Die Schnellboot-Seite
S-Boats in the People's Navy (Volksmarine) 1956 - 1990
Small Missile Ship "Tarantul" (Sovjet Projekt 1241 RÄ)
Between 1984 and 1986 five boats of project 1241 RÄ, NATO nick name "Tarantul", were delivered by the Sovietunion to strengthen and to modernise the missile forces. These boats could fire missiles of types P 21 (radar-search) and P 22 (IR-search).
Picture from Mehl/Schäfer: Die andere
deutsche Marine
Technical Data KRS of the
Type Tarantul
"Rudolf Egelhofer" (Picture: Peter Seemann) Specials: After reunification
of the five boats the boat 572 (earlier PtNo 772) - "Rudolf
Egelhofer" was taken over by the German Navy for a short time under
the name "Hiddensee" (P 6166), later it was left to the USA
for trials. After intensive testing until 1996 the boat was given to the
Naval
Museum in Fall River/Ma., USA (also known under The Battleship
Cove) on 14.06.1997 as the only ex-Eastblock vessel. A number of pictures of "Hiddensee" are to be
seen on the homepage of Gurki. "Hiddensee"
was laying in the Battle Ship Cove open for the public in 26 years until
admission was cut in December 2021. Due to missing means the boat could
no longer be maintained and was finally sold for scap in October 2023. Die "Hiddensee" als
Testfahrzeug bei der USN - Picure: Archives Förderverein
Shipyards
Rybinsk, UdSSR
Unit built
5 for GDR
From/to
1984 - 1986
In Commission
1984 - 1990
Displacement
420 t
Length
56,1 m
Beam
11,3 m
Draught
3,9 m
Propulsion
2 battle- and 2 march
turbines each 12000 resp. 4000 HP
Shafts/Propellers
2 - 2
Speed
45 kts
Complement
38
Armament
2 x
Startcontainers for two P 21 and/or P 22 missiles
1 x Antiair
Missile System for 4 STRELA M
1 x 76-mm Gun AK
176
2 x 6-barrel
30-mm Gatling Gun AK 630
"Hiddensee" at Battleship Cove - Picture: Battleship Cove
The boat 575 - "Hans Beimler" is at the hoistoric-technical museum (Historisch-Technisches Museum in Peenemünde). In spring 2010 it was indiccated that the boat was to be sold because the city of Peenemünde did not have the money to maintain it. In sommer 2010 it was said, that the boat should be kept and stay in Peemenmünde. Early December 2010 it was reportet, that there was a rumor that the boat was to be given to the Kold Krigs Museum on Langeland as a present. According to the Ministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur at Schwerin it not only a rumor but the planning of the province Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Also to break up the boat was discussed.
Since 31.08.2014 the boat is now laying as a seperate museumsship at the western side of Peenemünde harbour. A group of veterans with help of other sponsors takes care of the boat. She can be visited Tuesdays through Fridays 10.00 - 17.00 o'clock. Guided tours at other times are possible with prior consultation.
"Hans Beimler" at HTI Peenemünde in fall 2010 - (Picture: Scheuch)
Museums-Ship "Hans Beimler" on the Western Side of Peenemünde Harbour - Picture: Henry Bujack
Museums-Ship
"Hans Beimler" -
Picture: Henry Bujack
The other three
boats were broken up.
Whereabouts of the Boats Projekt 1241 RÄ
| Boat-No. | Name | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Last Hull-Nor | Whereabout |
| 1241/01 | Albin Köbis | 31.10.84 | 03.10.90 | 571 | broken up 1994 |
| 1241/02 | Rudolf Eglhofer | 16.01.85 | 01.11.91 | 572 | Bridgeport Boatworks |
| 1241/03 | Fritz Globig | 05.10.85 | 03.10.90 | 573 | broken up 1994 |
| 1241/04 | Paul Eisenschneider | 12.02.86 | 03.10.90 | 574 | broken up 1994 |
| 1241/05 | Hans Beimler | 28.10.86 | 03.10.90 | 575 | Peenemünde |
As we have learned on 25.10.2023 "Hiddensee" ex-"Rudolf Eglhofer" is presently being broken up at Bridgeport Boatworks, Bridegeport/Ct.
"Hiddensee" being scrapped at Bridgeport/Ct. - Picture: Unknown