German weather ship WBS 6 Kehdingen

Kehdingen was a fishing trawler that was built in 1929 as Volkswohl. She was renamed Kehdingen in 1938 and was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in 1939. She served until 1944 when she was scuttled off the east coast of Greenland.

History
Germany
Name:
  • Volkswohl (1929–39)
  • Kehdingen (1939–44)
Owner:
  • Deutsche Hochsee Fischerei Bremen-Cuxhaven AG (1929–33)
  • German Government (1933–39)
  • Kriegsmarine (1939–44)
Operator:
  • Deutsche Hochsee Fischerei Bremen-Cuxhaven AG (1929–33)
  • Reichsministerium für Ernührung und Landwirtschaft (1933–39)
  • Kriegsmarine (1939–44)
Port of registry:
Builder: Deutsche Werke AG
Yard number: 208
Launched: 23 March 1929
Completed: December 1929
Identification:
  • Code Letters RHMJ (1929–34)
  • Code Letters DIFL (1934-39)
Fate: Scuttled, 1 September 1944
General characteristics
Tonnage: 493 GRT, 188 NRT
Length: 48.92 metres (160 ft 6 in)
Beam: 8.74 metres (28 ft 8 in)
Depth: 4.34 metres (14 ft 3 in)
Installed power: Diesel engine, 209 nhp
Propulsion: Single screw propeller
Complement: 25, plus 10 meteorologists (WWII)

Description

The ship was 48.92 metres (160 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 8.74 metres (28 ft 8 in). She had a depth of 4.34 metres (14 ft 3 in). The ship was powered by a 4-cylinder two stroke, single cycle single action diesel engine rated at 209 nhp. It was manufactured by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel. The engine drove a single screw propeller.[1]

History

Volkswohl was built in 1929 as yard number 208 by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel for the Nordsee Deutsche Hochsee Fischerei Bremen-Cuxhaven AG. She was launched on 23 March 1929 and completed in December 1929.[2] Her port of registry was Cuxhaven and the Code Letters RHMJ were allocated.[1] In 1933, she came under the ownership of the German Government and was placed under the management of Reichsministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft.[3] With the change of Code Letters in 1934, she was allocated the letters DIFL.[4] In 1938, she was renamed Kehdingen.[5]

In 1939, Kehdingen was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine. She was converted to a weather ship and entered service as WBS 6 Kehdingen in 1942.[6] On 7 September, Kehdingen departed from Kristiansand, Norway escorted by U-703 for Operation Edelweiss.[7] On 1 September 1944, Kehdingen was intercepted in the Arctic ocean off Great Coldeyey Island, Greenland (76°30′N 19°02′W) by the Greenland Patrol USCGC Northland. Her crew destroyed secret paperwork, scuttled her and surrendered. An attempted attack on USCGC Northland by U-703 was unable to be made due to the ice.[8][9][2]

References
  1. Lloyd's of London (1930). "Lloyd's Register, Chalutiers &c" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  2. "Kehdingen (5606892)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  3. Lloyd's of London (1933). "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs de moins de 300 tx, Chalutiers &c" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  4. Lloyd's of London (1934). "Lloyd's Register, Chalutiers &c" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  5. Lloyd's of London (1938). "Lloyd's Register, Navires a Vapeur et a Moteurs de moins de 300 tx, Chalutiers &c" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  6. "Wetterbeobachtungs-Schiff Kehdingen WBS 6". Warcovers. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  7. "WAR DIARY OF CAPTAIN U-BOATS, NORWAY 1 AUGUST - 15 SEPTEMBER, 1944 AND 1-15 OCTOBER, 1944". Archive.org. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  8. "Chapter VI: 1944". Ibiblio. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  9. "WAR DIARY OF THE GERMAN NAVAL STAFF (Operations Division) PART A September 1944". Archive.org. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
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