Special roles and projects

Other Ships

Target ships, aviation support vessels, patrol craft and unrealized gunboat projects that do not fit the main fleet categories.

8 entries

Beyond the main fleet

Specialized vessels and concepts

Profile of Grille

Aviso and fleet tender

Grille

1935–1951
Grille served as an aviso, state yacht, minelayer and fleet tender before surviving the war.Explore entry →
Profile of Hessen

Radio-controlled target ship

Hessen

1905–1950
The former battleship Hessen was rebuilt as a radio-controlled target ship and continued in Soviet service after the war.Explore entry →
Profile of Zähringen

Radio-controlled target ship

Zähringen

1902–1949
The former battleship Zähringen became a radio-controlled target vessel and survived both world wars.Explore entry →
Profile of Kanonenboot 1938

Projected gunboat class

Kanonenboot 1938

1938–1939
Four conventional gunboats were ordered for European coastal service, but all were canceled before construction began.Explore entry →
Profile of Kanonenboot 1941

Projected submarine hunter

Kanonenboot 1941

1941
This forward-looking submarine-hunter project combined depth charges with a shipborne Flettner Fl 282 helicopter.Explore entry →
Profile of Richthofen

Aircraft support ship

Richthofen

1943–1944
Richthofen supported maritime reconnaissance aircraft with lifting, refueling and maintenance facilities.Explore entry →
Profile of Falke

Catapult ship

Falke

1942–1945
Falke carried, serviced and launched long-range flying boats in Danish and Norwegian waters.Explore entry →
Profile of Vorpostenboot

Patrol vessel type

Vorpostenboot

1939–1945
Hundreds of converted fishing boats, yachts and harbor craft performed patrol, escort and anti-submarine duties.Explore entry →