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German torpedoboats varied hugely. At the larger end, they were small, or even medium-sized, destroyers, while they might also include the Schnell-boote, known to the Allies as "E-boats".

Classes

Raubvogel (1923) and Raubtier (1924)

Torpedoboote 1923 & 1924
General Characteristics
Type:	Torpedoboat
Displacement:	1923: 923 tons standard, 1,290 tons full load 1924 - 932 tons standard, 1,298 tons full load
Length:	1923: 87.7 m 1924: 92.6 m
Beam:	1923: 8.25 m 1924: 8.65 m
Draught:	1923: 3.65 m 1924: 3.52 m
Propulsion:	1923: 2 shaft geared steam turbines (all Blohm & Voß, except Albatros - Schichau), 3 boilers, 24,000 shp 1924: 2 shaft geared steam turbines (from Brown, Boveri & Cie, Vulcan and Schichau), 3 boilers, 25,500 shp
Speed:	1923: 33.6 knots 1924: 35.2 kts
Range:	1923: 1,700 nm at 17 kts 1924: 2,000 nm at 17 kts
Complement:	120 - 129
Armament:	3 x 10.5 cm L/45 ((3x1)) 2 x 2 cm Flak L/65 (1x1) (4 or 7 from 1940) 6 x 500 (533 from 1931) mm torpedo tubes (2x3) 30 mines
Armour:

The six Raubvogel (raptor) class torpedo boats were developed from earlier designs shortly after World War I and came into service in 1926 and 1927. They were the first to use electrical welding for hull construction to reduce displacement and they also introduced geared turbines. During the second world war these ships were referred to as the Möwe class by the Royal Navy.

Despite the innovations, and unlike contemporary German destroyers, the Raubvogels were successful sea-boats, although limited to coastal waters, and most remained in service until 1944, by which time all had been lost. Well before this time, however, the deficiencies of their concentration on torpedos became apparant: Their anti-aircraft weaponry was wholly deficient, and had to be upgraded, and their guns were also minimal.

The immediately following six ships of Raubtier (predator) class had been intended to mount 12.7 cm guns but, instead, received updated 10.5 cm weapons. Speed and range were improved. Otherwise, they displayed the same good and bad points as the Raubvogels and experienced similar operational conditions and upgrades.

They entered service in 1927 and 1928 and all but one had been lost before mid 1942.

During the St Nazaire Raid (Operation Chariot), HMS Campbelltown was altered by the Royal Navy to look like a Raubvogel class torpedo boat.

All twelve vessels were built at Reichsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven

Type 23 (Raubvogel)

Type 24 (Raubtier)

Torpedoboot 1935 and 1937

Torpedoboote 1935 & 1937
General Characteristics
Type:	Torpedoboat
Displacement:	1935: 1088 tons 1937: 1098 tons
Length (overall):	1935: 84.30 metres 1937: 85.2 m
Beam:	1935: 8.62 m 1937: 8.87 m
Draught:	1935: 2.94 m 1937: 3.14 m
Propulsion:	1935: 2 shaft geared Wagner geared turbines, 31,000 shp 1937: 2 shaft geared Wagner turbines, 34,110 shp
Speed:	1935: 35 knots 1937: 36.6 kts
Range:	1935: 1070 nm at 19 kts 1937: 1,400 nm at 19 kts
Complement:	1935: 119 1937: 119-155
Armament (as for T1):	1 x 10.5 cm L/45 ((3x1)) 512 x 2 cm MG L/65 6 x 533 mm torpedo tubes (2x3) 30 mines
Armour:

The 1935 design was unsuccessful and the 1937 was little better. These ships were designed as a larger more seaworthy torpedo vessel rather than a more balanced mini destroyer.

The requirements for the 1935 class included a maximum "declared" displacement of around 600 tons in order to come within a clause in the Washington Naval Treaty, and higher speeds than the older 1923 and 1924 classes. In rality these ships came in over weight at around 900 tons standard displacement. To achieve this, high pressure turbines were used but these were unreliable and difficult to repair and maintain in restricted space. The low displacement lead to unseaworthiness which was only partially resolved by 1940 and this redced the class' effectiveness as minelayers. There was an even greater concentration on torpedoes, with a single 10.5 centimetre gun and minimal anti-aircraft protection.

The 1937s incorporated some modifications, including lower pressure turbines, but with little real improvement. They displayed the same limitations as their predecessors and the reasons for persisting with such a poor design are unclear.

Twelve 1935s and nine 1937s were built at Schichau Elbing and all except two survived until the late war or post-war. This survivability reflects their unsuitability as warships and they were either withdrawn into reserve or used as training ships.

Type 1935

Type 1937

Flottentorpedoboot 1939 (Elbing class)

The Elbings were a radical design departure from their predecessors, larger and with a more balanced weapons mix. They were comparable with British destroyers of the period.

See also

• German World War II destroyers
• Torpedoboot Ausland

References

M.J Whitley, Destroyers of World War 2, 1988 Cassell Publishing ISBN 1 85409 521 8

• - page on type 23 from German Navy.de
• - page on type 24 from German Navy.de

• World War II naval ships of Germany