Profile drawing of Torpedoboot T13
85,2 mOverall length
1098 tMaximum displacement
36,6 knMaximum speed
119-155Complement

Design and service

The story of Torpedoboot T13

T13 Torpedoboot T13 was part of the 3rd TFlottila after commissioned. Transferred to Rotterdam in January 1942 to participate in Operation Cerberus, where it was damaged. In July 1942 the ship was sent to France until mid 1943, from this time the torpedo boat was used in the torpedo school in the Baltic Sea.

At the end of 1944 it was put into active service again and was used for escort duty. It was sunk by British Halifax bombers southeast of the island Laeso on 10 April 1945 while escorting a convoy in the Kattegat.

Operational history

Service timeline

T13, T15 and T17 transfer to Rotterdam.

T13, T15 and T17 are relocated to Dunkirk.

Operation "Cerberus": On board of Z29, the "Füher der Zerstöer" and the destroyers Richard Beitzen, Paul Jakobi, Hermann Schoemann, Friedrich Ihn, Z25 and the torpedo boats T2, T4, T4, T11, T12, T13, T15, T16, T17 Seeadler, Kondor, Jaguar, Falke and iescort the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen through the Channel from Brest ot Germany.

T4, T10, T13 and T14 are sent to Le Havre.

Mine laying operations of the 3rd torpedo boat flotilla consisting of T4, T10, T13 and T14 in the British Channel.

Mine laying operation of T10, T13 and T14 in the British Channel.

T10, T13 and T14 escort the tanker Uckermarck from La Pallice to the Biscay.

Unsuccessfull attempt of the support ship Uckermarck to break out into the Atlantic. The ship is escorted back to La Pallice by T4, T10, T13 and T14.

On a third attempt, T10, T13 and T14 escort the support ship Uckermarck to the Biscay.

T10, T13 and T14 escort the frighter Spichern from the Biscay to St. Nazaire.

T4, T12, T13, T21 and T22 are sent to the Biskay to meet the blockade runner Wismar. The search is abandoned as the ship cannot be found.

The torpedo boats Falke, T13 and T19 escort the blockade runner Templin through the Biscay. During the operation, the ships are attacked by allied aircraft.

Falke, T13, T19 and T22 escort the blockade runner Elm into the Biscay.

At a glance

Technical profile

Dimensions, armament, protection and performance.

Dimensions

Size (Max)
1098 t
Length (Total)
85,2 m
Length (Waterline)
82,0 m
Beam
8,87 m
Draft
3,14 m
Crew
119-155

Armament

10,5 cm L/45 C/32
1
3,7 cm MG
1 (since 1941)
2 cm MG L/65 C/39
5-12
53,3 cm Torpedo tubes
6
Mines
30

Machinery

Shafts
2
Turbines
2
Type
Wagner Geared Turbines

Performance

Total Performance
34110 shp
Speed
36,6 kn
Range
1400 sm at 19 kn

Construction record

Torpedoboot T13

Laid down
Schichau Elbing, 1939
Launched
15.06.1939
Commissioned
31.05.1941
Fate
sunk 10.04.1945
Cost
9,3 Mio Reichsmark