German submarine tender Saar

Saar and the submarines U-8, U-9, U-10 and U-11 in 1936.
History
Nazi Germany
Name:	Saar
Namesake:	Saar
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Laid down:	19 September 1933
Launched:	5 April 1934
Commissioned:	1 October 1934
Decommissioned:	May 1945
Fate:	Captured by United States, May 1945 Transferred to France, 1947
France
Name:	Gustave Zédé
Commissioned:	17 January 1948
Decommissioned:	15 February 1971
Identification:	A641/Q481
Fate:	Sunk by torpedo, 26 February 1976
General characteristics
Type:	Submarine tender
Displacement:	3,250 metric tons of loaded displacement 2,710 metric tons of standard displacement
Length:	100.5 m (329 ft 9 in) o/a 99.8 m (327 ft 5 in) w/l
Beam:	13.55 m (44 ft 5 in)
Draught:	4.63 m (15 ft 2 in)
Propulsion:	2 × Krupp 8-cylinder diesel engines
Speed:	18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph)
Complement:	232
Armament:	1933: 3 × 10.5 cm (4 in) SK C/24 guns 2 × single 2 cm Flak 30 anti-aircraft guns 1944: 3 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 guns 2 × single 3.7 cm M42U AA guns 3 × single 2 cm Flak 38 AA guns 1948: 3 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 guns 2 × single Bofors 40 mm AA guns 1 × quadruple Oerlikon 20 mm cannon 1952: 3 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 guns 4 × single Bofors 40 mm AA guns 1 × quadruple Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

Saar was the first purpose-built submarine tender of the German Kriegsmarine, and served throughout World War II. She later served in the post-war French Navy as Gustave Zédé.

The ship was laid down on 19 September 1933 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel and was launched on 5 April 1934. She was commissioned on 1 October 1934 and completed sea trials on 26 November.

The ship was 100.5 m (329 ft 9 in) in length overall (99.8 m (327 ft 5 in) at the waterline), 13.55 m (44 ft 5 in) in the beam, and had a draught of 4.63 m (15 ft 2 in). She displaced 2,710 tonnes (standard) and 3,250 tonnes (fully loaded). Two Krupp 8-cylinder diesel engines gave Saar a top speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph). The crew consisted of 232 men.

The ship was originally armed with three 10.5 cm (4 in) SK C/24 guns and two single 2 cm (1 in) Flak 30 anti-aircraft guns. In 1944, the three main guns were replaced by the newer 10.5 cm SK C/32 guns and anti-aircraft armament replaced with two single 37 mm M42U and three 2 cm Flak 38.

After completion of sea trials and short-term use as a target ship, Saar was assigned to the U-Boot-Abwehrschule ("Submarine Defence School") in Kiel-Wik, where submarine officers were trained. In 1935 she became tender to the Weddigen Flotilla (later the 1st U-boat Flotilla), commanded by Fregattenkapitän Karl Dönitz, in Kiel. On 6 October 1937, she was transferred to the Saltzwedel Flotilla (2nd U-boat Flotilla) at Wilhelmshaven. From July 1940, the ship served in the Baltic with the 21st, 25th, 26th and 27th U-boat Flotillas in Pillau and Gotenhafen. Towards the end of the war she was used as an accommodation ship by FdU East.