German trawler V 405 J. Hinrich Wilhelms

J. Hinrich Wilhelms was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the Second World War for use as a Vorpostenboot. She served as V 405 J. Hinrich Wilhelms. She was scuttled at Bordeaux, France in August 1944. Post-war, she was refloated and entered French merchant service as Audacieux and later Helios, then Sopite. Converted to a cargo ship in 1961, she was scrapped in 1974.

History
Name
  • J. Hinrich Wilhelms (1934–44)
  • Audacieux (1945– )
  • Helios ( –1958)
  • Sopite (1958–74)
Owner
  • Hochseefischerei Carl Kämpf Partenreederei. (1934–39)
  • Kriegsmarine (1939–44)
  • Unknown (1945-58)
  • Cooperative Itsasokoa (1958-74)
Port of registry
BuilderDeschimag Seebeckwerft
Yard number522
Launched6 October 1934
Completed27 October 1934
Commissioned22 September 1939
Out of service1944–45
Identification
  • Fishing boat registration PG 500 (1934–39)
  • Code Letters DFBJ
  • Pennant Number V 405 (1939–44)
  • Fishing boat registration BA 1494 (1958–61)
  • Code Letters TPYZ (1945–74)
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Type
Tonnage
  • 440 GRT, 161 NRT (1934–44)
  • 451 GRT, 210 NRT (1945–61)
Length51.35 metres (168 ft 6 in) (1934–61)
Beam8.00 metres (26 ft 3 in)
Draught4.65 metres (15 ft 3 in)
Depth3.74 metres (12 ft 3 in)
Installed power
  • Triple expansion steam engine, 123nhp (1934–58)
  • Diesel engine (1958–74)
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Speed12 knots (22 km/h)

Description

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As built, Deutschland was 51.35 metres (168 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 8.00 metres (26 ft 3 in). She had a depth of 3.74 metres (12 ft 3 in) and a draught of 4.65 metres (15 ft 3 in).[1] She was assessed at 440 GRT, 162 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 35 centimetres (13+34 in), 55 centimetres (21+58 in) and 90 centimetres (35+716 in) diameter by 65 centimetres (25+916 in) stroke. The engine was made by Deschimag Seebeckwerft, Wesermünde, Germany. It was rated at 123nhp. The engine powered a single screw propeller driven via a low pressure turbine, double reduction gearing and a hydraulic coupling.[2] It could propel the ship at 12 knots (22 km/h).[1]

History

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The ship was built as yard number 521 by Deschimag Seekbeckwerft, Wesermünde for the Hochseefischerei Carl Kämpf Partenreederei, Wesermünde. She was launched on 6 October 1934 and completed on 27 October. The fishing boat registration PG 500 was allocated.[3] She was allocated the Code Letters DFBJ.[2]

J. Hinrich Wilhelms was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine on 22 September 1939 for use as a vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 4 Vorpostenflotille as V 405 J. Hinrich Wilhelms.[3] On 22 August 1944, she was scuttled at Bordeaux, Gironde, France.[4]

J. Hinrich Wilhelms was refloated post-war, returning to merchant service as the French fishing boat Audacieux.[3] The Code Letters TPYZ were allocated.[5] By the 1950s, she had been renamed Helios. In 1958, she was re-engined with a diesel engine and renamed Sopite.[3] She was now owned by the Cooperative Itsasokoa, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Gironde.[6] The fishing boat registration BA 1494 was allocated.[3] The engine was a four-stroke single acting engine. It was built by Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz, Köln. It had 6 cylinders of 32 centimetres (12+58 in) diameter by 45 centimetres (17+1116 in) stroke. Sopite was assessed at 451 GRT, 210 NRT.[5] In 1961 she was lengthened and converted to a cargo ship.[6] She was scrapped in Spain in the third quarter of 1974.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gröner 1993, p. 205.
  2. ^ a b "J. Hinr. Wilhelms (10028)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. J (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1935–1936. Retrieved 30 November 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Gröner 1993, p. 212.
  4. ^ "Vorpostenflottillen 1939 – 1945" (in German). Württembergische Landesbibliothek. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Sonsbeek REGISTER OF SHIPS 1959-60". Register of Ships 1959-60. London: Lloyd's Register. 1959. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Sopite (5334406)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 30 November 2022.

Sources

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  • 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.