History
Name
  • Toreador (1909–1916)
  • Düsseldorf (1916–18)
  • Poldorf (1918–1919)
  • Düsseldorf (1919–1923)
  • Falke (1923–1939)
  • V 104 Falke (1939–1940)
  • Sperrbrecher 34 (1940–1941)
  • Sperrbrecher 134 (1941–1944)
Owner
  • J. D. Stücken (1909–16)
  • Argo Line (1916–18)
  • British government (1918–19)
  • Argo Line (1919–23)
  • Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft Argo mbH (1923–25/26)
  • Norddeutscher Lloyd (1925/26–33)
  • Argo Reederei AG (1933–37)
  • Argo Reederei Richard Adler AG (1937–39)
  • Kriegsmarine (1939–44)
Port of registry
BuilderBremer Vulkan
Yard number527
Launched31 July 1909
Commissioned1 October 1939
Out of service8 August 1944
Identification
  • United Kingdom Official Number 142674 (1918–19)
  • Code Letters QJRM (1923–34)
  • Code Letters DOBY (1934–44)
FateBombed and sunk off Lorient, France
General characteristics
Class and type
Tonnage998 GRT, 480 NRT
Length72.92 m (239 ft 3 in)
Beam10.16 m (33 ft 4 in)
Depth3.84 m (12 ft 7 in)
Installed powerTriple expansion steam engine, 160nhp
PropulsionSingle screw propeller
Speed10 knots (19 km/h)

V 104 Falke was a German-built cargo ship which was converted into an auxiliary warship for the Kriegsmarine as a Vorpostenboot and then Sperrbrecher. The ship was built as Toreador and was also known as Poldorf and Düsseldorf.

Description

The ship was built from steel. It had a length of 72.92 metres (239 ft 3 in), a beam of 10.16 metres (33 ft 4 in), and a depth of 3.84 metres (12 ft 7 in). It was assessed at 998 GRT, 480 NRT. The ship was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 40 centimetres (15+3⁄4 in), 64.7 centimetres (25+15⁄32 in) and 110.0 centimetres (43+5⁄16 in) diameter by 75 centimetres (29+1⁄2 in) stroke. The engine was built by Bremer Vulkan and was rated at 160nhp. The engine drove a single screw propeller,[1] and could propel the ship at 10 knots (19 km/h).[2]

History

The ship was built in Bremen-Vegesack by Bremer Vulkan in 1909 as Toreador for J. D. Stücken, Bremen.[2] It was launched on 31 July.[3] J. D. Stücken operated it until 1916, when it was bought by the Argo Line, Bremen. Renamed Düsseldorf,[4] it was captured off the coast of Norway by the Royal Navy Q-ship HMS Tay and Tyne between 19 and 24 February 1918 whist on a voyage from Tromsø, Norway to Stettin with a cargo of iron ore.[5][6][7][8] It was seized by the British government and was renamed Poldorf. The United Kingdom Official Number 142674 was allocated.[2] Due to the ship being captured in neutral waters, a legal dispute with Norway came before the British Prize Court in July 1920. Judgement was given that the declaration of the ship as a British prize could not be reversed.[6]

In 1919, the ship was returned to Argo Line and reverted to its previous name.[2] In 1923, Argo Line merged with the Roland Line to form Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft Argo mbH. The ship was renamed Falke, serving with the Roland Line.[4] The Code Letters QJRM were allocated.[2] Around 1925/26, Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft Argo mbH was absorbed by Norddeutscher Lloyd. Falke was transferred to Argo Reederei AG in 1934,[4] in which year the Code Letters DOBY were allocated.[2] The ship was transferred to Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co. in 1937.[4]

Falke was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine and converted into a Vorpostenboot, joining the 1st Vorpostenflotille on 1 October 1939. On 1 October 1940, the 1st flotilla was disbanded and Falke was designated as a Sperrbrecher, or mine clearing ship.[9] It was given the identification number of 34, which was later changed to 134. It was bombed and sank off Lorient on 8 August 1944.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Falke (70665)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Navires à Vapeur et à Moteurs. FAL-FAM (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930–1931. Retrieved 25 April 2022 – via Southampton City Council.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sperrbrecher-134 (Falke) [+1944]". Wrecksite. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Mine Barrage Breakers Sperrbrecher". kbismarck.com. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Argo Line, Bremen / Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft Argo AG 1896–1923 / Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft Argo mbH 1923–1925 / Argo Reederei AG 1933–1936 / Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co. 1936–1952 / Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Söhne 1952–present". The Ships List. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Imperial and Foreign News Items". The Times. No. 41722. London. 25 February 1918. col E, p. 7.
  6. 1 2 "The Prize Court. Captures in Neutral Waters. The Dusseldorf". The Times. No. 42475. London. 29 July 1920. col A, p. 5.
  7. ↑ The Privy Council (29 July 1920). "In the matter of the steamship Dusseldorf v." Casemine. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "RFA Industry". Royal Fleet Auxiliary Historical Association. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  9. ↑ German Federal Archives. "Vorpostenboot 104 "Falke"". Bundesarchiv.de. invenio. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
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