Torpedoboot Ausland

The Torpedoboot Ausland (= "foreign torpedo boats") were small destroyers or large torpedo boats captured by Nazi Germany and incorporated into the Kriegsmarine. 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 Norwegian Sleipner class destroyers, of an enlarged design. Launched but not completed due to sabotage by the Norwegian Resistance

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 Sea
*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 destroyer, "Turbine" - captured in Piraeus, September 1943. Served in the Aegean Sea and sunk by US Air Force in Salamis on 16 September 1944. [http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/captured/torpedoboats/ta/ta14/index.html - page from German Navy]

TA 15

Former Italian Sella class destroyer "Francesco Crispi" , Captured in the Aegean in September 1943. Sunk by air raid near Heraklion on 8 March 1944. 34 men were killed. [http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/captured/torpedoboats/ta/ta15/index.html - page from German Navy]

TA 16 and TA 19

Former Italian Curtatone class destroyers, captured in the Aegean Sea, September 1943

*TA 16 - "ex Castelfidardo" sunk at Heraklion after damage by RAF air raid [ [http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/captured/torpedoboats/ta/ta16/index.html Ref] ]
*TA 19 - "ex Calatafimi" sunk by Greek Submarine "Pipinos" 9 August 1944. [ [http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/captured/torpedoboats/ta/ta17/index.html Ref] ]

TA 17 and TA 18

Ex Italian Palestro class destroyers captured in Piraeus 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 "Tuscan" and "Termagant" 19 October 1944

TA 20

Ex Italian destroyer Audace. Operated in the Adriatic sea. Sunk by British Hunt class destroyers HMS Avondale and HMS Wheatland. [ [http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/captured/torpedoboats/ta/ta20/index.html Ref] ]

TA 21

Ex Italian torpedo boat Insisioso, sunk by aircraft torpedo in Fiume 5 November 1944 [http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/captured/torpedoboats/ta/ta21/index.html Ref]

TA 22 and TA 35

Ex Italian torpedo boats seved in the Adriatic

TA 23, TA 25 and TA 26

Ex Italian Ciclone class Torpedo boats served on the west coast of Italy

TA 24 group

Please see Ariete class torpedo boat article

TA 31

Ex Italian Freccia class destroyer 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 Marina 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.

TA 33 and TA34

Ex Italian Soldati class destroyers

*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 43

Former Yugoslav destroyer Beograd, 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 destroyer Antonio Pigafetta captured at Fiume, served in Adriatic. Sunk in an air raid on Trieste 17 February 1945.

References

*cite book|first=M.J.|last=Whitley|title=Destroyers of World War 2|year=1988|publisher=Cassell Publishing|id=ISBN 1-85409-521-8
* [http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/captured/torpedoboats/ta/index.html page from German Navy.de]