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514:). It replaced the diesel truck engines on the original design with BMW and other type aircraft engines, housing four of them in enlarged pontoon ends connected to water screws via a reversing gearbox. Some of these vessels were assigned to the Army and operated with mixed crews, but the Army disliked the use of aircraft engines, claiming they were prone to catching fire and consumed excessive amounts of fuel. The Army Engineer Ferry Construction Command at Antwerp continued using vehicle engines as the main propulsion unit, and considered them reliable compared to the
299:. The colonel asked Siebel if he could requisition a large pile of empty gasoline containers discarded outside next to the plant. Siebel agreed to part with the cache, provided the colonel explained what use he would make of them. The answer interested Siebel and led him to ponder how to ferry troops and heavy equipment across the English Channel given the time and materials.
345:(special command) for improvising the Luftwaffe invasion craft, built a prototype with two heavy bridging pontoons spaced 6 m (19 ft 8 in) apart in a catamaran arrangement connected by steel cross-beams. In the center, mounted on a pyramid-shaped truss-work, were two surplus aircraft engines end-to-end. This vessel was given the name
330:(German high command) thought of using a larger closed-end bridging pontoon developed during World War I by Austrian Colonel of Engineers Hans Herbert. By spanning two connected pontoons with a 10 m × 10 m (33 ft × 33 ft) deck, guns, vehicles, and troops could be transported. This idea evolved into the
475:(although 9th Army planned to transport the necessary towing vehicles and support personnel separately via barges). Upon reaching the invasion beaches, the ferries could land their flak units, then assist with unloading the larger steamers anchored offshore. The Army referred to the Siebel ferries as "destroyer substitutes".
408:
estuary by the
Special Command of the Merchant Shipping Division. Using only the ship's aircraft engines, it attained a maximum speed of 8 kn (9.2 mph; 15 km/h). In contrast to the truck engines in the pontoons, the aero engines were directly controlled by the helmsman via throttles in
424:
The Siebel ferry pontoons were flat-bottom and square in front. In combination with the vessel's wide cargo deck, this made for an exceptionally stable gun platform. The
Luftwaffe mounted various-sized flak pieces on the ferries, and tested their suitability for engaging both air and surface targets
498:
With its simplicity of design, sturdy construction, good sea-keeping, and the ease with which it could be dismantled and shipped via rail to virtually any point on the
Continent, the Siebel ferry proved a useful and adaptable amphibious vessel for transporting troops, vehicles, and supplies across
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and a party of other Army officers were invited to witness one of these tests, but they were unimpressed by the ferry's performance. It could only make 4 kn (4.6 mph; 7.4 km/h) and seemed overly flimsy. Halder noted "Nothing new, may not stand up in surf." Others in the party
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Early problems with this arrangement included engine failure due to insufficient cooling, solved by linking the water-cooled aircraft engines to the diesel truck engines via piping to the pontoon compartments. Steering the craft by water screws alone also presented difficulties. An
381:) construction of a large steel platform covered with wood planking. This would serve as the vessel's cargo deck, and also provide longitudinal and lateral strength to withstand operating on the sea. This version would prove capable of surviving Force 6 waves.
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truck engines and one powered by Ford V-8s were tested on the Ems estuary. Using only water screw propulsion, they achieved a cruising speed of 7 kn (8.1 mph; 13 km/h), although it was believed this could be raised through efficient propellers.
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connected the wheelhouse to the two pontoon engine crews. But because of the vessel's broad beam, the crews had to react simultaneously to requests for changes in speed or the ferry would begin turning, a movement the rudders could barely counteract.
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Despite the Army's misgivings, Siebel continued working on modifying the ferry's design, reducing the 6 m (19 ft 8 in) spacing between the pontoons to 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in), and requesting from
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Bow view of a German Siebel ferry showing the twin catamaran pontoons and a multitude of trucks and light vehicles parked on deck. Note also the 2cm
Flakvierling 38 mounted atop the wheelhouse (center of picture) for AA
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the wheelhouse, allowing him to vary each engine's RPM. This greatly improved manoeuvrability, but the aircraft engines were noisy, prevented voice communication on deck, and consumed large amounts of fuel. For
467:) to provide flank defense against air, ground, and surface targets for the First Wave tow formations. Each Siebel ferry could transport a complete flak unit consisting of one 8.8 cm gun and two
388:, Siebel settled on a combination of four 75 hp Ford V-8 engines (two each mounted side-by-side in the aft end of the pontoons) linked to standard marine propellers. For auxiliary power, three
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The only propulsion systems available in the quantities for mass-production of these invasion craft were diesel truck engines and aircraft engines. In consultation with engineers from
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came to nothing. The iron beams and bolts used to hold them together failed to stand up to the waves and the pontoons were overwhelmed in a
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open water wherever needed by
Germans. It was also easily-configured to serve a variety of purposes, from minelaying to convoy escort.
413:, it was decided to use them only for the run-up onto the invasion beaches or as a back-up in the event the water screws were damaged.
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750 hp aircraft engines could mount on elevated platforms along the aft edge of the cargo deck, turning airscrew propellers.
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decided, in the fall of 1941, to continue producing Siebel ferries independently of the Army under its 'Special Ferry
Command' (
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preparations for
Operation Sea Lion got under way in July 1940, frustration soon grew over when and what types of ships the
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in 1940, the cancelled German invasion of
England. Siebel ferries continued performing after the war's end in 1945.
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finally ordered
General of Engineers Jacob to build sea-going transports for the army. Jacob assigned this task to
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Another type of closed-end pontoon was available in greater numbers. This was the heavy pontoon bridge (
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would supply for use in the planned
Channel crossing. The immense task of converting hundreds of inland
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installed the auxiliary aircraft engines. By late September, twenty-five of these craft were complete.
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began experimenting with a host of makeshift materials for constructing powered rafts, including
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Pawlas, Karl R. (December 1977 – February 1978). "Die Schwimmende Festung (Flak-Kapffähre)".
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in north-eastern France back into production, was approached by a lieutenant-colonel from
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334:. Only sixty-four of these pontoons were available, too few to consider mass-production.
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Hitler on the Doorstep: Operation 'Sea Lion', The German Plan To Invade Britain, 1940
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858:(in German) (27). Nürnberg: Publizistisches Archiv für Militär- und Waffenwesen.
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313:-filled sacks and ship's canvas. Early efforts to use open-ended river-crossing
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On 4 September, two additional versions of the Siebel ferry, one powered by
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questioned whether transported soldiers would arrive in fighting condition.
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max. 4 × 8.8 cm guns plus one 2 cm Flakvierling 38 or two 2 cm FlaK 30
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Series production of the Siebel ferry began in September 1940 at
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1.5 to 1.8 m (4 ft 11 in to 5 ft 11 in)
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Die Schiffe der Deutschen Kriegsmarine und Luftwaffe 1939–1945
341:), of which 364 were in inventory. Colonel Siebel, assigned a
206:, convoy escort, minelayer) in the Mediterranean, Baltic and
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Invasion of England 1940: The Planning of Operation Sealion
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was unable to give the Army a date for their availability.
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On 31 August 1940, the new Siebel ferry was tested in the
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Marina română in al doilea război mondial: 1941-1942
681:"WW2 German Amphibious ships and landing operations"
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349:(small ferry) and initial testing was conducted on
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436:as a joint Army–Luftwaffe venture with the Army's
451:organized the Siebel ferries into two flotillas:
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154:50–100t cargo or vehicles, depending on version
138:11 kn (13 mph; 20 km/h) (empty)
837:The War Against Rommel's Supply Lines, 1942–43
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8:
146:max. 300 nmi (560 km; 350 mi)
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198:. It served a variety of roles (transport,
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799:Das Landungswesen in Deutschland seit 1900
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291:), putting a captured aircraft plant near
28:A Siebel ferry on the Black Sea, July 1941
940:German naval ship classes of World War II
533:in late 1941. A wreck lies submerged in
360:Chief of the Army General Staff General
818:German Warships of the Second World War
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691:from the original on 12 November 2020.
18:
1433:Amphibious warfare vessels of Germany
801:(in German). Buchzentrum, Empfingen.
746:. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
701:Nicolae Koslinski, Raymond Stănescu,
518:aircraft engines. Ten were built for
214:. They were originally developed for
7:
529:Two ferries were transferred to the
506:was abandoned, in October 1940, the
255:Anxious to begin landing exercises,
1438:Auxiliary ships of the Kriegsmarine
763:(in German). Bernard & Graefe.
429:proved well-suited for this role.
14:
186:) was a shallow-draft catamaran
22:
324:During development, someone at
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526:, although it was cancelled.
438:Böndel Pionier-Sonderkommando
447:For Operation Sea Lion, the
425:while at sea. The versatile
276:on the western side of the
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904:Luftwaffen-Fährenflotillen
705:, Făt-Frumos, 1996, p. 292
522:, the planned invasion of
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875:. Conway Maritime Press.
782:. Naval Institute Press.
272:. The battalion moved to
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33:
21:
835:Levine, Alan J. (2008).
797:Kugler, Randolf (1989).
742:Hitler Confronts England
442:Luftwaffe-Sonderkommando
16:WW2 Era German Flak ship
778:Kieser, Egbert (1997).
327:Oberkommando des Heeres
262:Walther von Brauchitsch
222:Origins and development
106:32 m (105 ft)
82:General characteristics
871:Schenk, Peter (1990).
816:Lenton, H. T. (1976).
759:Gröner, Erich (2001).
738:Ansel, Walter (1960).
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377:(with assistance from
190:operated by Germany's
114:15 m (49 ft)
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485:Einsatzstab Fähre Ost
339:schwere Schiffsbrücke
210:as well as along the
130:4 Ford V8 300 HP
1386:Single ship of class
1341:M-class minesweepers
1315:Uncompleted projects
716:"Jablanac Shipwreck"
512:Fähre-Sonderkommando
386:Pionier-Battalion 47
303:Pionier-Battalion 47
297:Pionier-Battalion 47
266:Pionier-Battalion 47
258:Generalfeldmarschall
1346:F-class escort ship
839:. Stackpole Books.
670:Schenk, pp. 128–129
622:Schenk, pp. 124–125
1428:Tank landing ships
1351:Auxiliary cruisers
687:. 3 October 2019.
685:naval encyclopedia
520:Operation Herkules
496:
287:(a colonel in the
283:Aircraft designer
278:Cotentin Peninsula
216:Operation Sea Lion
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948:Aircraft carriers
846:978-0-8117-3458-5
827:978-0-668-04037-2
808:978-3-86755-000-0
770:978-3-7637-6215-6
661:Schenk, p.125-128
574:Kieser, p.120–121
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675:
666:
645:
636:
627:
604:Ansel, p.209
588:
579:
570:
565:Ansel, p.104
561:
528:
515:
511:
507:
503:
501:
497:
473:prime movers
453:I Flak Corps
448:
446:
441:
437:
431:
423:
415:
410:
403:
394:
385:
383:
378:
367:
362:Franz Halder
359:
350:
347:kleine fähre
346:
342:
338:
336:
325:
323:
307:wine barrels
302:
301:
296:
285:Fritz Siebel
282:
265:
256:
254:
250:Kriegsmarine
249:
244:into proper
238:river barges
233:Kriegsmarine
231:
225:
196:World War II
182:
181:
178:Siebel ferry
177:
175:
95:Displacement
1398:Conversions
1158:Type 1936A/
1125:Spähkreuzer
1061:Deutschland
1041:Deutschland
1032:battleships
1001:Scharnhorst
516:Luftwaffe's
494:protection.
375:Rheinhausen
311:kapok fibre
228:German Army
183:Siebelfähre
53:German Army
1423:Ship types
1412:Categories
1305:Type XXIII
1256:submarines
1179:Type 1936C
1174:Type 1936B
1148:Type 1934A
1135:Destroyers
1107:Königsberg
541:References
483:See also:
418:Opel Blitz
208:Black Seas
159:Complement
127:Propulsion
1392:Cancelled
1310:Type XXVI
1295:Type XVII
1184:Type 1942
1153:Type 1936
1143:Type 1934
900:(English)
508:Luftwaffe
465:16th Army
449:Luftwaffe
319:light sea
289:Luftwaffe
270:VII Corps
200:flak ship
192:Wehrmacht
57:Air Force
47:Operators
1300:Type XXI
1290:Type XIV
1275:Type VII
1008:Bismarck
976:Seydlitz
864:13306182
820:. Arco.
689:Archived
504:Sea Lion
457:9th Army
411:Sea Lion
315:pontoons
274:Carteret
167:Armament
151:Capacity
98:140–170t
39:Builders
1336:R boats
1331:E-boats
1280:Type IX
1270:Type II
1252:U-boats
1242:Ausland
1237:Type 44
1232:Type 41
1227:Type 40
1222:Type 39
1217:Type 37
1212:Type 35
1207:Type 24
1202:Type 23
1114:Leipzig
1093:Gazelle
535:Croatia
434:Antwerp
204:gunboat
194:during
42:various
1285:Type X
1265:Type I
1168:Narvik
1160:Narvik
879:
862:
843:
824:
805:
786:
767:
752:396014
750:
459:) and
390:BMW VI
355:Berlin
293:Amiens
103:Length
1324:Other
1100:Emden
524:Malta
502:When
371:Krupp
162:11–14
143:Range
135:Speed
119:Draft
969:Jade
877:ISBN
860:OCLC
841:ISBN
822:ISBN
803:ISBN
784:ISBN
765:ISBN
748:OCLC
240:and
176:The
111:Beam
87:Type
74:Lost
61:Navy
406:Ems
268:of
226:As
1414::
982:II
718:.
683:.
654:^
609:^
597:^
549:^
537:.
357:.
321:.
202:,
77:42
1395:V
1389:X
1383:S
1258:)
1254:(
1120:M
1074:P
1019:O
1014:H
963:I
932:e
925:t
918:v
885:.
866:.
849:.
830:.
811:.
792:.
773:.
754:.
722:.
373:-
180:(
59:/
55:/
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