Jaguar-class fast attack craft

The Type 140 Jaguar-class fast attack craft is an evolution of the German torpedo boats (E-boats) of World War II. The design was developed by Lürssen and designated Schnellboot 55. The 20 boats that were built for the German Navy were in service from 1957 to 1975. Then the Jaguar-class boats were replaced in service with the Bundesmarine by the Tiger class.

Dommel in the late 1960s, showing her 40 mm guns
Class overview
BuildersLurssen, Bremen-Vegesack
Operators
Succeeded bySeeadler class
In commission1957–1975
Completed20
Retired20
General characteristics
TypeTorpedo boat (fast attack craft)
Displacement
  • 183.4 t (180.5 long tons) standard
  • 210 t (207 long tons) full load
Length42.60 m (139 ft 9 in)
Beam7.10 m (23 ft 4 in)
Draught2.30 m (7 ft 7 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 42 knots (78 km/h; 48 mph) max
  • 39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph) max sustained
Range700 nmi (1,300 km; 810 mi)s at 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Complement39 officers and enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Navigation radar, surveillance radar
Armament

The Jaguar-class boats were relatively well suited for high sea action. In NATO strategy it was their duty to intercept landing operations in the Baltic Sea, prevent transfers of ships of the Soviet Union and to keep the transatlantic supply lines open through the North Sea.

The Seeadler class differs from the Type 140 only in the model of engine.

List of boats

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NATO
pennant
number
German
pennant
number
Name Commissioned Decommissioned Fate
P6059 S1 Jaguar 16 November 1957 22 June 1973 sold to private shipyard
P6058 S2 Iltis 19 December 1957 31 January 1975 Used as target ship, then to Turkish Navy for cannibalization
P6062 S3 Wolf 12 February 1958 21 March 1975 To Turkish Navy as P335 Kalkan
P6061 S4 Luchs 27 March 1957 1 December 1972 sold to private company
P6060 S5 Leopard 20 May 1958 28 May 1973 sold to private shipyard
P6065 S12 Löwe 5 February 1959 25 April 1975 To Turkish Navy as P332 Kiliç
P6066 S13 Fuchs 17 March 1959 13 July 1973 sold to private shipyard
P6067 S14 Marder 7 July 1959 22 June 1972 sold to private shipyard
P6082 S15 Weihe 28 October 1959 5 July 1972 To France as target ship, sunk
P6083 S16 Kranich 19 December 1959 2 November 1973 Museum ship in Bremerhaven, scrapped 2006
P6085 S17 Storch 12 March 1960 29 March 1974 To Turkish Navy as P331 Tufan
P6087 S18 Häher 5 April 1960 15 December 1974 To Turkish Navy as P333 Mizrak
P6088 S19 Elster 8 July 1960 19 July 1974 sold to private shipyard
P6089 S20 Reiher 15 August 1960 21 August 1973 To Turkish Navy for cannibalization (?)
P6091 S21 Dommel 4 February 1961 22 March 1974 converted by Eberhard-Werft, Arnis to private yacht Lina III, later El Chris[1]
P6090 S22 Pinguin 28 March 1961 14 December 1972 To Turkish Navy as P336 Karayel, possibly converted to private yacht Sea Star in 2007[2]
P6063 S23 Tiger 15 October 1958 20 December 1974 To Turkish Navy as P334 Yildiz
P6064 S24 Panther 12 December 1958 1 March 1973 sold to private shipyard
P6084 S29 Alk 14 January 1960 6 August 1974 To Turkish Navy for cannibalization (?)
P6086 S30 Pelikan 30 March 1960 31 May 1974 To Turkish Navy as P330 Firtina

References

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  1. ^ "El Chris". CharterWorld. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  2. ^ Heath, Sophia (21 June 2016). "Converted Lürssen patrol vessel Sea Star for sale". Boat International.