Torpedoboot Ausland
Encyclopedia
The Torpedoboot Ausland were small destroyer
s or large torpedo boat
s captured by Nazi Germany
and incorporated into the Kriegsmarine
. They were assigned a number beginning with TA
Sleipner class
destroyers, of an enlarged design. Captured during the German invasion of Norway
in 1940, while still under construction and yet to be named. Launched but not completed due to sabotage by the Norwegian resistance movement
, Turbine - captured in Piraeus
, September 1943. Served in the Aegean Sea
and sunk by US Air Force in Salamis
on 16 September 1944. - page from German Navy
Francesco Crispi , Captured in the Aegean in September 1943. Sunk by air raid near Heraklion
on 8 March 1944. 34 men were killed. - page from German Navy
s, captured in the Aegean Sea, September 1943
9 September 1943.
s HMS Avondale and HMS Wheatland.
Torpedo boats served on the west coast of Italy
Dardo. Captured in Genoa. Damaged in an air raid 25 October 1944 and scuttled 24 April 1945
in 1941 and renamed Premuda. Re-built by the Germans as a Radar Picket
destroyer armed with 105 mm guns. Commissioned 18 August 1944 and served on the west coast of Italy. Damaged by British destroyers in March 1945 and scuttled in Genoa 25 April 1945.
s
, which was captured by the Italians in 1941 and re-named Sibenico served in the Adriatic and scuttled in Trieste 1 May 1945
Antonio Pigafetta captured at Fiume, served in Adriatic. Sunk in an air raid on Trieste 17 February 1945.
TA 45 SPICA was enlisted into German service on the 8 September 1944, but it was fully equipped only in 23 November 1944 (although it participated in the combat duties even though it was not completed). TA 45 sailed to her last mission on 10 April 1945 together with TA 40 PUGNALE. Her duty was to escort and protect the tank carriers in the Velebit channels, at the time when the units of People’s Liberation Army of Yugoslavia started to land at the island of Rab supported by British light naval forces. The torpedo boat TA 45 was destroyed by the British torpedo boats which waited in the ambush near the cape Glavina on the isle of Krk.
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s or large torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s captured by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and incorporated into the Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
. They were assigned a number beginning with TA
TA 1 to TA 6
These ships were former French Le Fier class light destroyers, under construction in France. None were completed for the Germans.TA 7 and TA 8
Former Royal Norwegian NavyRoyal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
Sleipner class
Sleipner class destroyer
The Sleipner class was a class of six destroyers built for the Royal Norwegian Navy from 1936 until the German invasion in 1940. The design was considered advanced for its time, and it was the first class of vessels for the Norwegian Navy that used aluminium in the construction of the bridge, the...
destroyers, of an enlarged design. Captured during the German invasion of Norway
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
in 1940, while still under construction and yet to be named. Launched but not completed due to sabotage by the Norwegian resistance movement
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
TA9 to TA 13
Former French 600 ton torpilleurs taken over in April 1943- TA 9 (ex La Bombarde) sunk by air raid 23 August 1944 in the Tyrrhenian SeaTyrrhenian SeaThe Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
- TA 10 (ex La Pomone) damaged by HMS Eclipse 23 September 1943, not repaired
- TA 11 (ex L'Iphiginie) sunk by Italian MAS boats 11 September 1943
- TA 12 (ex La Baliste) not used by the Germans because of poor material condition
- TA 13 (ex La Bayonnaise) not used by the Germans because of poor material condition
TA 14
Former Italian Turbine class destroyerTurbine class destroyer
Turbine class was a class of destroyers built for the Italian Regia Marina in the late 1920s. They were essentially larger versions of the earlier .- Turbine class ships :*Aquilone -...
, Turbine - captured in Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
, September 1943. Served in the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
and sunk by US Air Force in Salamis
Salamis Island
Salamis , is the largest Greek island in the Saronic Gulf, about 1 nautical mile off-coast from Piraeus and about 16 km west of Athens. The chief city, Salamina , lies in the west-facing core of the crescent on Salamis Bay, which opens into the Saronic Gulf...
on 16 September 1944. - page from German Navy
TA 15
Former Italian Sella class destroyerSella class destroyer
Sella class destroyer were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Regia Marina in the 1920s. Two of these ships fought in World War II and both were sunk after the Italian capitulation to the Allies...
Francesco Crispi , Captured in the Aegean in September 1943. Sunk by air raid near Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
on 8 March 1944. 34 men were killed. - page from German Navy
TA 16 and TA 19
Former Italian Curtatone class destroyerCurtatone class destroyer
The Curtatone class were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy. They were the first destroyers to be built in Italy after the end of World War I and were the first ships of this type to use twin rather than single mountings. The ships were originally ordered at the same time as the...
s, captured in the Aegean Sea, September 1943
- TA 16 - ex Castelfidardo sunk at Heraklion after damage by RAF air raid
- TA 19 - ex Calatafimi sunk by Greek Submarine Pipinos 9 August 1944.
TA 17 and TA 18
Ex Italian Palestro class destroyers captured in PiraeusPiraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
9 September 1943.
- TA 17 - ex San Martino, Operated in the Aegean, Scuttled 12 October 1944 after damage in an air raid on Salamis
- TA 18 - ex Solferino, Operated in the Aegean, sunk by British destroyers HMS TuscanHMS Tuscan (R56)HMS Tuscan was a T-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy. She was later converted to a Type 16 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F156.-External links:...
and TermagantHMS Termagant (R89)HMS Termagant was a T-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War. She was built by William Denny and Brothers, of Dumbarton and launched on 22 March 1943. She was later converted to a Type 16 fast anti-submarine frigate, with the new pennant number F189....
19 October 1944
TA 20
Ex Italian destroyer Audace. Operated in the Adriatic sea. Sunk by British Hunt class destroyerHunt class destroyer
The Hunt class was a class of Destroyer escort of the Royal Navy. The first vessels were ordered early in 1939, and the class saw extensive service in World War II, particularly on the British East Coast and Mediterranean convoys. They were named after British fox hunts...
s HMS Avondale and HMS Wheatland.
TA 21
Ex Italian torpedo boat Insisioso, sunk by aircraft torpedo in Fiume 5 November 1944 RefTA 22 and TA 35
Ex Italian torpedo boats Giuseppe Missori and Giuseppe Dezza seved in the AdriaticTA 23, TA 25 and TA 26
Ex Italian Ciclone classCiclone class torpedo boat
The Ciclone class were a group of torpedo boats or destroyer escorts built for the Italian Navy which fought in the Second World War. They were slightly enlarged versions of the previous Orsa class, they had improved stability and heavier anti-submarine armament. These ships were built as part of...
Torpedo boats served on the west coast of Italy
TA 31
Ex Italian Freccia class destroyerFreccia class destroyer
The Freccia class destroyer was a class of destroyers built for the Regia Marina, the Italian Royal Navy, in the 1930s. It was basically an enlarged version of the earlier Turbine class destroyers...
Dardo. Captured in Genoa. Damaged in an air raid 25 October 1944 and scuttled 24 April 1945
TA 32
Former Yugoslav destroyer Dubrovnik which was captured by the Regia MarinaRegia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
in 1941 and renamed Premuda. Re-built by the Germans as a Radar Picket
Radar picket
A radar picket is a radar-equipped ship, submarine, aircraft, or vehicle used to increase the radar detection range around a force to protect it from surprise attack. Often several detached radar units encircle a force to provide increased cover in all directions.-World War II:Radar picket ships...
destroyer armed with 105 mm guns. Commissioned 18 August 1944 and served on the west coast of Italy. Damaged by British destroyers in March 1945 and scuttled in Genoa 25 April 1945.
TA 33 and TA34
Ex Italian Soldati class destroyerSoldati class destroyer
The Soldati class were a group of destroyers built for the Italian Navy during World War II. The ships were named after military professions...
s
- TA 33 ex Corsaro, ex Squadrista not completed, sunk on 4 September 1944 while running trials in Genoa
- TA 34 ex Carrista, not completed
TA 37, TA 38 and TA 39
In September TA 37, TA 38 (ex-Spada) and TA 39 (ex-Daga) were transferred from the Adriatic to the 9th Torpedo Boat Flotilla in the Aegean. They had some momentary success. On October 5, 1944 TA 38 and TA 39 intercepted and sank HDML1227 and engaged the HMS Belvoir and HMS Waddon, Hunt Class destroyers. However in the next 11 days, their luck soon ran out. On October 7 TA 37 and the whole convoy that she was escorting were sunk by destroyers, HMS Turmagent and HMS Tuscan. TA 38 was lost to an air attack on October 13 and TA 39 sank because of striking a mine on October 16.TA 40, TA 41and TA 42
TA 40 former Italian torpedo boat PUGNALE. She was repaired and recommissioned as the TA-40 and on February 17th, 1945, when off Trieste was severely damaged in an air attack in February and scuttled on May 4, 1945. TA 41 (ex-Lancia) was damaged by bombs at Trieste and was not repaired. She was wrecked in May. TA 42 (ex-Alabarda) was sunk at Venice to air attack on January 23, 1945.TA 43
Former Yugoslav destroyer BeogradBeograd class destroyer
The Beograd-class destroyers were built for the Yugoslav Royal Navy in the late 1930s. The ships all took part in World War II. Two of the three were captured by the Italian Navy after the invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941, and one of those was subsequently captured by the Germans.-Design:Following...
, which was captured by the Italians in 1941 and re-named Sibenico served in the Adriatic and scuttled in Trieste 1 May 1945
TA 44
Ex Italian Navigatori class destroyerNavigatori class destroyer
The Navigatori class were a group of Italian destroyers built in 1928-29. These ships were named after Italian explorers. They fought in World War II. Just one unit, the Nicoloso Da Recco, survived the conflict.-Design:...
Antonio Pigafetta captured at Fiume, served in Adriatic. Sunk in an air raid on Trieste 17 February 1945.
TA 45
TA 45, former Italian torpedo boat SPICA of the ARIETE classTA 45 SPICA was enlisted into German service on the 8 September 1944, but it was fully equipped only in 23 November 1944 (although it participated in the combat duties even though it was not completed). TA 45 sailed to her last mission on 10 April 1945 together with TA 40 PUGNALE. Her duty was to escort and protect the tank carriers in the Velebit channels, at the time when the units of People’s Liberation Army of Yugoslavia started to land at the island of Rab supported by British light naval forces. The torpedo boat TA 45 was destroyed by the British torpedo boats which waited in the ambush near the cape Glavina on the isle of Krk.