SMS G39

SMS G39 was a 1913 Type Large Torpedo Boat (Großes Torpedoboot) of the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I, and the 15th ship of her class.

History
German Empire
Ordered	1914 Peacetime order
Builder	Germaniawerft, Kiel, Germany
Launched	16 January 1915
Commissioned	20 August 1915
Fate	Interned at Scapa Flow 22 November 1918 Scuttled at Scapa Flow 21 January 1919
General characteristics
Displacement	1,051 tonnes
Length	79.5 meters
Beam	8.33 m
Draft	3.74 m (fwd); 3.45 meters (aft)
Speed	34.5 knots (63.9 km/h)
Range	1,100 nautical miles at 20 knots   (2,040 km at 37 km/h)
Complement	83 officers and sailors
Armament	3 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/45 guns 6 × 500 mm torpedo tubes 24 mines

Construction

Built by Germaniawerft in Kiel, Germany, she was commissioned in August 1915. The "G" in G39 refers to the shipyard at which she was constructed.

Service

G39 was assigned to the High Seas Fleet of the Kaiserliche Marine when she participated in the Battle of Jutland. She served as the leader of the First Torpedo Boat Flotilla in this action under the command of Commander Conrad Albrecht. Admiral Hipper transferred from Lützow to G39 during the Battle of Jutland prior to his transfer to the Moltke.

After the end of hostilities, G39 was interned at Scapa Flow and scuttled. One of the crew members on her last voyage was Leopold Bürkner, who later became head of foreign affairs intelligence during the Third Reich. He was interned until 29 January 1920.^[1]

The boat was salvaged by Ernest Cox on 3 July 1925.

References

1. "Bürkner, Leopold". Bordgemeinschaft der Emdenfahrer. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2013.

• Technical specs of the Großes Torpedoboot 1913 class