Auxiliaries

Logistical support ship 1960

ELBE One of 13 depot ships for fast attack craft, minesweepers and submarines, delivered to the Federal German Navy in the early 1960s.

THE RHEIN CLASS
The Rhein class of eight ships was one of three essentially similar types constructed simultaneously to act as support ships for the Federal German Navy's smaller assets. They were not classified as fighting units, but were equipped to act as command ships and as accommodation ships, and the first two classes, the Rheins (Type 401) and the Mosels (Type 402) were armed like small frigates, while the Lahns (Type 403) had only light AA armament. Elbe (A 61) was the second of her class to be constructed, by Schlieker of Hamburg. Launched on 5 May 1960, she entered service in April 1962. On 18 July 1975 she was transferred to the Turkish Navy, becoming the Cezayerli Gazi Hasan Pasa.

ARMAMENT AND EQUIPMENT
The Type 401 ships were powered by pure diesel machinery (the other two were diesel-electric), their multiple engines coming into use progressively as more power was required, thus making them very economical indeed at low speed. They were equipped with single 100mm (3.9in) guns in automatic mounts fore and aft as well as four 40mm Bofors light AA guns. They were equipped with both search and fire control radar, all of it of Dutch origin.

TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Logistical support ship
Machinery: 2-shaft, 6 MTU diesel engines producing a total of 11,400bhp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 98.2m (322ft); beam, 11.8m (39ft) Displacement: 2370t standard; 3020t deep load
Draught: 5.2m (17ft) deep load
Complement: 122
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h)

THE GERMAN LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SHIPS
The eight ships of the Rhein class were intended to act as depot ships to flotillas of fast attack craft, while the three (Llosels performed the same function for fast minesweepers and the two Lahns supported submarines. The first two types were constructed on the same hull, while the Type 403s were 5.5m (l8ft) shorter overall but of higher standard displacement, despite having lost the two 100mm (3.9in) guns. Not all ships were allocated to flotillas some acted as training ships. In wartime it could have been expected that those not on flotilla duty would have been employed as coastal escorts or as minelayers.
Range at 15 knots = 1625 miles 2500km