Small Torpedo-S-Boat (Klein-Torpedoschnellboot) "Libelle" (Projekt 131)

Based on the good experiences made with the LTS-Boats a slightly bigger boat with better seaworthiness, bigger range, and additional armament was to be developed. It was also to be operated as transport unit.

Drawing from Mehl/Schäfer: Die andere deutsche Marine

Technical Data

KTS-Boats of the Type Libelle in Formation (Picture: Peter Seemann)

Specials:

Aluminium boat with two torpedo tube integrated in the main deck, 2 lauching devices for mines on both sides of the superstructure, one navalised 25 mm twin mounted gun ZU-23 with weather shield, two engines M 50 F-7 in the bow and one reversable Diesel in the rear, TSR-333 radar suite. Complement: 5 personnel, Commanding Officer, Engine Petti Officer, Navigation, Communications, and Electricity Rating (at the same time Gunner). 

Three trail boats were built in 1972 by Peenewerft. After the test  and trial phases 30 hulls were produced by VEB Schiffswerft, Rechlin, and equipped in Wolgast.

The first boat of the series was commissioned in 1974, 29 other boats were built until March 1977. The boats were substituted the restructured KTS-Brigade with three Divisions of 10 boats each. Later the boats were operation in two brigades of 15 boats each in the 6. Flotills in Dranske (7. Brigade: Boats 911-915,931-935,951-955; 9.Brigade: Boats 921-925,941-945,961-965).

Libelle PtNo 952 in the German Naval Museum Wilhelmshaven                                                          Pictures: U. Skrzypski

 Boat 951 sank 1986 after a collision with a Missile-S-Boat of OSA I-class(Projekt 205), on person killed. Serial No. 131.410 (PtNo 925) was until summerr 2008 in the Scientific Collection of Peter Tamm in Hamburg (today: Internationales Maritimes Museum)  - the boat was given back to Luftfahrttechnisches Museum, Rechlin, while the Tamm-collection moved from Elbschaussee to Koreastrasse. Serial No. 131.423 (PtNo 964) is at  Deutsches Marinemuseum Wilhelmshaven, Bau-Nummer 131.426 (PtNo 963) is in Militärhistorisches Museum Dresden,  and Bau-Nummer 131.408 (PtNo 924) is in  Marinemuseum Stralsund/Dänholm . All other boats have been broken up. 

Whereabouts of the Boats of Projekt 131