German trawler V 303 Tannenberg
# German trawler V 303 Tannenberg

V 303 Tannenberg was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned in the Second World War by the Kriegsmarine for use as a vorpostenboot. She was returned to her owners post war. In 1958, she was re-engined and converted to a cargo ship. In 1970 she was sold to Greece and renamed Panaghia. She was sold to Panama in 1975 and was renamed Nikos then Chantal. She was wrecked in 1978.

## Description

The ship 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 372 GRT, 140 NRT. She 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 64.9 centimetres (25+9⁄16 in) stroke. The engine was built by Deschimag Seebeckwerft, Wesermünde, Germany. It was rated at 92nhp. It drove a single screw propeller, and could propel the ship at 11 knots (20 km/h).

## History

Tannenberg was built at yard number 527 by Deschimag Seebeckwerft, Wesermünde for the Nordsee Deutsche Hochseefischerei AG, Cuxhaven. She was launched in May 1935 and completed in July. The fishing boat registration HC 293 was allocated, as were the Code Letters DJPI.

On 23 September 1939, Tannenberg was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 3 Vorpostenflotille as V 303 Tannenburg. On 5 January 1941, she sank or was sunk. She was raised, repaired and returned to service.

Tannenberg was returned to her owners post-war. In 1948, her registration was changed to BX 541. In 1958, she was sold to E. Böse, Emden, West Germany. In that year, a diesel engine was fitted and she was converted to a cargo ship. The engine was a four stroke single acting type. It had 6 cylinders of 320 millimetres (12+5⁄8 in) diameter by 450 millimetres (17+11⁄16 in) stroke. It was built by Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz, Köln, West Germany, and propelled the vessel at a speed of 8+1⁄2 knots (15.7 km/h). She was sold to K. Kruse, Emden in 1966. In 1970, Tannenberg was sold to Greece and renamed Panaghia. She was sold to Panama in 1975 and was renamed Nikos, then Chantal later that year. On 25 June 1978, Chantal sprang a leak 9 nautical miles (17 km) off Cape Engaño, Dominican Republic and was beached. She was declared a total loss.

