Fast attack boat class

Schnellboot 1937

Mercedes-Benz diesels transformed the proven hull into a faster and more reliable boat, establishing the machinery choice for later S-boats.

8 boats listed
Profile drawing for Schnellboot 1937

Design and development

The class

The S-Boot design 1937 was almost identical with the S-Boot 1934 except the engines. Since the MAN engines used on the predecessors were not very reliable, Mercedes Benz engines were used instead. Because of the much better performance, this engine manufacturer was chosen for all further Sboot designs of the Kriegsmarine.

Construction records

Boats of the class

8 boats and their recorded construction details and fates.

8 boats
Construction and fate of the boats in this class
NameConstructionLaunchedCommissionedFate
S18Lürssen Vegesack, 193713.01.193814.07.1938Rebuild as fast tug boat in 1942, sunk after bomb hit on 05.05.1945.
S19Lürssen Vegesack, 193710.05.193806.10.1938Taken over by Britain, sunk as target ship in 1950.
S20Lürssen Vegesack, 193701.10.193821.03.1939Taken over by Britain, scrapped 1948.
S21Lürssen Vegesack, 193701.08.193819.12.1938Taken over by Norway in 1945, scrapped in 1950.
S22Lürssen Vegesack, 193731.01.193916.05.1939Fate unknown.
S23Lürssen Vegesack, 193723.04.193915.07.1939Sunk after mine hit on 12.07.1940.
S24Lürssen Vegesack, 193704.07.193918.09.1939Taken over by Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.01.1946 taken by Soviet crew, on 07.02.1946 renamed as TK-1004 and added into Baltic Fleet as MTB, on 15.02.1946 included into 4th (South Baltic) Fleet, on 28.02.1948 put out of the fighting fleet and laid up, on 12.01.1949 reclassified as large MTB, on 25.09.1950 disarmed, removed from the Navy, and transfered for scrapping.
S25Lürssen Vegesack, 193719.09.193909.12.1939Taken over by Britain, scrapped 1948.

At a glance

Technical profile

Principal dimensions, armament, machinery and performance.

Dimensions

Size (Max)
105 t
Length (Total)
34,62 m
Beam
5,26 m
Draft
1,67 m
Crew
18-23

Armament

2 cm MG
1
Machine Guns
1
53,3 cm Torpedo tubes
2

Machinery

Shafts
3
Engines
3
Type
Daimler Benz MB 501 20-cyl diesel engines

Performance

Total Performance
6000 shp
Speed
39,8 kn
Range
700 miles at 35 kn