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A-class torpedo boat
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A-class torpedo boat
The A-class torpedo boats were a class of German single-funnelled torpedo boat/light destroyer designed by the Reichsmarineamt for operations off the coast of occupied Flanders in the First World War. The "A" designation was to avoid confusion with older classes and designs. They were classed officially as "coastal torpedo boats" (German: Küstentorpedoboote) to differentiate from larger, ocean-going torpedo boats.
Six groups of vessels were built under the class between 1914 and 1918, increasing in displacement from 109 to 335 t (107 to 330 long tons; 120 to 369 short tons). All had a raised forecastle, shallow draught, and carried one (for most) or two (for A1 – A25) 17.7 in (45 cm) torpedo tubes amidships.
All 25 were ordered in 1914, and were designed and built by A.G. 'Vulcan', at their Hamburg yard.
Sixteen A-I-class torpedo boats, A2, A4-A16, A19 and A20, were transported in sections to the Kaiserliche Werft Antwerpen in Hoboken, re-assembled and then transferred by inland canals to Bruges, much like was done with similar size Type UB I and Type UC I U-boats. These torpedo boats formed the Flanders Torpedoboat Flotilla which was part of the Naval Corps. These torpedoboats provided cover for departing and returning U-boats of the Flanders U-boat flotilla, and operated against British forces trying to block the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge with mines and ant-submarine nets. On four occasions the flotilla shelled Calais. When the torpedoboat flotilla was reinforced with larger A-II-class torpedo boats, the remaining A-I-class were converted into minehunters and commissioned on 1 April in the first Flanders Minehunter Half-Flotilla.
A4, A12 and A14 were abandoned in Antwerp after the German evacuation at the end of the First World War. Taken over by Belgium. Remained operational until 1927.
A5, A8, A9, A16 and A20 were interned in the Netherlands at the end of the war, and handed over to Belgium as reparations in 1919. Decommissioned in 1927 and most scrapped. A20 remained in use as training vessel and captured by Germans in 1940. Scrapped 1948.
All 30 were ordered in two batches - 24 vessels in 1915, and 6 added later. All were designed and built by F. Schichau Werke, at their Elbing yard. The second batch were 2 tonnes heavier, and had a beam of 5.2 metres (18ft 5.25in).
Eleven A-II-class torpedo boats were commissioned into the Flanders Torpedoboat flotilla. Seven boats, A-39, A-40 and A-46 - A-50 were transported in sections to Hoboken and re-assembled there. Four others, A-42 - A-45 were transferred by sea.
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A-class torpedo boat
The A-class torpedo boats were a class of German single-funnelled torpedo boat/light destroyer designed by the Reichsmarineamt for operations off the coast of occupied Flanders in the First World War. The "A" designation was to avoid confusion with older classes and designs. They were classed officially as "coastal torpedo boats" (German: Küstentorpedoboote) to differentiate from larger, ocean-going torpedo boats.
Six groups of vessels were built under the class between 1914 and 1918, increasing in displacement from 109 to 335 t (107 to 330 long tons; 120 to 369 short tons). All had a raised forecastle, shallow draught, and carried one (for most) or two (for A1 – A25) 17.7 in (45 cm) torpedo tubes amidships.
All 25 were ordered in 1914, and were designed and built by A.G. 'Vulcan', at their Hamburg yard.
Sixteen A-I-class torpedo boats, A2, A4-A16, A19 and A20, were transported in sections to the Kaiserliche Werft Antwerpen in Hoboken, re-assembled and then transferred by inland canals to Bruges, much like was done with similar size Type UB I and Type UC I U-boats. These torpedo boats formed the Flanders Torpedoboat Flotilla which was part of the Naval Corps. These torpedoboats provided cover for departing and returning U-boats of the Flanders U-boat flotilla, and operated against British forces trying to block the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge with mines and ant-submarine nets. On four occasions the flotilla shelled Calais. When the torpedoboat flotilla was reinforced with larger A-II-class torpedo boats, the remaining A-I-class were converted into minehunters and commissioned on 1 April in the first Flanders Minehunter Half-Flotilla.
A4, A12 and A14 were abandoned in Antwerp after the German evacuation at the end of the First World War. Taken over by Belgium. Remained operational until 1927.
A5, A8, A9, A16 and A20 were interned in the Netherlands at the end of the war, and handed over to Belgium as reparations in 1919. Decommissioned in 1927 and most scrapped. A20 remained in use as training vessel and captured by Germans in 1940. Scrapped 1948.
All 30 were ordered in two batches - 24 vessels in 1915, and 6 added later. All were designed and built by F. Schichau Werke, at their Elbing yard. The second batch were 2 tonnes heavier, and had a beam of 5.2 metres (18ft 5.25in).
Eleven A-II-class torpedo boats were commissioned into the Flanders Torpedoboat flotilla. Seven boats, A-39, A-40 and A-46 - A-50 were transported in sections to Hoboken and re-assembled there. Four others, A-42 - A-45 were transferred by sea.
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