German training ship Bremse

The "Bremse" was built as an artillery training ship of the German Kriegsmarine with a secondary function as a testbed for new marine diesel engines later installed in German panzerschiffs. During World War II, she operated as an escort ship until her sinking in September 1941.

History

"Bremse" was commissioned on June 14 1933 and attached to the artillery training school at Kiel, to replace older predecessors. In 1933 she underwent repairs and a complete refit; her mast was shortened to imperove stability and her artillery director was removed.

In 1939, the ship was used in the film "Der letzte Apell" as the British scout cruiser "Amphion"; two additional dummy funnels were added.

Wartime career

During the Invasion of Poland in September 1939, "Bremse" escorted the auxiliary minelayers "Tannenberg" and "Hansestadt Danzig" and in October, she escorted troop transports in the Baltic. She then returned to the artillery school in Kiel until March 1940.

In April 1940, during Operation Weserübung, "Bremse" participated in the attack on Bergen. She was shelled by Norwegian coastal artillery and hit by two 21cm rounds; she was subsequently repaired in Stavanger. Later, on November 1 "Bremse" was accidentally rammed by the steamer "Donau" off Bergen, suffering minor damage.

In June 1940, "Bremse" was sent back to Kiel for escort duty. On July 30 she was bombed by British Albacore torpedo bombers and Fulmar fighters from the aircraft carrier HMS "Victorious" but escaped unharmed.

Sinking

On September 6 1941, in Hammerfjord, while escorting the troop transports "Trautenfels" and "Barcelona", "Bremse" was intercepted and attacked by the British cruisers HMS "Nigeria" and "Aurora" (returning from Operation Gauntlet). "Bremse" was able to draw the cruisers away from the transports, so that they could escape, but she was sunk when rammed by "Nigeria" and cut in half [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Philip Vian
work =
publisher = Royal Naval Museum Library
date = 2004
url = http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_philip_vian.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 14 July 2008 ] . Over half of her crew died.

References

* [http://german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/ships/training/bremse/history.html Bremse at german-navy.de]