Historical background
Vp 1302 JOHN MAHN
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sketch combat situation of German outpost boats Nr. 1303 FREIBURG and Nr. 1302 JOHN MAHN at 12.02.1942 with British airplanes. Available in War Diary of the 13th Outpost Boat-Flotilla from 01.01.1942 to 30.04.1942 © BArch RM 72/146
Historical Background
The JOHN MAHN was registered under the fishery identification number BX 221 (BX = Bremerhaven) at 09.03.1932. Before that the number SD 131 [SD = Altona] was given to the ship. Since 28.09.1939 it was part of the 13th Outpost Boat Flotilla (13. Vorpostenflottille) as Vp 1302. At 12.02.1942 the Vp 1302 was used, together with the Vp 1303, as marking boat during the Operation CERBERUS. The aim of this operation was the breakthrough of the battleships SCHARNHORST, GNEISENAU and PRINZ EUGEN through the English Channel into the North Sea. During this operation the Vp 1302 was attacked by airplanes at 15:53, and after it was hit by 2 aerial bombs sunk, ca. 20 nm northwest of Zeebrügge; 12 crew members died.
literature
E. Gröner, Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe, 1815-1945. Flußfahrzeuge, Ujäger, Vorpostenboote, Hilfsminensucher, Küstenschutzverbände, Bd. 8.1 (München 1993).
Partner
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