German Military Cargo Ships Produced in Series Programs in Southern Europe 1941-1945

The story of German military cargo ships produced in series programs in the Mediterranean and Black Sea area during the 2nd World War is not well known among naval historians. The “Kriegstransporter” (KT) were German-designed armed cargo ships of 1250 t displacements (700 tdw/ 834 GRT) produced in series in World War II for the Mediterranean and Black Sea theatre of war; only one ship was built in Hamburg. The concept of the “Kriegstransporter” was developed in 1941 by the Kriegsmarine out of the necessity to replace the many losses of German and Italian merchant ships in the Mediterranean. Construction contracts were signed for 60 ships; approximately 40 ships were completed before the end of the war. The much less meaningful program of the “Schwarzmeer-Einheitsschiffe” (SME) was a project for the series production of coastal motor vessels of 706 GRT for the Black Sea theatre of war as there was an awkward shortage of tonnage for the army’s supply routes along the coast. Construction contracts for a total number of 12 units were signed; none of them was completed before the end of the war. While the SMEs played no more role in combat operations in World War II, the KTs were involved in many military encounters with Allied warships and aircraft 1942-1945.