German trawler V 413 Ferdinand Niedermeyer

Ferdinand Niedermeyer was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned in the Second World War by the Kriegsmarine for use as a vorpostenboot, serving as V 413 Ferdinand Niedermeyer. She was bombed and sunk off St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands on 24 July 1944.

History
NameFerdinand Niedermeyer
Owner
  • Grundmann & Gröschel (1925–41)
  • Kriegsmarine (1941–44)
Port of registry
BuilderDeschimag Seebeckwerft
Yard number439
Launched18 September 1925
CompletedNovember 1925
Identification
  • Code Letters KRCJ (1928–34)
  • Code Letters DEAB (1934–44)
  • Fishing boat registration PG 367 (1925–39)
  • Pennant Number V 413 (1939–44)
FateSunk 21 August 1944
General characteristics
Class and type
Tonnage
  • 266 GRT, 103 NRT (1925–35)
  • 286 GRT, 12 NRT (1935–44)
Length43.21 m (141 ft 9 in) (1925–35)
Beam7.14 m (23 ft 5 in)
Draught4.14 m (13 ft 7 in)
Depth3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine, 53nhp
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Speed10 knots (19 km/h)

Description

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Ferdinand Niedermeyer was 43.21 metres (141 ft 9 in) long, with a beam of 7.14 metres (23 ft 5 in). She had a depth of 3.30 metres (10 ft 10 in) and a draught of 4.15 metres (13 ft 7 in).[1] She was assessed at 266 GRT, 103 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 38 centimetres (15 in), 51.9 centimetres (20+716 in) and 90 centimetres (35+12 in) diameter by 60 centimetres (23+58 in) stroke. The engine was made by Deschimag Seebeckwerft, Wesermünde. It was rated at 53nhp. The engine powered a single screw propeller.[2] It could propel the ship at 10 knots (19 km/h).[1]

History

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Ferdinand Niedermeyer was built as yard number 439 by Deschimag Seebeckwerfte, Wesermünde for Grundmann & Gröschel, Wesermünde. She was launched on 18 September 1925 and completed in November.[3] The Code Letters KRCJ were allocated,[2] as was the fishing boat registration PG 367.[3] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DEAB.[4] In 1935, she was lengthened.[3] She was now assessed at 286 GRT, 112 NRT.[5]

She was scheduled to take part in Unternehmen Seelöwe. On 23 May 1941, Ferdinand Niedermeyer was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 4 Vorpostenflotille as V 413 Ferdinand Niedermeyer. On 21 August 1944, she was sunk in the Bay of Biscay in an attack by Allied aircraft off Bayonne, Basses-Pyrénées, France.[3] Also reported as sunk by Bristol Beaufighter aircraft of 236 Squadron, Royal Air Force and 404 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force off Le Verdon-sur-Mer, Gironde, France.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gröner 1993, p. 204.
  2. ^ a b "Ferdinand Niedermeyer (57588)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. FAV-FIF (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930–1931. Retrieved 14 December 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1993, p. 211.
  4. ^ "Ferdinand Niedermeyer (59744)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. FEN-FIA (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 14 December 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
  5. ^ "Ferdinand Niedermeyer (58307)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Trawlers &c. FEM-FIA (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1936–1937. Retrieved 14 December 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
  6. ^ Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1944, August". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 14 December 2022.

Sources

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  • Gröner, Erich (1993). Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945 (in German). Vol. 8/I: Flußfahrzeuge, Ujäger, Vorpostenboote, Hilfsminensucher, Küstenschutzverbände (Teil 1). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-4807-5.