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German weather ship WBS 11 Hessen

History
Name:
  • Sachsen (1938–39)
  • Hessen (1939-45)
  • Sachsen (1945–50)
  • Arild (1950–54)
  • Foynøy (1954–57)
  • Munkøy (1957–62)
  • Kitak (1962–65)
Owner:
  • Studen und Reederei GmbH (1938–39)
  • Kriegsmarine (1939–45)
  • Studen und Reederei GmbH (1945–46)
  • Nordmeer Hochsefischerei GmbH (1946–48)
  • Nordmeer Reederei GmbH (1948–50)
  • Verner Vilhelmsen (1950–56)
  • Statens Fiskarbank (1956–57)
  • Ivar Hustad (1957–61)
  • Statens Fiskarbank (1961–62)
  • Per Brandal (1962–65)
Port of registry:
Builder: Beidenfletherwerft Hugo Peters
Yard number: 18
Launched: 1938
Commissioned: 8 July 1940
Decommissioned: 1945
Identification:
  • Code Letters DJVW (1938–39)
  • ICS Delta.svgICS Juliet.svgICS Victor.svgICS Whiskey.svg
  • Fishing registration HF 338 (1938–39)
  • WBS 8 (1940–43)
  • WBS 11 (1943–45)
  • Code Letters LADS (1950–65)
  • ICS Lima.svgICS Alpha.svgICS Delta.svgICS Sierra.svg
  • Fishing registration T-2-T (1950–57)
  • Fishing registration M-10-M (1957–62)
  • Fishing registration M-94-HD (1962–65)
Fate: Sank, 1965
General characteristics
Class and type:
  • Sealer (1938–39, 1945–65)
  • Weather ship (World War II)
  • Auxiliary warship (World War II)
Tonnage:
  • 106 GRT, 32 NRT (1938–50)
  • 112 GRT, 36 NRT (1938–50)
  • 117 GRT, 32 NRT (1950–65)
Length:
  • 22.96 metres (75 ft 4 in) (1938–50)
  • 23.85 metres (78 ft 3 in) (1950–58)
  • 26.90 metres (88 ft 3 in) (1958–65)
Beam:
  • 6.27 metres (20 ft 7 in) (1938–50)
  • 6.17 metres (20 ft 3 in) (1950–58)
  • 6.48 metres (21 ft 3 in) (1958–65)
Depth:
  • 2.90 metres (9 ft 6 in) (1938–50)
  • 2.87 metres (9 ft 5 in) (1950–65)
Installed power: Diesel engine, 52nhp
Propulsion: Single screw propeller
Complement: 8, plus 4 meteorologists (World War II)

Hessen was a Kriegsmarine weather ship that was built in 1939 as the sealer Sachsen. She was requisitioned in 1939 and served until 1945. Returned to her owners post-war, she regained her former name. In 1950, she was sold to Norway and renamed Arild. She later served under the names Foynøy, Munkøy and Kitak. She foundered in the Norwegian Sea on 7 May 1965.

As built, the ship was 22.96 metres (75 ft 4 in) long, with a beam of 6.27 metres (20 ft 7 in). She had a depth of 2.90 metres (9 ft 6 in). The ship was powered by a four-stroke single cycle single action diesel engine. The engine was built by Humboldt-Deutzmotoren AG, Köln-Deutz. It was rated at 52 nhp.

Sachsen was built in 1938 as yard number 18 by Beidenfletherwerft Hugo Peters, Beidenfleth for Studen und Reederei GmbH, Hamburg. Her port of registry was Hamburg. The Code Letters DJVW, and fishing registration HF 338 were allocated. She was renamed Hessen in 1939.

In 1940, Hessen was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine. She was converted to a weather ship and commissioned as WBS 11 Hessen on 8 July. In July 1940, she operated in northern Norwegian waters. She then undewent repairs in Trondheim. In July and August 1942, she was refitted at Assens, Denmark. Her hull was strengthened to enable her to operate in ice. On completion of the refit, she sailed to Kiel. It was planned that she would be part of Operation Nussbaum, which was to land a weather party on the Norwegian Arctic island of Spitsbergen. It was later decided that the personnel would be taken to Spitsbergen by U-boat and Hessen transported supplies to Narvik, Norway instead.


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