Kriegsmarine Coastal Forces

Gordon Williamson is a retired civil servant. He spent seven years with the Military Police TA and has published a number of books and articles on the German Navy in World War II. Ian Palmer is a highly experienced digital artist with two decades of experience in the video games industry, both as a 3D artist and an Art Director. He has a passion for military history.

• Introduction Minensuchboote (minesweepers)Torpedoboote (torpedo boats) - small destroyers armed with two sets of torpedo tubes and similar to the Allied destroyer escortRaumboote - trawlers pressed into military service which were literally “outpost” vessels performing a patrol service and giving early warning of the approach of enemy forces Tenders: “Mothership” vessels for flotillas of smaller vessels such as E-boats and U-boatsTankers and auxiliaries - provided crucial refuelling facilities to U-boats. Most were hunted down and destroyed during the course of the warBlockage breakersMiscellaneous - including former cruise liners acting as troopships, and the Wilhelm Gustlov, training ships and Hitler's personal yacht