Torpedo-S-Boat P- 6 (Projekt 183)

Since the developments for a Torpedo-S-Boat in the GDR did not show the required results the GDR had already accepted an offer of the SU in 1955 to deliver TS-Boats of Type P-6.

The delivery of 27 boats for the build up of a TS-Brigade with three department with nine boats each was the outset of the S-boat-forces of the GDR. The first six boats arrived at Parow on 08.10.1957, followed by three other boats on 19.10.1957.

Drawing from Mehl/Schäfer: Die andere deutsche Marine

Technical Data

Boats of the Typa P- 6 in Formation (Picture: Archives Dieter Flohr)

Specials:

The hull was built in double-diagonal kraweel (Sibirian spruce, it had an open command bridge for the CO and the Chief Engineer. The torpedoes were steam-gas propelled with a range of 10.000 m at 34 knots. Hydraulic targetting device for the twin mounted guns. Radarsuite "Sarnitza" later "Reja" with identification Friend-Foe "Nicrom".

Boat 244 "Willi Bänsch" sank after collision with the Swedish ferry "Drottningen" on 31.08.1968 in the Kadett Channel. There were seven 7 personnel killed.

Boat of the Type "P 6" at Full Speed (Picture: Archives Dieter Flohr)

After decommissioning three boats were sold to Tansnia, three boats were used in the border service without torpedo tubes, some hulls were left to the fishery production co-operatives (Fischerei Produktions Genossenschaften - FPG) for the breading of trouts. One wreck of ex six cannibalized hulls that were connected by a gangway is still easy to detect visible off the area of the ex FPG Dranske. All other boats were broken up.

Wrek of a Boat of Type "P- 6" in the Bight of Dranske/Rügen (Picture: Joachim Kretschmer)

Whereabouts of the Boats of Projekt 183