German trawler V 406 Hans Loh
# German trawler V 406 Hans Loh

Hans Loh was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in the Second World War for use as a Vorpostenboot, serving as V 402 Hans Loh and V 406 Hans Loh. She struck a mine and sank in the Gironde Estuary in August 1944.

## Description

Hans Loh was 55.20 metres (181 ft 1 in) long, with a beam of 8.00 metres (26 ft 3 in). She had a depth of 4.65 metres (15 ft 3 in) and a draught of 4.15 metres (13 ft 7 in). She was assessed at 464 GRT, 159 NRT. The ship was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 35 centimetres (13+3⁄4 in), 55 centimetres (21+5⁄8 in) and 90.0 centimetres (35+7⁄16 in) diameter by 65 centimetres (25+9⁄16 in) stroke. The engine was built by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau, Wesermünde, Germany and was rated at 96nhp. It drove a single screw propeller via double reduction gearing and a hydraulic coupling. It could propel the ship at 12 knots (22 km/h).

## History

Hans Loh was built as yard number 565 by Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau, Wesermünde. She was launched on 23 November 1936 and completed on 7 January 1937. She was built for Grundmann & Gröschel, Wesermünde. The Code Letters DFCQ were allocated, as was the fishing boat registration PG 506.

On 17 September 1939, she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine and commissioned with 4 Vorpostenflotille as the Vorpostenboot V 402 Hans Loh. On 16 October 1939, she was redesignated V 406 Hans Loh. On 18 August 1942, she struck a mine and sank in the Gironde Estuary with the loss of eighteen of her crew. The mine had been laid by the French submarine Rubis.

