SS Friedrich Karl (1938)

Friedrich Karl was a cargo ship which was built by Neptun Werft, Rostock in 1938. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War, serving as the vorpostenboot V 108 Friedrich Karl and the sperrbrecher Sperrbrecher 138. She struck a mine and sank off Borkum on 23 December 1942.

Description

The ship was 72.01 metres (236 ft 3 in) long, with a beam of 10.80 metres (35 ft 5 in) and a depth of 4.60 metres (15 ft 1 in). She was assessed at 1,262 GRT, 589 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 41 centimetres (16+1⁄8 in), 66 centimetres (26 in) and 112.6 centimetres (44+5⁄16 in) diameter by 70.0 centimetres (27+9⁄16 in) stroke. The engine was built by Neptun Werft, Rostock. It was rated at 167nhp and drove a single screw propeller. She had a speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h).

History

Friedrich Karl was built in 1938 by Neptun Werft, Rostock for Reederei Wendenhof GmbH, Wismar. The Code Letters DMXL were allocated. During the Second World War, she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine to serve as a Vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 1 Vorpostenbootflotille under the designation V108 Friedrich Karl. She was redesignated as a Sperrbrecher on 26 September 1941, becoming Sperrbrecher 138 with 1 Sperrbrecherflotille. On 23 December 1942, she struck a mine and sank off Borkum.

References

1. Obergruppenführer
2. Karl Eberhard Schöngarth
3. List of Nazi Party leaders and officials
4. Friedrich Entress
5. Karl von Eberstein
6. Karl Maria Wiligut
7. Einsatzkommando
8. Friedrich Alpers
9. Karl (given name)
10. Generaloberst
11. Karl Gebhardt
12. Ernst Kaltenbrunner
13. Karl Jäger
14. SS and police leader
15. Karl Kraus
16. Register of SS leaders in general's rank
17. Karl-Friedrich Merten
18. Hans Walz
19. List of SS personnel
20. Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont