German trawler V 804 Spica explained

Spica was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the Second World War for use as a vorpostenboot, Serving as V 214 Spica and V 804 Spica. She returned to service as a fishing trawler post-war and was scrapped in 1955.

Description

Spica was 43.53m (142.81feet) long, with a beam of 8.1m (26.6feet).She had a depth of 4.65m (15.26feet) and a draught of 3.77m (12.37feet). She was assessed at, . She was powered by a compound steam engine, which had two cylinders each of NaNinches and NaNinches diameter by NaNinches stroke. The engine was built by Christiansen & Meyer, Harburg, Germany. It was rated at 62nhp.[1]

History

Spica was built as yard number 244 by Schiffbau-Gesellschaft Unterweser AG, Wesermünde, Germany. She was launched on 5 November 1930 and completed on 2 December. She was built for the Hochseefischerei Nordstern AG, Wesermünde. The Code Letters KRGN were allocated,[1] as was the fishing boat registration PG 404. In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DFBS.[2]

On 17 September 1939, Spica was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 2 Vorpostenflotille as V 214 Spica. She was reallocated on 21 October to 8 Vorpostenflotille as V 804 Spica.

Post-war she returned to merchant service with her pre-war owners.[3] The fishing boat registration BX 383 was allocated in 1948. She was scrapped in April 1955 by W. Ritscher, Hamburg, West Germany.

Sources

Notes and References

  1. 30a0444.pdf . 1930–1931 . Spica . 62312 . S . T . 7 June 2022 .
  2. 34a0515.pdf . 1934–1935 . Spica . 66261 . SPE-SPR . C . 7 June 2022 .
  3. SPE-SPI Lloyd's Register 1948-49 . Lloyd's Register, M-Z . 1949 . Lloyd's Register . London .