Profile drawing of Torpedoboot T8
84,30 mOverall length
1088 tMaximum displacement
35,0 knMaximum speed
119Complement

Design and service

The story of Torpedoboot T8

After operations near Jutland and mining operations in the North Sea, T8 was sent to France in September 1940 for a short time. After a short visit in Germany, the 2st Torpedoboot Flotilla was relocated to Norway, some of those ships supported the advance of German troops during the invasion of the Soviet union and some participated in Operation Cerberus in 1942. The remaining ships were was part of the torpedo training school in the Baltic Sea until mid 1943.

From 1944, the 2nd Torpedoboot Flotilla was used for escort duties in the Baltic Sea. T8 was scuttled by her crew at Strander Bay in the Baltic Sea at 54°26′N, 10°10′E on 3 May 1945.

Operational history

Service timeline

Together with T1 and T5, T8 escorts a convoy form Fredrikshavn to Horten.

Together with the torpedo boats T5, Greif, Iltis and Jaguar, the T8 e scorts the mine layers Cobra, Hansestadt Danzig, Kaiser Königin Louise, Preussen and Roland while laying the mine field Sperre 19 in the North Sea. The mine layers carry over 1560 mines.

Together with the torpedo boats Falke, Kondor, Jaguar, T2 and T7, the T8 escorts the mine layers Cobra, Roland and Brumer while laying the mine field SW1. The mine layers carry over 600 mines.

The torpedo boats T2, T7 and T8 escort the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper near Stavanger.

Mine laying operation SW3. Together with the destroyers Paul Jakobi, Karl Galster and Erich Steinbrinck and the torpedo boats Greif, Iltis, Jaguar, T5, T6 and T7 the T8 escorts the mine layers Corba, Roland and Tannenberg. The mine layers carry about 600 mines. After the operation, the boat sails to Cherbourg.

Minelaying operation near Boulogne in the British Channel together with T5.

The 2. T-Flottilla (T5 -T8) excecutes a mine laying operation near Dover.

The 2. T-Flottilla (T5 -T8) excecutes another mine laying operation near Dover.

The 2. T-Flottilla (T5 -T8) excecutes another mine laying operation near Dover, the ships are engaged in a battle with smaller British ships.

Transferred to Wilhelmshaven, later sent to the Baltic Sea.

T6, T7, T8 and T10 escort the Panzerschiff Admiral Scheer from Brunsbüttel to Bergen.

Operation of the 1st and 2nd torpedo boat flotilla with T1, T4, T6, T7, T8, T9 and T10 against coastal shipping at the British east coast. The operation is cancelled after T6 is sunk after a mine hit near Aberdeen.

On its way into the Atlantic, the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper is escorted by the torpedo boats T1, T4, T5, T8, T9 and T12.

The torpedo boats T1, T5, T8 and T12 escort the light cruiers Köln and Nürnberg during a mine laying operation in the North Sea.

T2, T4, T5, T7, T8, T11 and T12 are attached to newly formed 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla.

T2, T5, T8 and T11 operate at the coast of Ösel and attack Soviet coastal batteries.

The destroyers Z25, Z26 and Z27 and the torpedo boats T2, T5, T7, T8 and T11 are attached to the Baltic fleet to prevent an escape of Soviet ships into the Baltic Sea.

Together with the light cruisers Emden and Leipzig, the torpedo boats T7, T8 and T11 attack coastal batteries at Sworbe.

The torpedo boats T2, T5, T7 and T8 escort the light cruiser Köln during the operations at Dagö.

At a glance

Technical profile

Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.

Dimensions

Size (Max)
1088 t
Length (Total)
84,30 m
Length (Waterline)
82,16 m
Beam
8,62 m
Draft
2,94 m
Crew
119

Armament

10,5 cm L/45 C/32
1
3,7 cm MG
4 (2 since 1944)
2 cm MG L/65 C/39
5-12 (12 since 1944)
53,3 cm Torpedo tubes
6 (3 since 1944)
Mines
30

Machinery

Shafts
2
Turbines
2
Type
Wagner Geared Turbines

Performance

Total Performance
31000 shp
Speed
35,0 kn
Range
1070 sm at 19 kn

Construction record

Torpedoboot T8

Laid down
Deschimag Bremen, 28.08.1937
Launched
10.08.1938
Commissioned
08.10.1939
Fate
scuttled on 03.05.1945
Cost
7,8 Mio Reichsmark