German trawler V 102 Cressida

V 102 Cressida was a German cargo ship which was converted into a Vorpostenboot for the Kriegsmarine during World War II.[1]

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	Cressida
Builder:	Lübecker Maschinenbau - Gesellschaft
Yard number:	380
Launched:	1939
Commissioned:	1 October 1939
Decommissioned:	1945
Fate:	Survived the war and returned to civilian service, sank off the coast of Greece on 23 December 1962
General characteristics
Class and type:	Converted Cargo ship
Length:	234 ft (71 m)
Beam:	34.6 ft (11 m)
Height:	11.8 ft (3.6 m)
Installed power:	1500 APK
Propulsion:	Motor, oil, 2-stroke single-acting
Speed:	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)

History

Cressida was built in Lübeck in early 1939 as a cargo vessel by the shipbuilder Lübecker Maschinenbau-Gesellschaft. On 1 October 1939, the ship was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine as V 102 and was placed in the 1 Vorpostenflotille. In June of 1940, the ship was converted into a Sperrbrecher, or a ship with a reinforced hull designed to clear a path through minefields. It was designated as Sperrbrecher 32 and was moved into the 3 Sperrbrecher-flotille, where it served for the duration of the war.[2]

After the war, the ship was given into the control of The Netherlands and was officially transferred on 5 September 1947, delivered by the German tugboat Nestor to Amsterdam from Bremerhaven. The ship was renamed Gernik during its service to the Netherlands. In 1952, the ship was completely renovated in Vlissingen, receiving a new engine.[2]

On 23 December 1962 while carrying cargo from Haifa, Gernik ran aground on Karpathos off the coast of Greece during a storm.[3] While all of the crew made it safely ashore, the ship was declared a total loss.[2]

References

1. "Vorpostenboote der deutschen Kriegsmarine 1939-45". www.wlb-stuttgart.de. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
2. "Stichting Maritiem Historische Data - Schip". www.marhisdata.nl. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
3. "Cressida (5613911)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 6 March 2020.