East Germany

Project 1159 Berlin class "coast defence ship" (Koni class)

Displacement: 2300tons;
Dimensions: 95m length; 10.8m beam; 3.8m draught
Armament: 4 76mm/60 AK-276 in 2 twin mounts; 4 30mm/65 AK 230 in two twin mounts; 1 SA-N-4 (Osa-M) twin SAM launcher with 18 missiles; 2 RBU 6000 12-barrelled ASW rocket launchers, mine rails for 60 mines
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 cruise diesesels, 31,000 shp; 1 boost gas turbine; 14,000 shp; 32 knots
Complement: 130
Description: These ships were the largest surface combatants of the Volksmarine (people's navy), the navy of the German Democratic Republic. Officially dubbed "coast defence ship", these three ships replaced the older Riga frigates in the late 1970s. The Koni class is a soviet design especially for export. The GDR version differed from ships exported to Yugoslavia or north Africa in lacking the SSM launchers. It was planned to retrofit these ships with SS-N-25 missiles, but those plans were stalled by the german reunification. The mission of the Berlin class obviously was to render SAM cover to minesweepers of ASW ships of the Volksmarine trying to keep german and danish diesel submarines out of the Baltic. After the reunification, the german navy saw no further use for these ships, since they were crowded, equipped with soviet weapons and had no CIC. Also, the Osa-M launchers were removed by the soviets before the takeover by the Bundesmarine. One was sunk by the Royal Navy as a target ship, the other two were scrapped. These frigates were named after major cities in the GDR, with the lead ship having a relatively complicated name in order to make clear which part of Berlin was meant. Generally, the Volksmarine mostly referred to its ships by number, rather than by name.

Units:

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Project 1241 Albin Köbis (Tarantul) class missile boat

Displacement: 450tons max load
Dimensions: 56.1m length; 10.2m beam; 2.5m draught
Armament: 1 76mm/60 AK-176M in 1 single mount; 2 30mm/65 AK 630M in one twin mount; 2 SS-N-2D (P-20) twin launchers (4 missiles); 1 quad SA-N-5 MANPADS launcher (8 missiles total).
Propulsion: 2 shafts; COGAG with 2 DM-76 cruise gas turbines, 9,408 shp; 2 DR-77 boost gas turbines; 25,040 shp; 35 knots
Complement: 38
Description: These large missile boats/corvettes were a newer addition to the Volksmarine. Entering service in 1985, these boats were quite equal to Bundesmarine missile boats, but better defended. Unfortunately, maintenance problems as well as restrictions by the soviets (maintenance of the COGAG propulsion was to be done by soviet personell only) hampered their effectiveness. Generally, the Tarantul was well suited for the Baltic environment and a quantum leap from the Osa class. After the reunification, only Rudolf Engelhofer was kept in service and transfered to the US Navy. These boats were named after german communist heroes from the 1918 revolution and the spanish civil war. Two of this class survive as museums: Hiddensee/Rudolf Engelhofer in the USA and Hans Beimler in Germany.

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Project 133.1 Parchim class ASW ship

Displacement: 1200tons;
Dimensions: 77m length; 9m beam; 3.5m draught
Armament: 2 57mm/80 AK-725 in 1 twin mounts; 2 30mm/65 AK 630 in two twin mounts; 2 quad SA-N-5 MANPADs launchers (16 missiles total); 2 12 barrelled RBU 6000 antisubmarine rocket launchers; 4 400mm single ASW torpedo tubes for the SAET-60 torpedo. Mine rails
Propulsion: 3 shafts; 3 diesels, 21,000 shp; 27 knots
Complement: 60
Description: This class of shallow-water ASW corvettes replaced the small "Hai" class subchasers in the early 1980s. This class served both for rear area security and also as ASW cover for the GDR's amphibious force. Equipped with hull mounted sonar and VDS, the Parchims would have hunted for west german and danish (and maybe swedish) submarines in the western Baltic, in order to prevent their breakout into the open Baltic. But except for ASW, this class is not really well defended, especially against missiles and would have relied on friendly air cover in order to survive. After 1991, the whole class of 12 ships was sold to Indonesia, where they still serve as patrol boats. This class was named after small towns in the GDR.

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Project 131.400 Libelle class light torpedo boat

Displacement: 35tons max load
Dimensions: 18.9m length; 4.4m beam; 2.8m draught
Armament: 2 23mm ZSU-23 in 1 twin mount; 2 533mm fixed stern torpedo tubes (torpedoes facing forward when launched); 4 mine dischargers
Propulsion: 3 shafts; 3 Diesels, 3,600shp; 48 knots
Complement: 5 (12 commandoes instead of mines)
Description: For coastal warfare in the Lübeck bay, the Volksmarine had started building a series of very small, light aluminium hull glider type torpedo boats from 1960 on, inspired by the soviet WW G5 type. The last of this series was the Project 131, given the NATO code "Libelle" (german for Dragonfly). In contrary to the other classes, the "cockpit" of the Libelle was farther aft, improving stability, while the torpedo tubes were now fixed on the sides, not carried as deckload. 4 mine dischargers similar to depth charge throwers were installed on the sides, for ground mines. These could be replaced with protected seats for up to 12 combat divers, making this boat a suitable fast (but certainly not stealthy) infiltration platform. LS-Boats were mostly used for hit-and-run warfare and as fast minelayers. After 1991, the whole class was sold and scrapped, except for some that survive as museum exhibits. The class had no names, but two types of numbers, one being the construction number, the other the tactical number within the squadron. The tactical number given is the last one carried during the 1980s.

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Project 206 Shershen

Displacement: 145tons max load
Dimensions: 34m length; 6.8m beam; 3.8m draught
Armament: 4 30mm/65 AK-230 in two twin mounts; 4 533mm single torpedo tubes for 53-65 antiship torpedoes, mine rails, 2 depth charge racks
Propulsion: 3 shafts; 3 Diesels, 26,475shp; 46 knots
Complement: 16
Description: Build with the same powerplant as the Osa class, this class of torpedo boats replaced the P6 boats in Volksmarine service around 1970. Actually most of these boats were younger than the Osa missile boats and they had a much better service record than the Osas. However, the age of the pure torpedo boat was definitely over in the 1970s, so these boats were of limited use. In hit-and-run warfare in the Lübeck bay, they might have still had some use Mostly they were used as command ships for the smaller LS-Boats or even as ASW torpedo carriers. Half of this class was decomissioned in the 1980s, the other lingered on until the end of the GDR. These boats are named after german antifascists and revolutionaries of 1918. Boats with no pennant number had no assigned squadron in 1984.

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Project 205 Osa I

Displacement: 293tons max load
Dimensions: 38.6m length; 7.6m beam; 3.7m draught
Armament: 4 30mm/65 AK-230 in two twin mounts; 4 SS-N-2A Styx P-15) single launchers
Propulsion: 3 shafts; 3 Diesels, 26,475shp; 36 knots
Complement: 30
Description: In 1962, the Volksmarine recieved the first of ultimately 15 Osa I missile boats from the Soviet Union. These boats caused a severe shock in West Germany, as the Bundesmarine was years away from deploying its first missile boats. The boats were transferred in utmost secrecey and were operational immidiately, since the crews had allready been trained in the Soviet Union. From 1965 to the mid 1980s, the Osas remained the main attack force of the Volksmarine. Four boats were retired in the early 1980s because of material fatigue, the rest was kept in service until 1990, even if by then the Osa's missiles were obsolete and there were serious problems with their reliability. They were to be replaced by the SS-N-25 equipped Project 151 missile boats, but the only completed unit of that class never recieved missiles. The Osas were quickly paid off, even before the german reunification, most had been scrapped. Two went to Latvia as patrol boats (with missiles removed) and are still in service. This class was named after german anti-fascists and revolutionaries of 1918. Unusually, two of them were named after soviet agents in the Wehrmacht, about the only chase a ship was named after a spy. Boats with no pennant number had no assigned squadron in 1984. 

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Project 108 Frosch I Hoyerswerda class landing craft

Displacement: 4000tons full load
Dimensions: 91m length; 11m beam; 2.8m draught
Armament: 4 57mm/80 AK-725 in 2 twin mounts; 2 30mm/65 AK 630 in two twin mounts; 2 quad SA-N-5 MANPADs launchers (16 missiles total); 2 40 barrelled BM-21 artillery rocket launchers; 40 mines instead of cargo
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 diesels, 9,000 shp;18 knots
Complement: 70
Description: These landing ships replaced the previous smaller classes in the late 1970s. Able to land a company each, the main task of these ships would have been to transport the 29th motorized rifle regiment of the NVA (national people's army, the GDR army) for flanking landings in northern Germany. These ships were quite well defended with AAA and MANPADs and could also render fire support with 2 BM-21 rocket launchers. On the other hand, there was hardly anything more ugly afloat. After 1991, the whole class was sold to Indonesia, while many wanted the Bundesmarine to keep these useful ships. These ships were named after cities in the GDR

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Project 208 Frosch II Nordperd class combat support ships

Displacement: 4000tons full load
Dimensions: 91m length; 11m beam; 2.8m draught
Armament: 4 57mm/80 AK-725 in 2 twin mounts; 2 30mm/65 AK 630 in two twin mounts; 36  mines instead of cargo
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 diesels, 9,000 shp;18 knots
Cargo:650 tons of fuel, munitions and spares
Complement: 70
Description: These two Project 108 ships were modified to support Volksmarine ships at sea. Since refuelling was done by a number of small tankers, their main role was weapons replenishment. For that, they had a large crane on the forecastle and the bow doors had been welded shut. These ships were under consideration to be retained as MCM tenders by the Bundesmarine, but were sold to Indonesia as well. These ships were named after beaches on the Island of Rügen (nice names;))

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