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Research Cruises and selected wrecks

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Research Cruises and selected wrecks

Belgian research cruises 2019-2020

Report from the Heincke expedition of 6-11 Apr. 2021


Given that the North Sea is extensively littered with wrecks, we have to select some identified war wrecks as case studies for the project. We plan to visit these wrecks during the research cruises. As the project is still ongoing, the possible wreck sites worthy of sampling have not all been selected nor are all of the already chosen sites fully researched. So additional research cruises will happen.

 

If you like to know more about the research methods, please see Station 3.

 

And if you want to find out what 3D animations of the wrecks look like, click here.

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HMS BASILISK

 

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Pile of 120 mm grenades on the wreck of the British destroyer HMS BASILISK. Ship sunk after serious damage through German aircrafts at 01.06.1940 © Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee

Technical information

  • built 1929 by J. Brown Company in Clydebank, Building Nr.: 531
  • ordered 04.03.1929, laid down: 19.08.1929, launched: 06.08.1930
  • Destroyer B-Class
  • Displacement: 1.821 t (full loaded), Length: 98.45 m, Width: 9.83 m, Draught: 3.73 m
  • speed: 35 kn max. and 31.5 kn in full loaded condition
  • fuel: oil
  • range: 4.800 nm by 15 kn and 380 t oil
  • power unit:
    3 Admiralty-Drum Boiler
    2 Brown-Curtis Turbines
  • crew: 138

Armament

  • 4 Quickfiring Guns (4.7 inch / 12 cm)
  • 2 Quickfiring Guns (2 pdr./ 4 cm)
  • 4 Lewis Guns
  • 2 Quadruplet Torpedo tubes:
    diameter 21 inch / 53.3 cm) each tube
    probably type Mk IX
  • 15 Depth charges (type Mark VII was standard)

Historical Background

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SMS ARIADNE

 

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Light Cruiser SMS ARIADNE. Source: Photo Archive German Maritime Museum

Technical information

  • built 1899/1900 at A.G. Weser in Bremen, Building-Nr.: 127
  • launch: 10.08.1900, commission: 18.05.1901
  • light cruiser (Class IV), GAZELLE-Class
  • Displacement: 3.092 t, Length: 105.1 m, Width: 12.2 m, Height: ca. 7.50 m, Draught: 5.50 m
  • speed: max. 21.5 kn
  • fuel: coal
  • range: 3.560 nm with 12 kn and 560 t coal
  • power unit: 2 standing 3zyl.-triple expansion-engine and 9 naval boiler in 2 boiler rooms which lying in a row
  • 1 rudder and 2 propeller, each 3.5 m in diameter
  • cross-frame steel construction with 12 waterproof sections
  • double-bottom on 40 % of CWL-length of ship
  • armour:
    2 steel layers and one Krupp-Nickel-Steel layer, additional Cork dam
    deck = 20 mm - 25 mm thick vertical from aft to fore ship
    deck = 50 mm thick horizontal from aft to fore ship
    coaming = 80 mm thick
    Krupp-Steel (Kruppstahl) at Commando tower = 20 mm thick vertical
    and 80 mm thick horizontal
    gun shields = 50 mm thick
  • crew: 257

Armament

  • 10 Quickfiring Guns (10.5 cm)
  • 10 Machine Canon (3.7 cm, unclear if guns were really installed. Sources contradicting in this point)
  • 2 Torpedo launching tubes (between frame Nr.: 62 and 68)
    diameter 45 cm each
    5 Torpedoes (Type: C/03 or C/06) 

Historical Background

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SMS ELBING

 

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Light Cruiser SMS ELBING. Source: Photo Archive German Maritime Museum

Technical information

  • Displacement: 5.252 t, 3.202 GRT, Length: 135.60 m, Width: 13.60 m, Height: 8.15 m, Draught: 5.98 m
  • speed: 27.5 kn max.
  • fuel: coal (620 t max.) and oil (580 t max.)
  • range: 4.300 nm with 12 kn
  • power unit: 
     6 Yarrow-Watertube-Doubleboiler for coal firing
    4 Yarrow-Watertube-Doubleboiler for oil firing
    1 rudder
    2 propeller each 3.50 m diameter
  • cross-frame steel construction with 16 waterproof sections (design plan: 1912)
  • double-bottom on 51 % of CWL-length of ship
  • armour:
    2 steel layers and one Krupp-Nickel-Steel layer
    deck = 20 mm - 80 mm thick vertical from aft to fore ship
    deck = 40 mm thick horizontal from aft to fore ship
    Krupp-Steel (Kruppstahl) at Commando tower = 50 mm thick vertical and 75 mm thick horizontal
    gun shields = 50 mm thick
  • crew: 442

Armament

  • 8 Quickfiring Guns (15 cm)
  • 2 Quickfiring Guns (8.8 cm)
  • 2 deck torpedo tubes
    each 50 cm diameter
    5 torpedoes, type: G6 or G7
  • ship was capable to carry 120 Mines

    Historical Background

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SMS HELA

 

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SMS HELA before conversion. Source: Photo Archive German Maritime Museum

Technical information

  • built 1893/94 at A.G. Weser in Bremen, Building-Nr.: 108
  • launch: 28.03.1895, commission: 03.05.1896

  • first used as AVISO, later and after some conversions used as Light Cruiser

  • Displacement (after latest conversion): 1.344 GRT and 2.027 t, length: 105 m, width: 11.0 m, height: 6.41 m, draught: 4.64 m

  • speed: 20.5 kn max.

  • fuel: coal, max. 412 t

  • range: max.

  • power unit:
    • 2 standing 3-cyl. 3-time expansion engines
    • 2 triple wing propeller, each propeller with 3.25 m diameter
    • 2 engine rooms
    • 8 navy boiler
    • 2 funnels
  • crew: 195

 

Armament:

  • 3 Quickfiring Guns (cal. 8.8 cm)
  • 4 Quickfiring Guns (cal. 5 cm)
  • 2 Machine Guns (cal. 8 mm)
  • 3 Torpedo-launching tubes: under water, one each side - starboard and portside, plus one in bow stem, 45 cm diameter each, 8 Torpedoes type: C/03 or C/06

historical background

 

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SMS MAINZ

 

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Light Cruiser SMS MAINZ Source: Photo Archive, German Maritime Museum

Technical information

  • built 1907 to 1908 at A.G. Vulcan in Stettin (today Szczecin - Poland), Building-Nr.: 288
  • launch: 23.01.1909, commission: 01.10.1909
  • light cruiser, KOLBERG-Class
  • Displacement: 4.889 t, Length: 130.55 m, Width: 14.0 m, Height: 8.10 m, Draught: 5.60 m
  • speed: 26.8 kn max.
  • fuel: coal, max. 970 t (plus 40 t payload)
  • range: 3.630 nm with 14 kn
  • power unitt:
    2 AEG Curtiss-Turbines
    2 triple wing propeller, each propeller with 3.45 m diameter
    4 engine rooms (2 adjacent respectively)
    15 navy boilers
    3 funnels
    cross-frame steel construction with 13 waterproof sections
    double-bottom on 50 % of CWL-length of ship
  • armour:
    2 steel layers and one Krupp-Nickel-Steel layer, additional Cork dam
    deck = 20 mm - 40 mm - 20 mm thick vertical (slop) from aft over amidships to fore ship
    50 - 80 mm thick horizontal from aft to fore ship
    coaming = 100 mm thick
    Kruppsteel (Kruppstahl) at Commando tower = 20 mm thick vertical (slope) and 100 mm thick horizontal
     gun shields


Armament

  • 12 Quickfiring Guns (10.5 cm)
  • 2 Torpedo launching tubes
    between frame 84-92, 45 cm diameter each, 5 Torpedoes type: C/06 
  • 2 machine guns (8 mm)
  • 56 rifles and 28 pistols

  Historical Background

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SM UB 61

 

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SM UB 64 (identical in construction to SM UB 61) Copyright: WZ-Bilddienst

Technical information

  • built 1916 - 1917 at A.G. Vulcan in Hamburg, Building-Nr.: 86
  • launch: 28.04. 1917, commission: 23.06. 1917
  • Displacement: 508 t (surface) und 639 t (dived), Length: 55.52 m, Width: 5.75 m, Draught: 3.70 m, Height: keel to tower 8.25 m
  • speed: max. 13.3 kn (surface) and max. 8 kn (dived)
  • range: 8.420 nm with 6 kn (surface) and 55 nm with 5 kn (dived)
  • UB type III, double-hull boat (Zweihüllen-Boot)
    Design Proj. 44 (1915/16), War Order Nr. J
  • 6 waterproof sections
  • max. dive depth: 75 m
  • fuel: oil with 68 t max.
  • power unit
    2 MAN-six-cylinder 4-stroke Diesel engine (S6 V35/35) with 1100 PS (surface)
    2 Siemens-Schuckert Werke doublemodyn with 580 PS (dived)
  • crew: 34

Armament

  • 5 torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern)
    50 cm diameter each
    10 torpedoes, Type G6 or G7
  • 1 Quickfiring Gun with Torpedo Boat mounting (8.8 cm)
  • 2 machine guns (8 mm)

 Historical Background

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SM UC 30

 

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SM UC 30. Copyright: Deutsches U-Boot-Museum, Cuxhaven-Altenbruch

Technical information

  • built 1915-1916 at A.G. Vulcan in Hamburg, Building-Nr.: 70
  • launch: 27.07.1916, commission: 22.08.1916
  • Displacement: 400 t (surface) und 480-550 t (dived), Length: 51.12 m,
    Width: 5.22 m, Draught: 3.68 m (surface), Height: 7.46 m (keel to tower)
  • speed: 11.6 kn max. (surface) and 6.7 kn max. (dived)
  • range: max. 9.410 nm with 7 kn (surface) und 53 nm with 4 kn (dived)
  • UC Type II, double-hull boat (Zweihüllen-Boot):Design proj. 41 from 1915,
    War Order Nr. C
  • 7 waterproof sections
  • max. dive depth 50 m
  • fuel: max. 55 t oil
  • power unit: 2 Daimler-sixszylinder-4-stroke-Dieselengine MU 256 with 66 PS (surface),
    2 Siemens-Schuckert Werke doublemodyn with 340 PS (dived)
  • crew: 27

Armament

  • 18 mines (type: UC 200) in 6 mine wells (100 cm diameter each)
  • 3 torpedo tubes (2 bow above water, 1 stern under water)
    • 50 cm diameter
    • 7 torpedoes (type: G6 or G7)
  • 1 Quickfiring Gun with Torpedo Boat mounting (8.8 cm)
  • 1 machine gun (8 mm)

Historical Background

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Torpedoboot V 187

 

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Torpedo Boat V 187. Copyright: WZ-Bilddienst

Technical information

  • built 1911 at Vulkan-Werke AG in Stettin (today Szczecin - Poland), Building-Nr.: 305
  • launch:11.01.1911, commission: 04.05.1911
  • Tonnage: 775 t, Length: 73.90 m, Width: 7.85 m, Height: 4.15 m, Draught: 3.17 m
  • fuel: coal and oil
  • speed: 33.5 kn max.
  • range: 1.170 nm with 17 kn and 155 t coal (plus 20 t payload) and 67 t oil
  • cross frame Torpedo-Boat steel construction with 12 waterproof sections 
  • power unit
    2 AEG-Vulcan turbines
    2 triple wing propeller, each propeller with 2.20 m diameter
    3 navy boiler and 1 navy-oil boiler in 4 consecutive engine rooms
  • crew: 71

Armament

  • 2  Quickfiring Gun with Torpedo Boat mounting (8.8 cm)
  • 4 Torpedo launching tubes
    50 cm diameter each
    5 torpedoes Type: G6

    Historical Background

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Vp 801 MAX GUNDELACH

 

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Vp 801 MAX GUNDELACH after War Modification. Source: Photo Archive German Maritime Museum

Technical information

  • built in 1940 at Deschimag-Werk Seebeck in Wesermünde-Geestemünde (today Bremerhaven), Building-Nr.: 641
  • 505 GRT, Displacement ca. 1.290 t, Length: 55.90 m, Width: 9.16 m, Height: 4.79 m
  • speed: max. 12.3 kn
  • fuel: coal
  • range: 7.000 nm with 12 kn and 260 t coal
  • power unit:
    3-time expansion engine with Abd.-turbine and one boiler
  • crew: 52

Armament

  • 1 Quickfiring Gun (8.8 cm) on foredeck
  • 1 Quickfiring Gun (3.7 cm) stern area
  • 2 Flak-quadruplet (2 cm)
  • 2 Flak (2 cm)
  • 2 Flak (1.5 cm)
  • 10 Depth charges (Type: D, F, G or H)

Historical Background

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Vp 1302 JOHN MAHN

 

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3D-picture of the wreck of the VP 1302 John Mahn. © German Maritime Museum

Technical information

  • built 1927 at Reiherstieg Schiffswerft & Maschinenfabrik in Hamburg, Building-Nr.: 580
  • tonnage: ca. 620 t and 292 BRT, Length: 45 m, Width: 7.39 m, Heigth: 4.15 m, Draught: 3.32 m
  • speed: max. 11 kn
  • fuel: coal
  • range: 6.320 nm mit 10 kn and 223 t coal
  • power unit:
    • 3 time expansion engine with Abd.-turbine and one boiler
  • crew: 46

 

Armament:

  • 1 Quickfiring Gun (8.8 cm) or 1 Quickfiring (3.7 cm) on foredeck
  • 1 Flak (2 cm) elevated on foredeck
  • 1 Flak (2 cm) stern area
  • 10 Depth Charges (Typ: D, F, G oder H)

historical Background

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Barrier Breaker Nr. 163 FRIESLAND

 

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3D-picture of the wreck of the Barrier Breaker Nr. 163 FRIESLAND. Data source: German Aerospace Center – Institute for the Protection of Maritime Infrastructures, Bremerhaven. © German Maritime Museum

Technical information

  • built 1904 at George Brown & Co in Greenock (Scotland)
  • Building-Nr.: 24 (first named was S/S WELLPARK)
  • Displacement: 1.029 GRT, length: 70.08 m, width: 09.49 m, height: 04.72 m, draught: 04.65 m
  • speed: 9 kn max.
  • fuel: coal
  • power unit: one standing 3 cyl. 3-time expansion engine with 1 boiler
  • crew: ca. 80

 

Armament/Equipment

  • 1 Quickfiring Gun (cal. 7.5 cm or 8.8 cm)
  • 1 Quickfiring Gun (cal. 3.7 cm)
  • 2 Flak (cal. 2 cm)
  • VES-System
  • Otter-System

historical background

Opening hours

Cog hall: Monday till Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm

Ships: daily from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

how to reach us

Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum
Hans-Scharoun-Platz 1
D-27568 Bremerhaven

Contact

T. +49 471 482 07 0
E. info@dsm.museum

Contact person

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