Last German speedboats leave Kiel - destination Türkiye for scrapping!

Last German speedboats leave Kiel - destination Türkiye for scrapping!

In Kiel it is now time to say goodbye to the last German speedboats. The freighter “Happy Sky” has completed the loading of a total of seven speedboats, with the last boat, the “Ferretchen,” being loaded at the Kiel naval arsenal on Tuesday. This action lasted about two weeks and began on July 31st with the “Hyena” and her sister boat, the “Puma”. The ships previously had to give up masts and radar systems, which reduced the space required during loading. To ensure safe operations, divers cleared the hulls of mussel growth.

Now the “Happy Sky” is making its way to the Mediterranean, where it will deliver the speedboats to the Turkish port of Aliaga near Izmir. There the dismantling takes place under the supervision of the Bundeswehr in order to rule out potential reuse as military equipment. These wooden ships were originally designed for use in the Baltic Sea against the Soviet Union and were particularly valued for their speed and maneuverability.

The path of the speedboats

The seven speedboats loaded are “Ocelot”, “Hyena”, “Sable”, “Puma”, “Ermine”, “Weasel” and “Ferret”. They belonged to Class 143A of the former 7th Fast Boat Squadron, which was disbanded in 2016. Only one of these boats was preserved as a museum boat in Wilhelmshaven. This shows how much space in the naval arsenal is relieved by loading these 57 meter long boats - previously they blocked large parts of the port facilities.

The speedboats were suitable for operations in the Baltic Sea, but were not very suitable for long sea voyages. The Navy had learned from the lessons of World War II and relied on speed as a protective measure. The move to modern corvettes and speedboats was a further step towards meeting the demands of today's operations, with the GEPARD class, to which many of the now scrapped boats belonged, impressing with its top speed of up to 42 knots (78 km/h). Nevertheless, reuse proved to be impractical, which is why they were decommissioned a few years ago and sold to a Turkish ship recycler and are now being scrapped.

A look back at naval history

Ship and naval history can be a real treasure trove - exciting and multifaceted. From sea adventures to technological advances to medical developments, exploring these topics is not only informative, but also provides numerous opportunities for discussion with historians and experts. Regional groups and associations promote the exchange of knowledge and hold regular meetings where members can share their knowledge and exchange information about new developments and historical facts. In this community, the passion for maritime culture and history comes to life.

The future of the Schleswig-Holstein Navy is uncertain, but the last speedboats that are now sailing to Turkey are an exciting chapter that is coming to an end. Even if they disappear from everyday life in the Navy, the memories and fascination for these fast and maneuverable ships remain.

For more information about the loading speedboats in Kiel, you can read the reporting on kn-online.de read up. You can find background information on the scrapping of the last German speedboats here defense-network.com. For maritime history and its exploration, we recommend taking a look at shipping history.de.