„Falke“ or „Bussard“ – the German catapult ships

When „Lufthansa” completed trials of catapulting airplanes from cargo ships, the “Luftwaffe” began similar ones. In 1938, the first “Luftwaffe” catapult ship SP 11 “Sperber” was built at the “Stulcken Sohn Werft” in Hamburg. Later, two larger ships were built - SP 21 "Bussard" and SP 22 "Falke". Both ships were launched in 1940 at the F. Scichau shipyard in Königsberg. At the outbreak of war, the “Luftwaffe” took over four “Lufthanza” catapult ships, two of which were sunk in the course of the war, and the third was badly damaged. “Bussard” was completed on 01.05.1942 and sent to Aalborg in Denmark. Later, at different times, they were based in different parts of the Norwegian coast, but the main place of activity was northern Norway, from where planes could launch from the ship and follow the movement of northern convoys to Murmansk. At the turn of 1943 and 1944, “Bussard” was repaired, during the repair the anti-aircraft defense of the ship was strengthened by adding two 20 mm cannons. After the war, “Bussard” was transferred to the United States. It was taken over by the US NAVY on 22.02.1946 and in 1947 the ship was sold to the Belgian firm "Fa. Heygen", located in the city of Ghent. Named “Ahoy” and converted to a dredger in 1950. “Falke” was completed on 22.11.1942 and was based in Bergen in central Norway from 14.01.1943. At the end of the war, it fell into the hands of the USSR and was named "Aeronaut" there. Served until 1968 as a supply and rescue ship. The ships could carry (and launch and land alongside) three Dornier Do-18, Dornier Do-24 or Blohm und Voss BV - 138 aircraft.

A small, well-designed model of an atypical warship without a submersible for modelers of all experience. It can be glued by advanced beginners and modelers with little experience working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague. There are also airplane models for both ships.