Die Schnellboot-Seite
S-Boats in the Kriegsmarine 1935 - 1945
The Reichsmarine was renamed Kriegsmarine on 12.03.1935. At that time she had at her disposal the S-boats " S 1" to "S 8", which were organized under the 1. Schnellboothalbflottille. Also Begleitschiff "Tsingtau" was subordinated to it.
Boats "S 9" to "S 13" of the series ordered in 1933 were put in commission until december 1935.
Boats of the 1. SFltl at Worms - Picture: Archives Förderverein
AT the outset of the war the Kriegsbeginn could utilize 15 operational (KB = kriegsbereite) S-boats. During the war she had 216 S-boats to be built.
The losses of the S-Boat-Force were:
| Killed in action | 767 persons |
| Wounded | 620 persons |
| Prisoner of War | 322 persons |
| Lost | 140 boats |
On 09.05.1945, the day of the German capitulation, the navy had at its disposal 91 boats in nine flotillas.
On 10.05.1945 the crews of the S-boats gathered in the Geltinger Bucht fell in a last time in "1. Garnitur blau" (full dress) for the last ceremonial colours. Then the flags were lowered, the command signals continued fluttering. The S-Boat-Force was decommissioned.
Last Muster in Geltinger Bucht - Picture from Kühn: Schnellboote im Einsatz 1939 - 1945
| S-Boat-Types | Organization | Pictures | |
| War Zones | Bearers of Knights Cross | Losses of S-Boots | Whereabouts of the S-Boats |