Möwe

87,00 mOverall length

1213 tMaximum displacement

32,0 knMaximum speed

120-129Complement

Design and service

The story of Möwe

Möwe was part of the 5th Torpedoboot Flotilla at the outbreak of the war and took part in the Westwall minelaying operations until 24 September 1939. She then escorted light cruisers sent to meet destroyers returning from minelaying operations in British coastal waters.

During Operation "Weserübung", the British submarine Taku torpedoed Möwe on 9 May 1940. Repairs to the heavily damaged ship lasted until spring 1943. Transferred to France in May 1943, Möwe later attacked Allied landing forces off Normandy, including the action in which the Norwegian destroyer Svenner was sunk. British Lancaster bombers sank Möwe at Le Havre on 15 June 1944.

Operational history

Service timeline

07.04.1940

Operation Weserübung: Möwe joins the torpedo boats Albatros and Kondor in the Oslo Attack Group.

17-18.08.1940

Together with the torpedo boats Greif and Seeadler, the Möwe escorts the mine layer Hansestadt Danzig and Kaiser laying the "Paternoster" mine field in the Kattegatt. Over 500 mines are thrown.

29-30.04.1940

Together with the destroyers Richard Beitzen and Bruno Heinemann and the torpedo boats Leopard, Kondor and Wolf, the Möwe escorts the mine layers Kaiser, Roland and Preussen while laying the mine field 17n. The mine layers carry over 1000 mines. The Leopard is lost after being rammed by the mine layer Kaiser.

08.05.1940

Möwe is torpedoed by the British submarine Taku south west of Norway. The boat can be kept afloat, but is heavyly damaged.

At a glance