German_minesweeper_Sperrbrecher_18 References

History
Name	Schürbek (1930–40); Sperrbrecher 18 (1940–45); Schürbek (1945–59);
Owner	Knöhr & Burchardt (1930–39); Kriegsmarine (1939–45); United Kingdom Government (1945–49);
Port of registry	Hamburg, Germany (1930–33); Hamburg, Germany (1933–39); Kriegsmarine (1939–45); Hamburg, Allied-occupied Germany (1945–49);
Builder	Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft
Yard number	418
Launched	10 April 1930
Completed	3 June 1930
Out of service	12 March 1945
Identification	Code Letters RHPN (1930–34); ; Code Letters DHUU (1934–45); ; Pennant Number TS(K)2 (1939–40); Pennant Number TS(K)1 (1940); Schiff 40 (1939–40);
Fate	Bombed, damaged beyond economic repair
General characteristics
Class and type	Cargo ship (1930–39, 1945–49); Auxiliary cruiser (1939–40); Sperrbrecher (1940–45);
Tonnage	2,448 GRT, 1,435 NRT
Length	93.57 metres (307 ft 0 in)
Beam	13.84 metres (45 ft 5 in)
Draught	6.63 metres (21 ft 9 in)
Depth	5.97 metres (19 ft 7 in)
Installed power	Compound steam engine, 272 nhp
Propulsion	Screw propeller
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h)

Sperrbrecher 18 was a Kriegsmarine sperrbrecher that was built in 1930 as the cargo ship Schürbek by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg for Knöhr & Burchardt, Hamburg. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine during World War II and was designated Schiff 40 and later Sperrbrecher 18. Severely damaged in an Allied air raid on Hamburg in March 1945, she was declared a constructive total loss and scrapped in 1948–49.

Description

The ship was 93.57 metres (307 ft 0 in) long, with a beam of 13.84 metres (45 ft 5 in). She had a depth of 5.97 metres (19 ft 7 in) and a draught of 6.63 metres (21 ft 9 in). She was assessed at 2,448 GRT, 1,435 NRT.^[1]

She was powered by a four-cylinder compound steam engine, which had two cylinders of 478 millimetres (18+13⁄16 in) diameter and two cylinders of 1,000 millimetres (39+3⁄8 in) diameter by 1,000 millimetres (39+3⁄8 in) stroke. The engine was built by A. Borsig GmbH., Berlin. It was rated at 272 nhp and drove a screw propeller.^[1] It could propel her at 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h).^[2]

When operated as a Sperrbrecher, the ship was armed with two 10.5 cm SK L/45 naval guns, six 3.7 cm anti-aircraft guns and four 2 cm anti-aircraft guns.^[3]

History

Schürbek was built as yard number 418 by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg for Knöhr & Burchardt, Hamburg.^[2] She was launched on 10 April 1930 and completed on 3 June.^[4] Her port of registry was Hamburg and the Code Letters RHPN were allocated.^[1] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to DHUU.^[5] On 19 August 1939, Schürbek collided with the Portuguese steamship Corte Real at Rotterdam, Netherlands. Both vessels were damaged.^[6]

On 5 September 1939, she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine. Allocated the pennant number TS(K)2 and designated Schiff 40, she was allocated to 6 Vorpostengrüppe on 23 December as a Q-ship. On 20 January 1940, her pennant number was changed to TS(K)1. Schürbek was placed under the control of the Führer der Sonderverband West.^[4]^[7] On 10 April 1940, Schürbek was attacked by the British submarine HMS Tarpon west of Jutland. Tarpon's torpedoes missed, and Schürbek and the minesweeper M18 delivered a sustained depth charge attack over several hours, which sank Tarpon.^[8] On 12 April 1940, Schürbek was torpedoed and damaged in the Skaggerak by the British submarine HMS Sunfish.^[4]^[9]

She was under repair from 10 September to 19 December, and was recommissioned as the auxiliary minesweeper Sperrbrecher 18,^[4] joining the 3rd Sperrbrecherflotille, operating off Norway and in the Baltic.^[7]^[10] On 12 March 1945, Sperrbrecher 18 was severely damaged in an American air raid on Hamburg and was declared a constructive total loss. Although allocated to the United Kingdom post-war,^[11] Lloyd's Register shows that she remained under the German flag under her original name.^[12] Schürbek was scrapped in 1948–49.^[11]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Schürbek (33760)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Navires à Vapeur et à Moteurs. SCH (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1931–1932. Retrieved 13 February 2024 – via Southampton City Council.
^ ^a ^b Gröner 1993, p. 536.
^ Gröner, Jung & Maass 1985, p. 257.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1993, p. 537.
^ "Schürbek (84664)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Navires à Vapeur et à Moteurs. SCA-SCH (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 13 February 2024 – via Southampton City Council.
^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48389. London. 21 August 1939. col F, p. 21.
^ ^a ^b Gröner, Jung & Maass 1985, p. 259.
^ Haarr 2009, Chapter 14: No Room For Mistakes: Damned Un-English Vessels : "Also on the 10th, Tarpon attacked what turned out to be the Q-ship Schürbeck (Schiff 40)..."
^ Haarr 2009, Chapter 14: No Room For Mistakes: Damned Un-English Vessels : "On the 14th, Sunfish, who had unknowingly revenged Tarpon by torpedoing the Q-ship Schürbeck..."
^ Patterson 2017, p. 98.
^ ^a ^b Jordan 1999, pp. 477–78.
^ "SCH-SCI Lloyd's Register Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs". Lloyd's Register. London: Lloyd's of London. 1947.

Sources

Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1985). Die deutschen Kriegschiffe 1815–1945 (in German). Vol. 3: U-Boote, Hilfskreuzer, Minenschiffe, Netzleger, Sperrbrecher. Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-4802-4.
Gröner, Erich (1993). Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945 (in German). Vol. 8/I: Flußfahrzeuge, Ujäger, Vorpostenboote, Hilfsminensucher, Küstenschutzverbände (Teil 1). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-4807-5.
Haarr, Geier H. (2009). The German Invasion of Norway: April 1940. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78346-967-3.
Jordan, Roger (1999). The World's Merchant Fleets, 1939. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-023-X.
Patterson, Lawrence (2017). Hitler's Forgotten Flotillas: Kriegsmarine Security Forces. ISBN 978-1-4738-8239-3.

[Schurbek31-1] "Schürbek (33760)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Navires à Vapeur et à Moteurs. SCH (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1931–1932. Retrieved 13 February 2024 – via Southampton City Council.

[FOOTNOTEGröner1993536-2] Gröner 1993, p. 536.

[FOOTNOTEGrönerJungMaass1985257-3] Gröner, Jung & Maass 1985, p. 257.

[FOOTNOTEGröner1993537-4] Gröner 1993, p. 537.

[Schurbek34-5] "Schürbek (84664)" (PDF). Lloyd's Register: Navires à Vapeur et à Moteurs. SCA-SCH (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 13 February 2024 – via Southampton City Council.

[Times210839-6] "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48389. London. 21 August 1939. col F, p. 21.

[FOOTNOTEGrönerJungMaass1985259-7] Gröner, Jung & Maass 1985, p. 259.

[8] Haarr 2009, Chapter 14: No Room For Mistakes: Damned Un-English Vessels : "Also on the 10th, Tarpon attacked what turned out to be the Q-ship Schürbeck (Schiff 40)..."

[9] Haarr 2009, Chapter 14: No Room For Mistakes: Damned Un-English Vessels : "On the 14th, Sunfish, who had unknowingly revenged Tarpon by torpedoing the Q-ship Schürbeck..."

[FOOTNOTEPatterson201798-10] Patterson 2017, p. 98.

[FOOTNOTEJordan1999477–78-11] Jordan 1999, pp. 477–78.

[LR47-12] "SCH-SCI Lloyd's Register Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs". Lloyd's Register. London: Lloyd's of London. 1947.

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v t e Vorpostenboote of the Kriegsmarine
List of Vorpostenboote in World War II
1 Vorpostenflotille	V 101 Schwan V 102 Cressida V 103 Sylvia V 104 Falke V 105 Cremon V 106 Phönix V 107 Botilla Russ V 108 Friedrich Karl V 108 Porjus V 109 Flamingo
2 Vorpostenflotille	V 201 Seydlitz V 202 Franz Westermann V 203 Heinrich Buermann V 204 Dorum V 205 Hermann Bösch V 206 Gauleiter Telschow V 207 Otto Bröhan V 208 Gebrüder Kähler V 209 Carl Röver V 209 Dr. Rudolf Wahrendorff V 210 R. Walther Darré V 211 Friedrich Busse V 212 Hinrich Hey V 213 Claus Bolten V 213 Zieten V 214 Spica V 214 Teutonia V 215 Baden V 215 Hela V 215 Oliva V 216 Goëland V 222 V 223 V 224 V 225 V 226 V 227
3 Vorpostenflotille	V 301 Weser V 302 Bremen V 303 Tannenberg V 304 Breslau V 305 Ostpreussen V 306 Fritz Hincke V 307 Württemberg V 308 Oscar Neynaber V 309 Martin Donandt V 310 Rosemarie V 311 Osdorf V 312 Hanseat V 313 Eifel V 314 Heinrich Lehnert V 315 Bris V 316 V 317 Wega
4 Vorpostenflotille	V 401 Nordland V 401 Dr. Adolf Spilker V 402 Hans Loh V 403 Germania V 404 Deutschland V 404 Baden V 405 J. Hinrich Wilhelms V 406 Jan Mayen V 407 Saarland V 407 Dorum V 408 Haltenbank V 409 August Bösch V 412 Bremerhaven V 413 Ferdinand Niedermeyer V 414 Sachsenwald V 415 Gotland V 420 Alcyon V 421 Rauzan V 422 Kergroise V 423 Keryado II V 424 Carl J. Busch V 427 Victoire V 430 V 431 V 432 V 433 V 434 V 435
5 Vorpostengruppe	Wandrahm Birka Neuss Nerissa
6 Vorpostengruppe	Dr. Heinrich Wiegand Jupiter Möwe Oldenburg Schürbek
6 Vorpostenflotille	V 601 Dr. Heinrich Wiegand V 602 Richard C. Krogmann V 603 Carsten V 604 Fritz Reiser V 605 Arthur Duncker V 606 Fladengrund V 607 Düsseldorf V 620 Derfflinger V 621 Mars V 622 Almuth V 623 Jupiter V 624 Köln V 625 Johann Schulte V 626 Le Tésterin V 627 Elise V 628 De Ruyter
7 Vorpostenflotille	V 701 Este V 702 Memel V 703 Henry Fricke V 704 Claus Wisch V 704 Richard C. Krogmann V 705 Carsten V 706 Fritz Reiser V 707 Arthur Duncker V 708 Fladengrund V 709 Guido Möhring V 710 Düsseldorf V 711 Senator Predöhl V 712 V 712 Chemnitz V 713 Leipzig V 714 V 715 Alfred I V 716 Alfred II V 717 Alfred III V 718 V 719 V 720 V 721 V 722 Pilote XIII V 723 Jeanne Marie V 724 St. Dominique V 725 Petit Poilu V 726 Antifer V 727 Goëland V 728 Vierge de Nassabielle V 729 Marie Simone V 730 Michel François
8 Vorpostenflotille	V 801 Bayern V 801 Max Gundelach V 801 Stoomloodsvartuig 17 V 802 Sagitta V 803 Stuttgart V 803 Wiesbaden V 804 Skolpenbank V 804 Spica V 805 Island V 805 MFL 8 V 806 Stuttgart V 807 Auguste Kämpf V 807 MFL 1 V 808 Reichspräsident von Hindenburg V 808 Ehrensburger V 809 Konsul Dubbers V 810 Falkland V 811 Hugo Homann V 811 Claus Ebeling V 812 Amtsgerichsrat Pitschke V 813 Otto Krogmann V 814 Gotland Schiff 7 Wega
9 Vorpostenflotille	V 901 Senator Sprecher V 902 Senator Sachse V 903 Mainz V 904 Else Wilhelms V 905 Karl Bergh V 906 Schwalbe V 907 Spessart V 907 N. Elbing V 908 Claus Ebeling V 909 Flensburg V 910 V 911 V 912 V 913 V 914 V 915 V 916 V 917
10 Vorpostenflotille	V 1001 Thüringen V 1001 Stettin V 1002 Tilly V 1002 A. Kappelhof V 1003 Welle V 1003 Hanna V 1004 Johanna V 1004 Anna V 1005 Cremona V 1005 Amalie V 1006 Hayo V 1006 Elfriede V 1007 Käthe V 1007 Gesine V 1008 Walküre V 1008 Marie V 1009 Gertrud V 1009 Cornelia V 1010 Allegro V 1010 Martha V 1011 Altair V 1011 Adeline V 1012 Anna Marie V 1012 Erika V 1013 Herinrich Brons V 1014 Richard Ohlrogge V 1014 Kiel
11 Vorpostenflotille	V 1101 Preußen V 1102 Gleiwitz V 1102 Lützow V 1102 Nordkap V 1103 Reemt V 1102 Ernst von Briesen V 1102 Weißenfels V 1102 Ernst Gröschel V 1105 Jochen Homann V 1106 Heinrich Bueren V 1106 Neufundland V 1107 Portland V 1108 Arctur V 1109 Antares V 1109 Mahren V 1110 Hermann Hinrichs V 1111 Christian Wendig V 1112 V 1113 V 1114 V 1115
12 Vorpostenflotille	V 1201 Düneck V 1201 Juno V 1201 De Mok I V 1202 Angelina V 1202 Friedrich Suthmeier V 1203 Annemarie V 1203 G. F. Zimmermenn V 1204 Armin V 1204 C. H. Metger V 1204 Christiane Cécile V 1205 Germania V 1205 Ravensburg V 1206 Maria Lina V 1206 Ministerialdirektor Streil V 1207 Emil V 1207 P. von Rensen V 1208 Elternsegen V 1208 Heinrich Kappelhoff V 1209 Jacobus V 1209 H. Bramfeldt V 1210 Anita III V 1210 D. Dreesmann Penning V 1211 Meta Osterwisch V 1211 Leo Fürbinger V 1212 Anna V 1212 L. Ruyl V 1213 Fro V 1214 Joannes Georgius V 1214 St. Joachim V 1215 Hennie V 1216 Marie V 1217 Frida V 1218 V 1219 V 1220 V 1221 V 1222 V 1223 V 1224 V 1225 V 1226 V 1227 V 1228 V 1229 V 1230 V 1231 Toni V 1232 Elise V 1233 Vooruit V 1234 Koningin Emma V 1235 Columbus V 1236 'Flevo III V 1236 Augusta V 1237 Notre Dame de Dunes V 1238 Voorloper V 1239 Vooran V 1240 Therese V 1241 Stangenwalde V 1242 Marie Henriette V 1243 Hohenstein V 1244 V 1245 V 1246 V 1247 V 1248 V 1249 Mewa VIII V 1250 V 1251 V 1252 V 1253 Essen V 1254 Hermann Garrels V 1255 Ernst Hecht V 1256 Heinrich Onnen V 1256 V 1257 V 1258 V 1259 V 1260 Gebroeders V 1261 Vooruit V 1262 Verwachting V 1263 V 1264 V 1265 Dr. Eichelbaum V 1265 V 1266 V 1267 V 1268 V 1269 V 1270 V 1271 V 1272 V 1273 V 1274
13 Vorpostenflotille	V 1300 Stoomloodsvartuig 17 V 1301 Uranus V 1302 John Mahn V 1303 Freiburg V 1304 Eisenach V 1305 Wuppertal V 1306 Otto Krogmann V 1307 Stettin V 1308 Bredebeck V 1309 Kapitän Stemmer V 1310 Deister V 1310 Gotland V 1311 Döse V 1312 Hermann Siebert V 1313 Uran V 1314 Gustav Hugo Deiters V 1315 Karlsburg V 1316 Emil Colsmann V 1317 Wilhelm Michaelsen V 1318 Hans Pickenpack V 1330 Cyclop V 1331 Limburgia V 1332 Norma Maria V 1333 Zeemeeuw V 1334 Witte Zee V 1335 Adelante V 1336 J. S. Groen V 1337 Irene V 1337 Victoire V 1338 Azimuth V 1339 Stoomloodsvartuig 12 V 1340 Delft
14 Vorpostenflotille	V 1401 Deister V 1402 Hermann Siebert V 1403 B 1687 V 1403 Simone Marie V 1404 B 1557 V 1404 Christiane Cécile V 1405 Ritzebüttel V 1406 Frankfurt V 1407 Kurland V 1408 Aue ZRD 16 V 1408 Cyclop V 1409 IJM 54 V 1409 Limburgia V 1410 IJM 6 V 1410 Norma Maria V 1411 ZRD 19 V 1411 Zeemeeuw V 1412 Witte Zee V 1413 IJM 19 V 1413 Adelante V 1414 IJM 130 V 1414 J. S. Groen V 1415 IJM 195 V 1415 Azimuth V 1416 IJM 89 V 1416 Irene V 1417 Stoomloodsvartuig 11 V 1418 Frans Naerebout V 1419 Victoire V 1420 B 339 V 1420 Saint Joachim V 1421 Deltra II V 1422 B 1402 V 1422 Michel François V 1423 B 3059 V 1423 Emmanuella V 1424 Le Cid V 1425 LR 3306 V 1425 Banderole V 1426 Antoinette
15 Vorpostenflotille	PA 1 PA 2 PA 3 PA 4 V 1507 Wiking 7 V 1506 Wiking 6 V 1503 Wiking 10 V 1504 Wiking 8 V 1505 Wal 8 V 1506 Wal 9 V 1507 Rau VI V 1507 Rau I V 1508 Rau III V 1509 Rau II V 1510 Unitas 6 V 1511 Rau IV V 1511 Unitas 7 V 1512 Unitas 8 V 1513 Linz V 1514 Beuthen V 1514 Rothienbaum V 1516 Rouen V 1517 Kerdonis II V 1520 Loodsboot 6 V 1521 Vimy V 1522 Dauphin V 1523 Deltra I V 1524 Patrice V 1525 Eglantine V 1530 V 1531 V 1532 V 1533 V 1534 V 1535 V 1536 V 1537 V 1538 V 1539 V 1540 V 1541 V 1548 Gebrüder Kähler V 1549 Berlebeck V 1549 Hoheweg
16 Vorpostengruppe	Altenland Koblenz Schleswig
16 Vorpostenflotille	V 1601 Skorpion V 1601 Lindormen V 1602 La Provence V 1603 Termidor V 1604 Natter V 1605 Alma V 1605 Mosel V 1605 Girolou V 1606 Julius Fock V 1607 Nord Caper V 1608 Sülldorf V 1609 Othmarschen V 1610 Innsbruck V 1611 Forst V 1612 Gotha V 1613 Jane V 1614 Tormilind V 1614 Neerlandia V 1615 Tietie V 1616 Pirola V 1617 Jaweg V 1620 KOL 15 V 1621 SAG 29 V 162 PIL 29 V 162 PIL 76
17 Vorpostenflotille	V 1701 Unitas 2 V 1701 Bahrenfeld V 1702 Unitas 3 V 1703 Unitas 4 V 1704 Unitas 5 V 1705 Rau XI V 1706 Rau XII V 1707 Wiking 4 V 1708 Süd III V 1709 Wal 1 V 1710 Natter V 1715 KOL 15 V 1716 SAG 29 V 1717 PIL 29 V 1718 PIL 76
18 Vorpostengruppe	Julius Pickenpack Schiff 7 Wega Wilhelm Huth
18 Vorpostenflotille	V 1801 Lutteur V 1801 Wandrahm V 1802 Orient V 1803 Le Havre de Grace V 1804 Excellent V 1805 Senateur Louis Brindeau V 1806 Surmulet V 1807 Wagram V 1808 Dortmund V 1809 Henry P. Newman V 1810 Condor V 1811 Sylt V 1812 Halle V 1813 Thothn V 1814 Linz V 1815 Loodsboot 6 V 1816 Dauphine V 1817 Eglantine
19 Vorpostenflotille	V 1901 Präsident Mutzenbecher V 1901 Richard Ohlrogge V 1902 Amsel V 1903 Fink V 1904 Stieglitz V 1905 Iltis V 1906 Gunther V 1907 Emden V 1908 Kranich V 1909 Brunhild V 1910 Wellgunde V 1911 Johann Georg V 1912 Fortuna V 1913 Leer V 1914 Alma II V 1915 Girolou V 1916 Weser I V 1921 Habicht V 1922 Nürnberg V 1923 Ostpreußen V 1925 Unitas 9 V 1926 Ernst Schweckendieck V 1927 Johann Wessels
20 Vorpostenflotille	V 2001 Pastor Pype V 2001 Uranus V 2002 Madeleine Louise V 2002 Uran V 2003 Loodsboot 7 V 2004 Loodsboot 12 V 2005 Simone Marie V 2006 Christine Cécile V 2007 Hannover V 2008 Ritzebüttel V 2009 Niedersachsen V 2010 Frankfurt V 2011 Borkum V 2012 Kurland V 2013 Ekwator V 2014 Karel V 2015 V 2016 V 2017 V 2018 Vogtland V 2019 Seefahrt V 2020 Alexander Becker V 2021 Nürnberg V 2022 Emil Colsmann V 2023 Karlsburg
51 Vorpostenflotille	V 5101 Donner V 5101 Tornado V 5101 Blitz V 5102 Orkan V 5103 Taifun V 5103 Riese V 5104 Wirbel V 5106 Sturm V 5106 Sindbad V 5107 Sturm V 5107 Kormoran V 5107 Karmöy V 5108 Föhn V 5108 Kiebitz V 5109 Kranich V 5109 Eber V 5110 Marabu V 5110 Elch V 5111 Odin V 5112 Tiu V 5113 Donar V 5114 Baldur V 5115 Frija V 5116 Unitas 1
53 Vorpostenflotille	V 5301 Flamingo V 5301 Reiher V 5301 Seeteufel V 5302 Kranich V 5302 Seelöwe V 5303 Marabu V 5303 Sturmvogel V 5303 Seebär V 5304 Kormoran V 5304 Kiebetz V 5304 Seehund V 5305 Schnepfe V 5305 Jäger V 5306 Brachvogel V 5306 Schütze V 5307 Felix Scheder V 5308 O. B. Rogge V 5309 Seerobbe V 5310 Seewolf V 5311 Seeotter V 5312 Brachvogel V 5313 Star XXIII
55 Vorpostenflotille	V 5501 Bussard V 5501 Zick V 5501 Ratte V 5501 Seeteufel V 5502 Sperber V 5502 M253 V 5502 Zack V 5502 Biber V 5502 KFK1 V 5502 Snøgg V 5503 Habicht V 5503 Otter V 5504 Sperber V 5504 S12 V 5504 Marder V 5505 Adler V 5505 Wiesel V 5506 Rabe V 5506 Felix Scheder V 5506 KFK332 V 5507 Krähe V 5507 O. B. Rogge V 5507 S10 V 5507 Bisam V 5508 Elster V 5508 Seelöwe V 5508 Frettchen V 5509 S14 V 5509 Murmel V 5510 S15 V 5510 S13 V 5510 Marabu V 5511 S16 V 5511 Moskito V 5512 Grenadier V 5513 Libelle V 5514 Hornisse V 5515 Ulan V 5516 Flamingo V 5517 Natter V 5518 Reiher V 5519 Tarantel V 5520 Adler V 5525 V 5531
57 Vorpostenflotille	V 5701 Thüringen V 5702 Eupen V 5702 Grane V 5703 Elsass V 5703 Lothringen V 5704 Warthegau V 5705 Elsaß V 5706 Ostmark V 5707 Südwind V 5711 Steiermark V 5712 Kärnten V 5713 Sudetenland V 5714 Tirol V 5715 Skaggerak V 5716 Flandern V 5717 Fritz Homann V 5718 Coburg V 5719 Markomanne V 5720 Normanne V 5721 Turinge V 5722 Hornack V 5723 Möwe
59 Vorpostenflotille	V 5901 Bussard V 5901 Falkland V 5902 Rabe V 5902 Polarsonne V 5903 Elster V 5903 Polarfront V 5904 Sperber V 5904 Polarnacht V 5905 Habicht V 5905 Nordriff V 5905 Varanger V 5906 Krähe V 5906 Nordpol V 5907 Geier V 5907 Südwind V 5908 Penang V 5908 Togo V 5909 Coronel V 5909 Jan Mayen V 5910 Westwind V 5911 Gauleiter Bohle V 5911 Nordkap V 5912 Köln V 5912 Polarstern V 5913 Wilhelm Söhle V 5913 Polarkreis V 5914 Vardö V 5914 Polarmeer V 5915 Heinrich Baumgarten V 5916 Yock V 5917 Othmarschen V 5918 Jane
61 Vorpostenflotille	V 6101 Polarfuchs V 6101 Nordkap V 6101 Gauleiter Bohle V 6101 Wal 10 V 6102 Köln V 6102 Polarstern V 6102 Wal 11 V 6103 Nordlicht V 6104 Windhuk V 6104 Wien V 6105 Samoa V 6105 Holstein V 6106 Kiautschou V 6106 Tirol V 6107 Polarkreis V 6107 Wilhelm Söhle V 6107 Franke V 6108 Polarmeer V 6108 Vardö V 6109 Nordwind V 6110 Nordkyn V 6112 Friese V 6111 Masuren V 6112 Gote V 6113 Alane V 6114 Duiveland V 6114 Eismeer V 6115 Salier V 6115 Ostwind V 6115 Helgoland V 6116 Ubier V 6116 Doggerbank V 6117 Cherusker V 6118 Gallipoli V 6119 Auk
63 Vorpostenflotille	V 6301 Krebs V 6302 Widder V 6303 Stier V 6304 Waage V 6305 Frauke V 6306 Orion V 6307 Mob-FD 2 Jupiter V 6308 Mob-FD 1 Saturn V 6309 Mob-FD 3 Mars V 6310 Nordkap V 6311 Polarstern V 6312 Polarmeer V 6313 Westwind V 6314 Löwe V 6315 Wal 10 V 6316 Wal 11 V 6321 V 6322 V 6323 V 6324 V 6325 V 6326 V 6327 V 6328 Kormoran V 6329 Kranich V 6330 V 6331 V 6332
64 Vorpostenflotille	V 6401 Hagen V 6402 Hersing V 6403 Hildebrand V 6404 Midlum V 6405 Hermann V 6406 Hundius V 6407 Falke V 6408 Skagerak V 6409 Cimber V 6411 Thor V 6412 Frigga V 6413 Fro V 6414 Seeschwalbe V 6415 Kondor V 6416 Albatros V 6417 Loki V 6421 V 6422 V 6423 V 6424 V 6425 V 6426 V 6427 V 6428 V 6429 V 6430 V 6431 V 6432 V 6433 V 6434 V 6435 V 6436 V 6437 V 6438 V 6439 V 6440 V 6441 V 6442 V 6443 V 6444 V 6445 V 6446 V 6447 V 6448 V 6449 V 6450
65 Vorpostenflotille	V 6501 Samoa V 6502 Kiautschou V 6503 Star 14 V 6504 Claus Ebeling V 6505 Rau IX V 6506 Torlyn V 6507 Othmarschen V 6508 Jane V 6509 Habicht V 6510 Celle V 6511 Salier V 6512 Togo V 6513 Elster V 6514 Krähe V 6515 Hast I V 6516 KFK123 V 6517 V 6521 V 6522 V 6523 V 6524 V 6525 V 6526 V 6527 V 6528 V 6529 V 6530 V 6531 V 6532 V 6533 V 6534 V 6535 V 6541 Drott
66 Vorpostenflotille	V 6601 Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde V 6602 Rother Adler V 6603 Güldener Löwe V 6604 Churprinz V 6605 Markgraf von Hindenburg V 6606 Wappen von Hamburg V 6607 Charlotte Sophie V 6608 Steiermark V 6609 Kärnten V 6610 Sudetenland V 6611 V 6612 V 6613 V 6614 V 6615 V 6616 V 6617 V 6621 Dorothea V 6622 Rummelpott
67 Vorpostenflotille	V 6701 Rotges V 6702 Windhuk V 6703 V 6704 V 6705 V 6706 V 6707 V 6708 V 6709 V 6710 V 6711 V 6712 V 6713 V 6714 V 6715 V 6716 V 6717 V 6718 V 6719 V 6720 V 6721 V 6722 V 6723 V 6724 V 6725 V 6726 V 6728 Kormoran V 6729 Kranich V 6730 Polarfuchs V 6731 V 6732 V 6733 Widder V 6734 Stier V 6735 Löwe
68 Vorpostenflotille	V 6801 Viking V 6802 Flame V 6803 Burgunder V 6804 Sachse V 6805 Geuse V 6806 Alemanne V 6807 Teutone V 6808 Rugier V 6811 V 6812 V 6813 V 6814 V 6815 V 6816
7 & 13 Sicherungsflotille	V 7001 Francis Simone V 7002 Ste Jeanne d'Arc V 7003 Petit Jesus V 7004 St Joseph V 7005 St Casimir V 7006 St Louis V 7007 A la Volonté de Dieux V 7008 St Raphael V 7009 St Antonie V 7010 Volonté de la Vierge Marie V 7011 Phoque V 7012 Jeanne et Marie V 7013 Louise Elise V 7014 Jesus Nazareth V 7015 Ste Madeleine V 7016 Joseph François V 7017 St Come et Damien V 7018 St Christophe V 7019 SG 2 V 7020 V 7021 V 7022
Vessels are listed under their first designation within each Vorpostenflotille. Subsequent changes in pennant numbers not shown.

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in August 1939
Other incidents	19 Aug: Schürbek 27 Aug: Max Schultz
1938 1939 1940 July 1939 September 1939

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in April 1940
Shipwrecks	6 Apr: U-1, U-50 8 Apr: HMS Glowworm, Rio de Janeiro 9 Apr: HNoMS Æger, Blücher, HNoMS Eidsvold, HMS Gurkha, German cruiser Karlsruhe, HNoMS Norge, Seattle, Sørland, HNoMS Tor 10 Apr: Albatros, Z22 Anton Schmitt, Friedenau, HMS Hardy, HMS Hunter, Königsberg, HMS Tarpon, HMS Thistle, Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp 11 Apr: V 105 Cremon 13 Apr: Z11 Bernd von Arnim, Z17 Diether von Roeder, Z12 Erich Giese, Z13 Erich Koellner, HNoMS Frøya, Z2 Georg Thiele, Z18 Hans Lüdemann, Z19 Hermann Künne, HNoMS Storm, U-64, Z9 Wolfgang Zenker 14 Apr: Bärenfels, Brummer, Oldenburg 15 Apr: U-49 18 Apr: HNoMS Sæl, HMS Sterlet 20 Apr: Stegg 25 Apr: HMS Bradman, Trygg 26 Apr: HNoMS Garm 29 Apr: HMS Unity 30 Apr: HMS Bittern, HMS Dunoon, Maillé Brézé
Other incidents	8 Apr: HNoMS Pol III 10 Apr: Alster, HMS Hotspur 11 Apr: Alster, HNoMS Brand 12 Apr: HMS Eskimo, Schürbek, HNoMS Storm 13 Apr: Malangen 16 Apr: HNoMS Brand 18 Apr: Achille, Pasteur
1939 1940 1941 March 1940 May 1940

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in March 1945
Shipwrecks	1 Mar: USS Hannibal 2 Mar: U-3519 3 Mar: HMT Southern Flower, HMAS Steady Hour 4 Mar: U-3508 5 Mar: Nagara Maru 6 Mar: Albert Ballin, Z28 7 Mar: U-1302 10 Mar: Amiral Charner, U-275, U-681 11 Mar: U-682 12 Mar: Sperrbrecher 18, USS Bass, U-260, V 315 Bris 13 Mar: HMS Sealion 13 Mar. Taber Park 14 Mar: Hugo Zeye, U-714, U-1021 15 Mar: USS Lancetfish 16 Mar: U-367 17 Mar: HMCS Guysborough 18 Mar: U-866, TA24 19 Mar: Empire Blessing, Suma, Samselbu 20 Mar: M18, Hakuyo Maru, HMS Lapwing 21 Mar: James Eagan Layne 23 Mar: Gneisenau, Ro-41, USS S-21 24 Mar: Tomozuru 26 Mar: HMAS Terka, U-399, U-1003, Zähringen 27 Mar: U-722, U-905 28 Mar: USS Skylark, USS Trigger 29 Mar: Cha-156, Kommandøren, U-1106, U-1169 30 Mar: Köln, U-96, U-348, U-350, U-429, U-430, U-870, U-884, U-965, U-1131, U-1167, U-2340, U-3508 31 Mar: Ha-60, I-8 Unknown date: Ha-69, USS Kete, U-296
Other incidents	1 Mar: USS Guitarro 6 Mar: Greenhill Park 11 Mar: USS Piranha, U-1201 16 Mar: I-47 18 Mar: Brünhilde 19 Mar: USS Franklin, Ryūhō 20 Mar: USS Piranha 21 Mar: USS Spadefish 23 Mar: U-1003 26 Mar: USS Halligan, HMS Puffin 29 Mar: HMCS Teme 30 Mar: U-1197 31 Mar: USS Case, USS Coos Bay, USS Spot Unknown date: U-758
1944 1945 1946 February 1945 April 1945

History

Name	Schürbek (1930–40) Sperrbrecher 18 (1940–45) Schürbek (1945–59)
Owner	Knöhr & Burchardt (1930–39) Kriegsmarine (1939–45) United Kingdom Government (1945–49)
Port of registry	Hamburg, Germany (1930–33) Hamburg, Germany (1933–39) Kriegsmarine (1939–45) Hamburg, Allied-occupied Germany (1945–49)
Builder	Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft
Yard number	418
Launched	10 April 1930
Completed	3 June 1930
Out of service	12 March 1945
Identification	Code Letters RHPN (1930–34) Code Letters DHUU (1934–45) Pennant Number TS(K)2 (1939–40) Pennant Number TS(K)1 (1940) Schiff 40 (1939–40)
Fate	Bombed, damaged beyond economic repair
General characteristics
Class and type	Cargo ship (1930–39, 1945–49) Auxiliary cruiser (1939–40) Sperrbrecher (1940–45)
Tonnage	2,448 GRT, 1,435 NRT
Length	93.57 metres (307 ft 0 in)
Beam	13.84 metres (45 ft 5 in)
Draught	6.63 metres (21 ft 9 in)
Depth	5.97 metres (19 ft 7 in)
Installed power	Compound steam engine, 272 nhp
Propulsion	Screw propeller
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h)