After completing the Archive review I wanted to go back to drawing ships of Poland, and of Russia... and of East Germany... (sigh) ...and some other countries...
Though first and foremost of Poland - but I have some things to sort out first, so this small(ish) project became first one to be completed. I hope You'll like. Unfortunately, scarcity of sources permitted me to depict only part of relevant vessels, but I hope that, perhaps, some day, at least some of these gaps could be filled.
Story of Latvia's gaining independence in the aftermath of the Great War is a rather complicated one, most of it being outside the scope of this forum, so it should suffice to say that it was greatly influenced on one hand by the fact that much of Latvia was under German control, while the rest was embroiled in the turmoil resulting from bolshevik revolution in Russia. Initially the Latvians attempted to establish (in 1917) autonomous government within (no longer "imperial") Russian state, then Germans wanted to establish United Baltic Duchy affiliated with their empire, on 18 November 1918 Latvia declared full independence under Provisional Government, then Soviets tried to capitalize on fall of Germany and started offensive into Latvia (on 1 December 1918), capturing Riga on 3 January 1919, forcing the Provisional Government to flee to Liepāja and claiming Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic on 13 January. In March forces loyal to Provisional Government and German Freikorps started the counteroffensive and recaptured Riga on May 22. In the meantime (in April) a coup of local nobility of German descent staged a coup aiming to establish a de-facto German-controlled state and the Provisional Government itself had to take refuge on a steamship under British protection. Simultaneously, Estonian army (which included some Latvian units loyal to Provisional Government) started their own anti-bolshevik offensive into Latvia, reducing the soviet rule to easternmost part of country. After than Estonian-Latvian forces turned against Germans, forcing them to sign an armistice under which the Freikorps was to leave the country, though instead it just merged into West Russian Volunteer Army which roamed across parts of Latvia and Lithuania until late Autumn. Finally, in January 1920 Latvian and Polish troops finally ejected Soviets from remaining Latvian territories, paving the way to peace negotiations which were concluded on 11 August 1920 with Soviet Russia formally recognizing country's independence. That said, major western powers, hoping for White victory in Russian Civil War (and therefore expecting reestablishment of non-soviet russian rule over Latvia) waited with similar recognition until 26 January 1921.
During the 1918-1919 turmoil in Latvia all sides used ships to some extent, but initially it was basically on ad-hoc basis. The very first ships to raise the red-white-red flag of Latvia were 2 passenger-cargo steamers - Maiga and Saratov - pressed into state service in November 1918, follwed by motor boat Frankonia - during Soviet invasion they were used to carry the Provisional Government to Liepāja and then back to Riga in July 1919:
- Maiga - (32 m, 182 BRT) coastal cargo-passenger steamer built in 1913 in Denmark as Naestved, in 1914 sold to Russia as Majga, in 1918 taken by Germans and subsequently by Latvians, sold in 1920, sunk near Ventspils in 1934;
- Saratov - (79,6 m, 1835 BRT and up to 482 passengers) cargo-passenger built in 1887/1888 in Denmark as Leopold II, in 1911 sold to Russia as Saratov, sunk in Liepāja on 6 May 1915, raised by Germans and used under same name until taken over by Latvians. During the pro-German coup in April 1919, the Provisional Government of Kārlis Ulmanis was effectively confined to this ship, and also on the same ship the government made a comeback to Riga in July. After the peace treaty, she was returned to Soviet Russia and renamed Ispolko, under which name she sank in a storm off Courland on 14 January 1923.
- Frankonia - (details unknown) was a German motor boat operated by military transport services in Riga and Liepāja. She was used only fairly briefly by Latvians until Autumn of 1919 when she was sold off.
In the meantime, between late autumn of 1918 and and spring of 1919, authorities of Soviet Latvia tried to organize a naval forces from vessels captured in Riga, but skill and material shortages permited only very limited success. On paper, creation of "official" Latvian naval forces begun on 25 March 1919, when a decree outlining the legal basis of such formation, including naval ranks, was made, but it took several months before it was translated into practice. First unit of the nascent navy was the Marine ("sailors") Company of the 5th Cēsu Infantry Regiment established on 16 June. Bit earlier - from around late April or early May - German (Freikorps)-controlled puppet "government" of Latvia headed by Andrievs Niedra briefly operated a small gunboat O, which was a former Riga tugboat (27,4 m, 145 t) armed with 1 x 75 mm and 1 MG, but already during the summer she was captured by Estonian forces and used by Estonian Navy - as Meeme or Mardus thereafter, until she sunk on 14 November 1924 on a mine. More concrete steps towards creation of a proper navy subordinated to nationalist government headed by Kārlis Ulmanis, when some vessels previously used by latvian-bolshevik naval force were first captured by Germans and then transferred to control of Latvian government in July.
Most important of these ships, and one that was to be the principal surface combat asset of the Latvian navy in the whole inter-war period, was gunboat Virsaitis (Chieftain), which was originally German Minensuchboot 1916-class minesweeper M68, built at Neptun Werft in Rostock (yard no. 382). She was launched on 25 July 1917, commissioned on 6 October 1917, then assigned to forces operating in the Gulf of Riga and already on 29 October lost on a mine in the Daugava estuary. Although neither engine room or other critical section was significantly damaged, the vessel lost sufficiently much of the buoyancy to sink in the shallow waters off Daugavgrīva with the loss of one crewman. In the spring of 1918 M68 was provisionally refloated and towed to Riga for repairs, although these dragged long enough to become prey for latvian communists who took control of Riga in the early days of 1919. Government of Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic commissioned the ship into their nascent naval force as command and despatch vessel Sarkanā Latvija (Red Latvia). In May 1919 she was captured moored to the pier in Riga by troops from German Freikorps and in July transferred to the custody of Entente-backed Latvian Provisional Government, where it became core of their flotilla. Once the hostilities subdued, she was sent for refit which lasted until 12 June 1921, when she was re-commissioned as gunboat (with some minesweeping capability) Virsaitis. In Latvian service the gunboat was armed with 2 Škoda 83,5 mm guns, with 2 more 57mm guns and 2 machine guns also being mentioned, but I struggle to find them on available photographs. Also, at some unclear point, ship was additionaly armed with Vickers 3 inch gun. Being Latvian navy's main vessel, the Virsaitis took part in number of foreign visits, including taking presidents of the republic to Finland (1926) and Sweden (1929) and international fleet exercises (with navies of Estonia and Finland). In 1940, together with all assets of Latvian navy she was taken over by Soviet Union on 19 August 1940 and after some adaptations (including rearming with 2 76 mm guns, 2 45 mm guns and machine guns), in October of same year became Tralshchik 297 and on 25 May 1941 become escort ship (storozhevoy korabl) and returned to her Latvian name (but written Russian-way). In late 1941 ship took part in evacuation of Soviet troops from besieged Hanko naval base and in the course of that operation sank on a mine during the night of 2-3 December 1941, with great loss of life (both among the crew and evacuated personnel).
Latvia, Virsaitis, 1922
Latvia, Virsaitis, mid-1930s
Two other (relatively-) major ex-bolshevik vessels were:
- Sekunda - (17,8 m) a small inshore passenger ship built in Riga, during the war changed ownership several times (flying Imperial Russian, German, Latvian-Bolshevik, German again and then Latvian flags). After brief use by Latvian navy was returned to original owner, who then rebuilt her into essential completely new ship (29 m long!). In 1940 taken over by Soviets, in 1941 by Germans, it was still in existence in October 1944, but nothing else is known.
- T - (22,7 m, 110 t) was originally a riverine tug and ferry built in Riga, then was purchased by Russian military as (civilian-operated) service vessel for coastal fortifications, and in 1915 was mobilized as tugboat Chaika. In 1917 was captured by Germans, then taken over by latvian bolsheviks, by Freikorps and finally handed over to Latvian Navy, which used her as despatch vessel and auxiliary gunboat. In 1923 was renamed Artillerist and used mainly for benefit of Latvian coastal artillery. In 1940 taken over by Soviets and lost on a mine on 16 August 1941 near Tallin.
Latvia, Artillerist (ex-T)
In July 1919 3 tugboats were obtained, but not as requisitions, only by charters (although it seems that after some time they actually become a government property) from German-operated local port administrations:
- Liva - (30,18 m, 120 BRT) salvage tug, built in 1914 in Russia and captured in May 1915 by Germans. Latvians used it first in Liepāja and later at Ventspils where it was taken over by USSR in 1940. In Soviet service it was sunk on 8 August 1941 at Koppel in Estonia, then was raised by Germans as Liwa and as a result of engine malfunction was interned in Sweden on 12 December 1944 to be returned to Soviet Union in late 1945. Further fate unknown;
- Windau - (90 BRT) ex-Russian tug Windamo, captured by Germans in early 1918, post 1919 details unknown;
- Stint - (21,5 m, 96 t) harbour tug, built in 1900 in Riga, captured by Germans in 1918, In July 1924 transferred to Latvian custody at Ventspils and thereafter renamed Lidaka (Pike), from mid-1920s regularly chartered (temporarily) by Latvian naval aviation as seaplane tender and eventually taken for such use on full-time basis until 1935.
August 1919 saw creation of Naval Department in the Armed Forces Headquarters of the Naval Squadron (Jūras Krasta Apsardzes Eskadra - more literally it would translate as Coast Defence Squadron) from the ex-bolshevik vessels, and a requisition of 4 small steamboats that formed a makeshift Minesweeping Party (Mīnu Izzvejošanas Partiju):
- Baltija - (14,7 m, 33 t) tugboat built in Sweden in 1911 as Johann Ernst, was soon later sold to Russia (under new name), mobilized in 1915 and captured by Germans in 1918, it was then briefly in Bolshevik hands, before passing back to German and then Latvian hands. It was used as auxiliary minesweeper until December 1919 when it was transferred to civilian operator, taken over by Soviets in 1940 and year later by Germans, who renamed it Herkules. She sank on 17 October 1944 off Ventspils during a storm.
- Hamburg - (31,9 m, 253 t) icebreaking tugboat built in 1914 in Helsinki for Russian Imperial Navy as Matros and in early 1918 captured by Germans, who renamed it Hamburg. After relatively brief service as auxiliary minesweeper in Latvian navy, she was sent for refit that ended in 1921, now named Lāčplēsis (Bear-slayer - after a mythical Latvian hero) and transferred to civilian authorities of Riga harbour. In 1940 ship was taken over by Soviets and that opened a new and very colourful chapter of her career: on 29 June 1941 she towed into Tallin the heavily-damaged cruiser Kirov. On 22 July 1941, while carrying a load of torpedoes and towing MTB DT-71 between Myntu and Sworbe, she was attacked by 3 S-boots and, despite serious damage, managed to reach her objective. On 6 October 1941 ship was beached at Sworbe and later repaired by Germans (now as Lacplesis), but was beached again in a storm on 8/9 December 1942. Repaired again, took part in evacuation from Kurland and on 8 May 1945 fled to Sweden, where it was used for some time as Lachplesis, before being returned to Soviet Union in 1946, renamed Matros and operated until 1954.
- Nadezhda - (17,1 m) tugboat built in 1914 in Riga, mobilized shortly after and, like many other ships in the area, captured by Germans in early 1918. After just few months as minesweeper she was sold to civilian user as Ceriba. On 20 July 1944, by then again in German hands, she sank on a mine in Dvina estuary.
- Neubad - (25,9 m, 110 BRT) minor inshore passenger ship built in Riga in 1907. In 1915 mobilized, in 1918 captured by Germans, and few months later by Bolsheviks who installed 2 cannons (source mentions 120 mm, but for a vessel this size it seems excessive), was eventually taken over by nationalist government of Latvia. It remained in military service until 1921, when it was sold to civilian operator as Kaja and on 9 September 1926 sank after a collision near Daugavgriva;
Latvia, Lāčplēsis (ex-Hamburg, ex-Matros, as civilian icebreaking tug in inter-war period)
Latvia, Baltija (as civilian tug in inter-war period)
Major boost to numerical strength of Latvian state fleet was requisitioning on 10 October 1919 of a number of merchant and special vessels of various kinds (mostly German-flagged) by the Ministry of War. Some were impressed directly into the navy, but majority was used on behalf of said ministry with civilian crews as kind of "state merchant fleet". Such arrangement lasted until early 1920s, when most of these ships were either sold to commercial enterprises, transferred to the Department of Shipping (first under Ministry of Finance, then Ministry of Trade and Industry and finally Ministry of Transport) where they still retained an obligation to be mobilized in case of emergency, or (few) commissioned into the navy as well.
- Gaujā - (75 m, 1357 BRT) ex-Westerplatte steam tanker of Norderney-class, built in 1915 at Howaldtswerke AG. In 1922 she was sold to Great Britain as Omer and survived until 1954 when she was scrapped;
- Helene Hugo Stinnes 14 - (78,9m, 1735 BRT) freighter built in 1912, during the war mobilized as Kohlenschiff 15. Already in 1920 sold to Great Britain as Corstream, in 1933 sold to Greece as Aigaion and 3 years later renamed Memas, under which name she met her fate on 26 June 1942, when she was sunk by U-97;
- P and R - (25,2 m) were a pair of small passenger-cargo ships built in 1913 for Riga municipal authorities as local ferries. Mobilized by Russia after war started, both were later captured by Germans, then by bolsheviks, again by Germans and transferred to Latvian navy, which used them as despatch vessels until 1921, when they returned to civilian operation. On 1 July 1941 P was captured by Germans, while R was sunk day later in an air raid, but was eventually salvaged and served alongside her sister ship under German flag until at least 1944;
- Schwinge - (28,35 m) riverine cargo-passenger ferry built in Hamburg in 1879 and mobilized during the war. In 1920 sold to commercial operator and retired in 1932;
- Weesturs - (61 m, 1050 BRT) cargo-passenger steamer built in 1886 in Rotterdam as Pomona, she was intercepted in May 1917 by German warships while carrying contraband and impounded. In 1924 was sold to Germany as Uhl and shortly after to Great Britain as Patrino, to be re-sold to Germany in 1927 as Samland, surviving the World War 2 to be scrapped in 1953;
- Windau - (47,7 m, 480 BRT) coastal cargo-passenger steamer built in 1873/1874 in Newcastle as Juno, in 1877 sold to Russia as Meershaum and later Windau. Mobilized by Russian Navy in 1914, she was renamed Transport No. 9, then Vindava, then Transport No. 19 before being captured by Germans in February 1918. In 1926 sold to France as Gouverneur General Carde, sank in Port Etienne in 1937;
- Atlas and Titan - (221 t) pair of Dutch-built tugboats built 1913-1914 for Imperial German Navy. First has sunk on the mine in August 1920, and second was returned to Germany in the same year, serving thereafter with Marinearsenal Kiel;
- Austra - (150 t) was another Dutch-built tugboat, originally a Gebr. Bodewes III, was purchased by Imperial Navy in 1915 as Holm. Once in Latvia she got a new name. In 1940 taken over by Soviet Baltic Fleet, she sank in January 1942 in Kronshtadt but was raised and (as KP-30) remained in military service until 1946 and in civilian until 1956;
- Cesar - (17,8 m) Riga-built in tugboat, initially civilian, later used by Russian coastal artillery, before being captured by Germans in 1917. During 1919 was first captured by communists, re-captured by Germans, handed back to original civilian owners and (in October) mobilized to Latvian navy as armed steamer for few weeks before being returned to original owners again. Remained in use until at least around 1944 (lately in German hands);
- Forverts - (25,3 m) tugboat built in 1888 in Riga, in 1915 was captured by Germans and renamed Vorwärts. After several months of Latvian government service, was sold to commercial operator as Valdemars and as such became German prize in 1941;
- Frey - (17,3 m) 1888 German tugboat, mobilized in 1917. After being taken over by Latvia she was renamed Pikols, remaining in service in Riga throughout the inter-war period, was taken overy by Soviets in 1940 and by Germans in 1941 (again as Frey);
- Inzeniers - (21,3 m) 1891 british-built tugboat used by Russian merchant marine, sank in 1914 in Liepāja, was later raised and by Germans as Ingenieur. In Latvian service remained until around 1929 when she was scrapped;
- Libau - (24,4 m) tugboat built in 1900 in Riga as Libava, scuttled in May 1915 by her own crew, repaired by Germans as Libau. From early 1920s in commercial use as salvage tug Zibenis, in 1940 taken over by Soviets and in 1941 by Germans again. On 9 May 1945 she departed Hel peninsula with large group of Germans hoping to evade Soviet captivity and 2 days later reached Swedish waters. In 1946 returned to USSR and scrapped in early 1950s;
- Lielupe - (14,1 m) Riga-built tugboat, originally civilian, from 1915 used by Russian coastal artillery as service vessel, in 1917 captured by Germans, in early 1919 briefly taken over by bolsheviks and by Germans again. Latvian navy used her as armed steamer for a short period before disposing the ship to original owner. Vessel survived until 1940 Soviet takeover, but no details are known;
- Lotse - (21,65 m) tugboat built in 1891 in Stettin (now Szczecin) for Russia as Lotsman, scuttled in May 1915 by her own crew and repaired by Germans as Lotse. In early 1920s sold to commercial operator as Lasmanis and scrapped in 1936;
- Maiblume - (25 m) paddlewheel tugboat built in 1889 for service on Elbe, in 1910 sold to operator in Memel (Klaipeda) and from there mobilized to military service. In early 1920s sold to commercial operator and most likely scrapped sometime after 1924;
- Pavel - (16 m) tugboat built in 1896 in Riga, in 1917 captured by Germans, then by bolsheviks and Germans again. In Latvian service used briefly as command and despatch vessel, before being returned (already in December 1919) to original owners. In 1940 nationalized by Soviets, in 1941 captured by Germans once again and sunk on a mine in late summer of 1944;
- Varonis (Hero) - (29,1 m, 246 t) 1907-built German icebreaking tug, she was mobilized in 1917 and in 1919 taken over by Latvia under new name. She remained in civiliar service until 1927 when she was taken over by Latvian Navy and adapted for use as submarine depot ship. In 1940 ship was taken over by Soviet Baltic fleet as Ural, based in Tallin and on 28 August 1941 sank on a mine near Kronshtadt;
- Weichsel / Hidrografs - (41,8 m, ca. 450-500 t) buoy tender built in 1918 in Klawitter shipyard in Danzig (Gdańsk), she was operated by Küstenbezirkinspektion der Baltischen Gewässer, followed by stint with Freikorps. Shortly after she was pressed to Latvian service, the ship ran aground in December 1919 and was refloated only weeks later. Afterwards the vessel underwent deep reconstruction for hydrographic duties (accompanied with change of name to Hidrografs), which ended on 18 February 1924 when she entered service with Department of Shipping. In 1940 ship was taken over by Soviets and - as Gidrograf commissioned into Baltic Fleet. In November 1941 sank in Kronshtadt, but was raised and repaired, remaining in service until 1968;
- Laima - (37 m) - lightship built in Hamburg in 1889 as Bürgermeister Abendroth for use in Elbe estuary. In 1915 requisitioned by German military authorities and transferred to Baltic, eventually positioned in Irbe Strait. Beached on 22 November 1918 after a heavy storm, was then taken over eventually by Latvians, patched up, renamed Laima and until 1920 used as minesweepers' depot ship. Afterwards sent to a general refit (and returned to original purpose) and renamed Ovīši, remaining in service of Latvian and then Soviet maritime administration until 1941, when captured by Germans and adapted to become a blockship. On 18 December 1944 sustained heavy damage in Gdańsk during air raid, and sunk several days later in a storm;
- Alfa - (15,5 m) and Beta (16,5 m) - pair of similar service boats built 1906-1907 in Riga, eventually captured by Germans, after being transferred to Latvian navy they were used as despatch and medical evacuation vessels but soon after reverted to original users until 1940, when they were nationalized by Soviets. Afterwards Alfa was used by Baltic Fleet (until 1947) and by civilian maritime administration until 1958, while Beta was captured by Germans until at least 1944;
- Gaujā (another one) - former service boat A-16 of the Imperial Russian Navy, was captured by Germans in Finland before being transferred to Latvia. Initially in disposition of War Ministry's merchant fleet, in 1922 she was transferred to the Navy. After a major refit in late 1920s she was renamed Brinums (Wonder) and remained in service until 1940, when she was taken over by Soviets;
- Granāta - service boat of unknown origin, but most likely German-built, and until 1919 certainly German-operated. In Latvian hands initially on Lake Lubāns (where the last bolshevik forces on Latvian soil were still operating), and in 1921 transferred to Coastal Artillery Regiment for target-towing duties. Two years later was formally commissioned into the navy, though her purpose remained unchanged. In 1940 taken over by Soviet Baltic fleet as auxiliary minesweeping boat KT-1508 - later fate unknown;
- Kometa - former service boat A-15 of the Imperial Russian Navy, was captured by Germans in Finland and later transferred to Latvia, initially in War Ministry's merchant fleet, from 1922 was used by coastal artillery as S-1, and in 1923 was formally commissioned into the navy as Šrapnelis. In 1940 taken over by Soviet Baltic fleet as auxiliary minesweeping boat KT-1507 - later fate unknown;
Probably in this group was included a service boat Mina, which remained in service until 1938, but although there is a nice drawing of her, completely nothing is known about her origins or technical parameters.
Germany, Norderney - I was unable to find source material for Westerplatte as it was in Latvian service as Gaujā, but I could find them for one of her sister ships in original service.
Latvia, Hidrografs - it seems that appearance of this ships superstructure substantially changed over time - something else can be seen on some photos, something else on some others, two only drawings completely don't match and model in the museum in Riga shows it completely different...
Latvia, Brinums (ex- Gaujā) - unfortunately, her actual dimensions are not known, therefore I had to use a comparison with other ship, to which she was moored, but it leaves a big margin of possible error.
Latvia, Granata
In the first several years after the conclusion of hostilities with Soviet Russia, Latvian Navy received no new vessels. It was entirely understandable, given the modest resources of the young republic (which in 1925 had just 1 845 000 inhabitants), which had to be spent very wisely. Since the Soviet Union (as the state was known since December 1922) was obviously considered the primary threat, defence preparations were concentrated on eastern, land direction. During that period only the fleet of Department of Shipping (which, as mentioned, was earmarked to be reserve of the navy in case of war) has obtained any vessels of significance:
- Rota (Ornament) - (24,6 m) icebreaking tug built in 1904 as Vindavets for Moscow-Vindava-Riga railway company and in 1915 mobilized for Baltic Fleet. In 1918 captured by Germans (as Bremen) and in 1919 returned to original owners. In the beginning of 1920s ship was taken over by Department of Shipping as Rota. In 1926 underwent general refit, during which she received stronger engine, and until the war was based in Ventspils as salvage tug. In 1940 taken over by Soviets, in 1941 by Germans, who used her, among others, during evacuation of Courland in last weeks of the war. On 8-9 May 1945 she attempted to flee to Sweden, but was intercepted by Soviet motor-torpedo boats and forced to return. After the war was used again in Ventspils until the 1950s when it was transferred to Caspian Sea. Ultimate fate unknown.
- Pērkons (Thunder) - (41,5 m, 485 BRT) icebreaker built in 1895 as Ledokol 2 (Icebreaker 2) by Nylands Verksteder in Christiania (Oslo) for Imperial Russian ministry of transport for Liepāja port. Mobilized into Baltic Fleet in 1914, in 1916 was reclassified as escort ship Voron (with 2 3-inch guns). During the October Revolution was captured by bolsheviks, but in April 1918 suffered a collision with other ship and sent for prolonged repair. In June 1921, as part of preace treaty, she was transferred to Latvia, which operated her - under new name, until 1931 when the ship was scrapped.
- Krišjānis Valdemārs - (60,0 m, 2840 t max. displacement, 1932 BRT) modern icebreaker built for Latvia at Beardmore & Co. shipyard in Dalmuir, Glasgow in 1925. Named after XIX-century political activist, considered one of fathers of Latvia's cultural revival and promoter of maritime-related economic activities. In the inter-war period ship was Latvia's de-facto flagship, escorting numerous ships carrying foreign VIP's on official visits. In 1940 taken over by Soviets, and after the outbreak of war in Germany evacuated to Tallin. On 28 August 1941, during the evacuation of said port she was attacked by Luftwaffe bombers and during evasive maneuvers inadvertently entered a minefield and sunk on one of mines.
- Lux was a 29,56 m-long sail ship, built in 1899 in Norway as Ideal and later used in Germany as Senta and Luchs until it was impounded by Latvian authorities in Liepāja when it was caught involved in alcohol-smuggling operation. It was renamed Lux and used as training ship of the Department of Shipping until 1930, when she was transferred (for the same purpose) to the navy as Jurnieks. In 1940 taken by Soviets and in 1941 captured by Germans, who used her in Marineschule until the end of the war.
Additionaly, in 1929 Department of Shipping obtained another icebreaking tug, named Irbe (18,6 m, built in 1892), but nothing is known about her service and ultimate fate.
Russia, Ledokol 2 I was unable to find sufficiently good source material for Pērkons as it was in Latvian service, so I depicted it in her earlier guise.
Latvia, Krišjānis Valdemārs
Eventually the young republic achieved sufficient degree of economic stability to allow serious thinking about naval expansion. To that effect, on 14 July 1923 Latvian parliament passed a fleet upgrade programme, calling for 2 submarines, 2 minesweepers (with minelaying capability), 6 maritime aircraft and stockpile of 500 mines, although due to opposition from left-wing parties it took about a year before any serious steps were made towards the realization of that plan. Eventually, on 25 October 1924 a contract was signed with French shipyards to build mentioned vessels.
Although nominally sisterships, both new minesweepers differed a bit. Viesturs (named after 13th century Semigalian duke) was built by Societe Anonyme des Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire and launched on 27 May 1926, while Imanta (named after 12th century knight) was built by Atieliers et Chantiers Augustin Normand, launched on 11 August 1926. They had a normal displacement of 280 t and length of 48,8 m overall (46 on the waterline). Both vessels were armed with 75 mm Schneider gun, 4 Lewis machine guns and could carry up to 30 mines. Both minesweepers were commissioned into Soviet Baltic Fleet on 19 August 1940, initially under their original names, then from 17 October 1940 as T-298 and T-299 respectively. In the spring of 1941 both vessels were rearmed with 1 76,2 mm 34-K gun, 1 45 mm 21-K gun, 1 20 mm Oerlikon (?) and 3 DShK machine guns. Imanta/T-299 was sunk on a mine on 1 July 1941 off Saarema, while Viesturs/T-298 was in July 1941 renamed Tralshchik No. 57 and in September 1941 Tralshchik No. 51. She took part in evacuation of Baltic Fleet from Tallin and in minesweeping operations in the Finnish Gulf, in August 1944 returning to name T-298. After the war ship underwent conversion to survey vessel and as such was renamed Travers on 25 February 1948, serving in this capacity until decomissioned on 28 January 1959 and eventually scrapped.
Latvia, Viesturs
Soviet Union, Tralshchik No. 51 (ex-Viesturs)
As mentioned, the 1923 fleet update programme included a provision for purchase of 2 small submarines. It wasn't the first Latvian attempt to obtain a submarine, as in August of 1921 an idea was put forward to repair and introduce an ex-Russian Sig submarine (of Simon Lake-designed Osetr class), which was deliberately sunk as blockship on approaches to Riga harbour in 1915 and recently raised, but after throughout inspection it was deemed unfeasible and boat was scrapped. After passing of the 1923 programme an international contest was called in June 1924, with requests for proposals sent to shipyards in France, Great Britain and Sweden. Eventually a design from Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, broadly based on (somewhat larger) Sirène-class submarines and contract was signed on 25 October 1924, and like the Viesturs-class minesweepers, manufacture of one boat was sub-contracted to Atieliers et Chantiers Augustin Normand. Boats - named Ronis (Seal) and Spidola (witch from Latvian national epic Lāčplēsis) - had dispacement of 390 long tons on surface and 514 submerged, length of 55,48 m, were capable of 15,8 knots on surface and 9 knots submerged with maximum diving depth being 70 meters. Armament consisted of 6 450 mm torpedo launchers (2 in bow and 2 trainable pairs), single 76,5 mm Skoda Vz.18119 (?) gun and 2 Lewis machine guns. Construction works progressed quickly and Ronis was launched on 1 July 1926, while Spidola on 6 October, and on 7 December both boats were oficially commissioned into Latvian Navy, although both still lacked some equipment and didn't completed full trials - formal transfer into full Latvian control took place only on 1 April 1927. In latvian service these vessels constituted - together with depot ship Varonis a Submarine Division (Zemūdeņu Divizions) based in Liepāja and were most potent combat units of Latvian Navy, often taking parts in joint exercises with fleet of neighbouring Estonia, as well as in visits to ports of other Baltic countries. Like all other assets of Latvian Navy, they were commissioned on 19 August 1940 into Soviet Baltic Fleet - specifically into 1st Submarine Brigade (1-ya Brigada Podvodnykh Lodok) on 19 August 1940 whilst retaining their names and still based at Liepāja, though from October they got new, Soviet, crews as old ones were deemed politically unreliable. By this time the condition of both boats was rather poor, largely due to the fact that - for financial reasons - they didn't underwent the main refit that was due in late 1930s (in French shipyads), but only relatively makeshift patch-up made with domestic Latvian means in winter of 1938-1939, and also compounded by lack of spare parts (including miniscule stock of torpedoes, of which 14 were left). For these reasons subs were reassigned in February 1941 to second-line 2nd Submarine Brigade pending decision on their fate, and in May it was decided to send them for main refit, but for various reasons this decision was suspended until the outbreak of Soviet-German war and instead boats "temporarily" returned to 1st Submarine Brigade, but with only skeleton crews and practically unable to sail. German troops approached Liepāja only after several days and on 24 June both boats were scuttled to prevent their capture.
Latvia, Spidola, 1927
Latvia, Ronis, 1933
Soviet Union, Ronis, 1941
Approximately in 1926 or 1927 Navy obtained a small motor boat named Kometa, which was used afterwards as "admiral's yacht" (although it was rather big name for a boat 8,6 m long), and around 1929 Navy gained minor sailing yacht Auseklis about practically nothing is known. Last vessel to enter service in Latvian Navy was small (22,7 m, 110 t) seaplane tender Lidaka (II), built in 1935 by British Power Boat Co. to support 4 newly-ordered Fairey Seal seaplanes. In 1940 taken over by Soviets and used as despatch boat. In late June 1941 sunk either by S-boote or by Luftwaffe aircraft.
Latvia, Kometa (II)
Besides the Navy, also the border guards operated watercraft: 3 fairly small motorboats caught smuggling and in 1933 taken into service, these were:
- Bulta (Arrow) - 16m long, 7-ton, ex. German LM 22 boat, built in 1919, between 1921 and 1929 in civilian hands as Bodo and Ruth, then until 1931 in Reichsmarine as submarine chaser UZ(S) 16, then civilan again until captured;
- Erglis (Eagle) - 14,3m long, 20-ton, ex. Russian Orel riverine tram, in 1918-1919 used by bolsheviks, then captured and sold to civilian operator until impounded;
- Sams (Catfish) - details unknown.
All these boats were taken over in NKVD in 1940 and in 1941 by Germans. Their further fate is unknown.
When the World War 2 erupted, the Latvian Navy was a very small but fairly competent service. It's fate was sealed, though, as a result of the German-Soviet Ribbentrop-Molotov pact of 23 August 1939, which situated Latvia in the Soviet sphere of expansion. In the last months of existence, Latvian Navy has some 650 members of personnel and consisted of:
- flagship Virsaitis
- Submarine Division (Zemūdeņu Divizions) with submarines Ronis and Spidola and depot ship Varonis
- Mine Division (Mīnu Divizions) with minesweepers Viesturs and Imanta
- 8. Naval Aviation Squadron (Jūras Aviācijas Eskadriļa - administratively part of air force, but navy-operated) with Fairey Seal aircraft and seaplane tender Lidaka
- motor boat Brinums, target-towing boat Granāta, admiral's yacht Kometa and sail yacht Auseklis.
All these assets were taken over by the Soviet Baltic Fleet in August of 1940.
Sources
Budzbon Przemysław, Radziemski Jan, Twardowski Marek, Warships of the Soviet Fleets 1939-1945, Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley 2022;
Gaiduk Aleksey A., Dmitriyev Dmitriy Ya., Podvodnyie lodki "Ronis" i "Spidola", "Midel-Shpangout" 2016, nr 47.
Gaiduk Aleksey A., Lapshin Roman V., Voyenno-morskiye sily pribaltiyskikh gosudarstv 1918-1940 gg., Galeya Print, Sankt-Peterburg 2009;
Gröner Erich, Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945. Band 2, Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Koblenz 1983;
Gröner Erich, Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945. Band 4, Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Koblenz 1986; 131
Heizölfahrzeug Norderney/Baltrum (1915), Hamburger Modellbaubogen Verlag, Hamburg 1999
Weyers Taschenbuch der Kriegsflotten. XXXIV. Jahrgang 1940, J. F. Lehmans Verlag, Berlin, 1940;
Kuznetsov L. A., Ledokol "Krisjanis Valdemars", "Gangut" 2011, nr 66.
Ehlers Hartmut, Historia Łotewskich Sił Morskich 1919-1940, "Okręty Wojenne" 2012, nr 3, 4.
Rokiciński Krzysztof, Siły morskie Estonii, Litwy i Łotwy 1919-1940, "Okręty Wojenne" 1993, nr 3.
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https://www.vitber.com/en/lot/42527
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