Die Schnellboot-Seite
Mast Markings of the S-Boats in the Kriegsmarine
The Reichsmarine was renamed in Kriegsmarine effektive 01.06.1935. For the S-boats taken over had in the beginning the same way of marking boats with angles and corsses in the masts was practised as in the Reichsmarine.
Which point of view were followed in awarding the markings and in changing them is not known. The boats that were taken over from Reichsmarine to Kriegsmarine were in the beginning marked as follows:
1. Schnellboothalbflottille
| Boat | Commissioned | Marking |
| S 1 | 07.08.30 | To angles opening downwards |
| S 2 | 22.04.32 | Angles opening upwards |
| S 3 | 27.05.32 | Two angles opening upwards |
| S 4 | 20.06.32 | Diagonal cross; but also angle opening upwards |
| S 5 | 14.07.32 | Two diagonal crosses |
| S 6 | 23.11.32 | Angle opening downwards |
| S 7 | 10.10.34 | Unknown |
| S 8 | 06.09.34 | Angle opening downwards |
1. SFltl
Mit Zulauf der neuen Boote ab "S 9" wurde die 1. Schnellboothalbflottille in 1. Schnellbootflottille umbenant.
| Boot | Indienstsstellung | Markierung |
| S 6 | 23.11.32 | Angle opening downwards |
| S 7 | 10.10.34 | Unknown |
| S 8 | 06.09.34 | Angle opening downwards |
| S 9 | 12.06.35 | Diagonal
cross; but also angle opening downwards |
| S 10 | 07.03.35 | Angle opening upwards; but also withou marking |
| S 11 | 03.08.35 | Two diagonal crosses; but also two angles opening upwards |
| S 12 | 31.08.35 | Angel opening downwards |
| S 13 | 07.12.35 | Two angles opening downwards |
| S 14 | 12.06.36 | Diagonal cross; but also two angles opening upwards |
| S 15 | 24.02.37 | Two diagonal crosses |
| S 16 | 22.12.37 | Unknown |
| S 17 | 18.03.38 | Unknown |
| S 18 | 14.07.38 | Two diagonal crosses |
1. Schnellbootshalbflottille at Kiel - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"S 1" entereing Travemünde - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"S 2" leaving Kolberg - Picture: Archives P. Jancke
"S 4" leaving Kieler Förde - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"S 5" a Sea - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"S 5" in a Magazine as Advertizement for Hans Still-Motorenfabrik - Clipping: Archives Förderverein
"S 8" at High Speed without Mastmarking - Picture: Archives W. Absmeier
"S 9" at Travemünde" - Picture: Archives Förderverein
S-Boote at Lürssen-Shipyard - Pictureo: Archives Förderverein
"S 9" and "S 11" - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"S 9", "S 10" and "S 11" (behind them "S 13", "S 14", "S 15" and "S 12") - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"S 11" passing Laboe - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"S 12" comming Alongside of the Tender - Picture: Archives W. Absmeier
"S 12" and "S 13" - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"S 14" - Picture: PK-Photo
"S 14" in the Baltic - Picture: Archives Förderverein
"S 18" - Picture: PK-Picture
S-Boaots in the Shipyard of Lürssen - Picture: Archives Lürssen
2. SFltl
With forming of the 2. SFltl the boats got new mastmarkings. In this flotilla the boats had triangles, pointing up or down, and rhombusses. Additionally they had a bar under the marking for further distinction. The mastmarkings known to us are shown in the table below:
| Boat | Commissioning | Marking |
| S 14 | 12.06.36 | Rhombus, before diagonal cross; but also two angles opening upwards |
| S 15 | 24.02.37 | Two diagonal crosses |
| S 16 | 22.12.37 | Triangle pointing down with bar |
| S 17 | 18.03.38 | Rhombus with bar |
| S 18 | 14.07.38 | Triangle pointing down, before two diagonal crosses |
"S 14" and "S 17" at Travemünde - Picture: Archives Ola Erlandsson
"S 16" and "S 15" at Travemünde - Picture: Archives Ola Erlandsson