Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: Spyderman_uk on April 18, 2008, 07:27:21 pm

Title: F-lighters
Post by: Spyderman_uk on April 18, 2008, 07:27:21 pm

Although not technically a model question, I suppose it could be if I decide to build one, but does anyone know what f-lighters look like?
The ones I am thinking of are those used in the Mediterranean as German coastal vessels and escorts.

I like to have a visual idea of how things look in order to understand things. Any links to images or details about these craft?
This comes from me reading Flag 4 at the moment, to get an idea of the sort of work the allied coastal vessels did.

Cheers
Terry O0

Title: Re: F-lighters
Post by: longshanks on April 18, 2008, 10:23:04 pm

Hi Terry,
Found a couple of snippets
"Displacing 280 tonnes,the Transport Ferry Type D was built in quantity between 1942-44. In later years   artillery ferries, the famous F-lighters, were converted and built from the standard ferry design."

Got a picture in another book showing a plain barge, apparently twin engined - speed given as 10-12 knots. Armament 2 - 4 x 88mm flak guns plus a 20mm 4 gun flakvierling installed on tower in centre. The pic also shows the barge carrying several vehicles.

Scanner sulking at the moment so cant include pic.

Hope this is some help
Regards

longshanks

Title: Re: F-lighters
Post by: cdsc123 on April 19, 2008, 09:52:19 am

Here's some more;

http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=838

http://members.aol.com/MSM1250/images/OtherLines/GermLandingShip.jpg

http://www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/ships/landingcrafts/afp/index.html

http://www.modellmarine.de/phpwebsite/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=446

Photos from Reynolds Med MTBs & Whitley German CF of WW2;

Title: Re: F-lighters
Post by: Spyderman_uk on April 19, 2008, 11:25:48 am

Cheers Guys just what I wanted!  O0

They look like heavily modified landing craft, which is how I thought they may look, but it is nice to be sure.

What sort of weights would those things be? I still can't judge a vessels size by it's tonnage, which is what the RN seem to go by.

Can't you just tell I am land-locked and have no sea-worthy abilities! {-)

Oops, just noticed in last link above it states "250 - 380 tonnen", so I guess they could be anything up to around 500 tonnes?