German torpedo boat T31
{{Short description|German torpedo boat}}
{{good article}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=T 35 as DD 935 in US seas August 1945.jpg |Ship caption=Sister ship {{ship|German torpedo boat|T35 | 2}} in US service, August 1945
}} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Nazi Germany |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}} |Ship name=T31 |Ship ordered=20 January 1941 |Ship builder=Schichau, Elbing, East Prussia |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number=1513 |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=1943 |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened= |Ship completed=5 February 1944 |Ship commissioned= |Ship fate=Sunk by torpedo, 20 June 1944 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= (as built) |Ship class= Type 39 torpedo boat |Ship displacement=*{{convert|1294|t|LT|abbr=on}} (standard)
|Ship length={{convert|102.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a |Ship beam= {{convert|10|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draft= {{convert|3.22|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=*2 × shafts
|Ship speed= {{convert|33.5|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= {{cvt|2400|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|19|kn}} |Ship power=*4 × water-tube boilers
|Ship complement=206 |Ship sensors=*S-Gerät sonar
|Ship armament= *4 × single 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun guns
}} |
The German torpedo boat T31 was one of fifteen Type 39 torpedo boats built for the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) during World War II. Completed in early 1944, the boat was assigned to convoy escort duties and supporting German forces in the Baltic. She was sunk in combat with Soviet motor torpedo boats on 20 June off the Finnish coast on 20 June with 82 men killed.
Design and description
The Type 39 torpedo boat was conceived as a general-purpose design, much larger than preceding German torpedo boats.Whitley 1991, p. 52 The boats had an overall length of {{convert|102.5|m|ftin|sp=us}} and were {{convert|97|m|ftin|sp=us}} long at the waterline. They had a beam of {{convert|10|m|ftin|sp=us}}, a draft of {{convert|3.22|m|ftin|sp=us}} at deep load and displaced {{convert|1294|MT|LT|lk=on}} at standard load and {{convert|1754|MT|LT}} at deep load.Gröner, p. 195 Their crew numbered 206 officers and sailors.Sieche, p. 239 The Type 39s were fitted with a pair of geared steam turbine sets, each driving one propeller, using steam from four high-pressure water-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce {{convert|32000|shp|lk=on}} which was intended give the ships a maximum speed of {{convert|33.5|kn|lk=on}}. They carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of {{convert|2400|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|19|kn}}.Whitley 1991, pp. 54, 203
As built, the Type 39 ships mounted four 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun guns in single mounts protected by gun shields; one forward of the superstructure, one between the funnels, and two aft, one superfiring over the other. Anti-aircraft defense was provided by four 3.7 cm SK C/30 AA guns in two twin-gun mounts on platforms abaft the rear funnel and a dozen 2 cm FlaK 30/38/Flakvierling guns. One quadruple mount was positioned on the aft superstructure and two more were fitted on the bridge wings. They carried six above-water {{cvt|533|mm|in|0}} torpedo tubes in two triple mounts amidships and could also carry 30 mines; the full complement of 60 mines made the ships top-heavy which could be dangerous in bad weather. For anti-submarine work the boats were fitted with a S-Gerät sonar and four depth charge launchers. The Type 39s were equipped with a FuMO 21{{refn|{{lang|de|Funkmess-Ortung}} (Radio-direction finder, active ranging)|group=Note}} radar and various FumB{{refn|{{lang|de|Funkmess-Beobachtung}} (Passive radar detector).|group=Note}} radar detectors were installed late in the war.Friedman, p. 205; Whitley 1991, pp. 52–55; Whitley 2000, p. 73
Construction and career
T31 was ordered on 20 January 1941 from Schichau, laid down at their Elbing, East Prussia, shipyard as yard number 1513, launched in 1943 and commissioned on 5 February 1944. After working up, T31 and her sister {{ship|German torpedo boat|T30||2}} were tasked to support Finnish forces in Vyborg Bay and Koivisto Sound during the Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive. On 20 June they engaged Soviet motor torpedo boats and claimed 3–5 boats sunk, but T31 was sunk by a torpedo from TKA37 at {{Coord|60|16|N|28|17|E|display=inline,title}} off Nerva (or Narvi) island, with the loss of 82 crewmen.Gröner, p. 195; Rohwer, p. 336; Whitley 1991, pp. 175, 212
Notes
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Citations
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References
- {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=Naval Radar|year=1981|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-238-2|author-link=Norman Friedman}}
- {{Cite book |last=Gröner|first=Erich|title=German Warships 1815–1945|year=1990 |location=Annapolis, Maryland|volume=1: Major Surface Warships|publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-87021-790-9|author-link=Erich Gröner}}
- {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two |publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005 |edition=Third Revised |isbn=1-59114-119-2|author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
- {{cite book|author1-last=Sieche|author1-first=Erwin|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|year=1980|publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |isbn=0-85177-146-7|name-list-style=amp|chapter=Germany}}
- {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia |year=2000| publisher=Cassell & Co.|location=London|isbn=1-85409-521-8|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}
- {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=German Destroyers of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press |date=1991|isbn=1-55750-302-8 |location=Annapolis, Maryland}}
External links
- [http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/ships/torpedoboats/flottentorpedoboot1939/t31/index.html T31 at german navy.de]
{{Type 39 torpedo boat}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:T31}}
Category:Type 39 torpedo boats
Category:Ships built by Schichau
Category:Ships built in Elbing