Type 38 Schnellboot
After building the MTB and MGB, I thought it would be worth finding out more about the opposition. This study process lead to the construction of the first of my two Kriegsmarine models, a Type 38 schnellboot.
I arrived at the type 38 by studying the 5 broad types of s-boots
The early war low forecastle boats (Airfix do a kit of this type), a few sub-types
The early (really interim) high forecastle type S 30 (or type 26, I'm confused on that point) with an upsweep to the forecastle at the sides of the bridge
The mid war type 38
The later war type 38 with the armoured cupola (Kalotte) which evolved from an unarmoured cupola that was often retro-fitted to the type 38's
The type 100 at the end of the war which is really the same as the type 38 armoured but with different armament and rear deck layout, build with the armoured cupola from the start
Most models you see on line seem to be of the last type, but I rather like the mid-war type 38 before they stuck a hat on it so that's what I made. This was the main enemy boat in the middle years.
In my research, I bought a few books to augment those I had already. You can never have too much information when scratch-building, but to be honest most simply repeat the same stuff.
I also obtained all the drawings I could find including a rich archive set of German plans from Paul Stamm Modellbau in Saarbrücken.
As ever, they disagree in minor areas but when combined with many photographs, a reasonable representation can be achieved.
The vessel modelled is S-46, one of only 12 s-boats fitted with the 40mm Bofors (according to table 13 in Fast Fighting Boats, 1870-1945 by Harald Fock). It is modelled at 1:48th scale, making a model that is ~29 inches long
The model is fully scratch built with a wooden hull and a combination of metal, etched and 3D printed parts on the superstructure. The propellors are cast brass to my 3D drawings
She is modelled as she was in 1942 serving with the 2nd flotilla based in the pens at Ijmuiden.
If you would like more information about the build process, it is fully detailed on my build thread on the Britmodeller Forum, Build Thread
The model is mounted on turned brass pillars on an oak base. A single crewman keeps watch to help viewers understand the scale
The mines are Kriegsmarine EMC mines, 3D printed
An interesting point to note is that the long engine room vents, seen here amidships, have weighted canvas skirts to help prevent spray entering the engine room. These are almost always omitted from models.
Note the life-buoy has a central cylinder. This contains the rope that is used to pull the crewman back to the vessel. A very distinctive feature of Kriegsmarine life-buoys
The wooden duck-boards on s-boats were painted the same grey colour as the deck. In use, they wore down on the well used areas to expose lighter wood below. They were never a shiny dark wood colour.
She is lightly weathered and dirty, the waterline shows oil stains and algae growth. Weathering is an area where I still have much to learn. When models take months or years to construct, you don’t get much practice painting.
The 40mm Bofors is all brass, a fun little sub-project. In this shot above you can also see the ladder stowed against the railings that was used to access the rubber dinghy. The ensign is hand-painted.
Clean view from above
And finally a couple of pictures of her alongside HMS Grey Fox, for comparison
The RN vessel looks more imposing, but was actually very easy to defeat due to the ease with which a shell from that Bofors could fracture a steam pipe to leave her dead in the water.
The following extract is from S-boot net describing how S-46 was lost
On 10.09.1943 the Red Army landed in the city of Novorossijsk. Six days later the town had to be evacuated. On 11.09.1943 Soviet ground attack aircraft attacked the boats of the 1. SFltl returning home. Not impressed by the defensive fire they pushed down to 10 m height and fired with onboard guns. On "S 46" all engines fell out, the torpedo in the port tube exploded and tore the forecastle off until the bridge. In spite of the ongoing attacks "S 49" went alongside and took over the partly severely wounded crew and two killed in action. The boat was then sunk with a torpedo.
