperscale.com www.fmg-bin.de ‘www.ipmsusa.com www.marinemodell-fotoarchiv.de www.modellmarine.de www.modelwarships.com www.smmionline.com www.steelnavy.com www.warshipmodelsunderway.com WARSHIP MODEL Gp www.emltkits.com www.dynamicdioramas.org www.dream-arts.com www.eduard.cz www.hecker-goros.de www.loyalhannadockyard.com www microglass.net ‘www.robbe.de ‘www.modellbau-schatton.privat.t- online.de ‘www.scaleshipyard.com www.tridenthobbies.com ‘www. whiteensignmodels.com WARSHIP RESEARCH WEBSITES ‘www.articlesofwar.com www.bismarck-class.dke www.christian-schmidt.com ‘www.classicwarships.com ‘www.nara.gov ‘www.prinzeugen.com ‘www.shipeamouflage.com www.history.navy.mil ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Steve Brejnak Garth Connelly Markus Fabke Gerd Frerichs Norbert Friske Lutz Fuhrmann Kurt Greiner Karl Kalb Joseph Neumeyer Lee Upshaw Tom WilsonThe aim of this innovative series is to provide modelmakers and warship enthusiasts with a new standard of primarily visual reference to both the full size ships and their models, using detailed e drawings, plans and photographs, many in full colour. Each book is devoted to a famous class or type chosen for its popularity as a modelling subject - but will range from aircraft carriers to small craft from all the major fighting navies. ALSO PUBLISHED 4. German Pocket Battleships. More powerful than any cruiser and faster than all but a handful of capital ships, the three ships of this innovative design were known in Germany simply as Panzerschiffe (‘armoured ships’), but the more emotive term was widely employed by their enemies. 2. King George V Class Battleships. The five ships of this class were the most modern British capital ships of WW2 and were heavily involved from the sinking of the Bismarck to the final operations against Japan. 3. Type VII U-Boats. Built in huge numbers for most of the war years, in a variety of versions, they formed the backbone of Dénitz's wolfpacks. 44. Yorktown Class Aircraft Carriers. The three US carriers that bore the brunt of the Pacific War Detween Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway. 5. Japanese Heavy Cruisers. The Myoko and Takao were the largest and most powerfully armed cruisers of their era: they played a major part in most of the campaigns of the Pacific War. ‘A wide range of kits and accessories attests to the long standing popularity of these ships as modelling subjects, while significant differences between the sisters and a number of refits offer opportunities to ‘individualise’ models — as so well illustrated in these books by many colour photographs. FUTURE TITLES ‘Among the next few subjects planned for SHIPCRAFT are: © British Battlecruisers of World War Two. The three remaining ships of this type, Repulse, Renown and Hood, were the fastest capital ships of their day, but they remained vulnerable to modern weapons — indeed, two were sunk, but the one modernised ship survived. © Fletcher Class Destroyers. This large and versatile class formed the backbone of US destroyer squadrons during the Pacific War, and have been the subject of numerous kits.SHIPCRAFT 6 GERMAN S-Boats ‘+ Summary of design history '* Full details of class variations and modifications * Colour reference for paint schemes * Reviews of model kits & accessories * Sources of further information ‘5-0 ena, 1993 This is the sixth volume in the ShipCraft | series of books covering the history and the modelling of a famous class of warship. The subject of this volume is the : L$ f toa! Second World War German Navy's fast ee attack motor torpedo boat, called the , Schnellboot, but more commonly known in the English speaking world as the “E-Boat’. This vessel was considered to be one of the most effective of its type sonatas during the entire conflict, and feared by all who encountered it. The S-Boats went through a very noticeable evolution as the war progressed, finishing up as a weapons platform that was extensively examined by the victorious Allied forces post-war. Some nations continued the use of dard Node Assos pottch stforfe 7 0 Kt captured S-Boats for years following the end of the war. This book will be an extensive reference tool, invaluable to the modeller, useful to the historian, and inspiring to the newcomer. Historic photographs, extensive plan sets, colour illustrations, model galleries, and model availability information, make this book a ‘Must Have" to those interested in the ‘Kriegsmarine Schnellboote’. Thee Se ra tale moda omar & Caos 00 CHATHAM PUBLISHING | Wi Classic Warships Publishing oMarest¥ 02768