SS Friedrich Karl (1938)

Friedrich Karl was a cargo ship which was built by Neptun Werft, Rostock in 1938. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War, serving as the vorpostenboot V 108 Friedrich Karl and the sperrbrecher Sperrbrecher 138. She struck a mine and sank off Borkum on 23 December 1942.

History
Name	Friedrich Karl
Owner	Reederei Wendenhof GmbH (1938– ) Kriegsmarine ( –1942)
Port of registry	Wismar, Germany (1938– )  Kriegsmarine ( –1942)
Builder	Neptun Werft
Launched	1938
Identification	Code Letters DMXL
Fate	Sunk 23 December 1942
General characteristics
Tonnage	1,262 GRT, 589 NRT
Length	72.01 m (236 ft 3 in)
Beam	10.80 metres (35 ft 5 in)
Depth	4.60 metres (15 ft 1 in)
Installed power	Triple expansion steam engine, 167nhp
Propulsion	Single screw propeller
Speed	10.5 knots (19.4 km/h)

Description

The ship was 72.01 metres (236 ft 3 in) long, with a beam of 10.80 metres (35 ft 5 in) and a depth of 4.60 metres (15 ft 1 in). She was assessed at 1,262 GRT, 589 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine which had cylinders of 41 centimetres (16+1⁄8 in), 66 centimetres (26 in) and 112.6 centimetres (44+5⁄16 in) diameter by 70.0 centimetres (27+9⁄16 in) stroke. The engine was built by Neptun Werft, Rostock. It was rated at 167nhp and drove a single screw propeller.^[1] She had a speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h).^[2]

History

Friedrich Karl was built in 1938 by Neptun Werft, Rostock for Reederei Wendenhof GmbH, Wismar. The Code Letters DMXL were allocated.^[1] During the Second World War, she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine to serve as a Vorpostenboot. She was allocated to 1 Vorpostenbootflotille under the designation V108 Friedrich Karl. She was redesignated as a Sperrbrecher on 26 September 1941,^[3] becoming Sperrbrecher 138 with 1 Sperrbrecherflotille.^[4] On 23 December 1942, she struck a mine and sank off Borkum.^[2]