Schnellboot S-1 – the German torpedo cutter

Schnellboot S-100 is the common name for a class of German torpedo cutters of the Second World War. Ships of this type were built in 1943-1944. Their length was up to 34.9 m, and the standard water capacity was about 93 tons. Top speed was 42-43 knots. The armament of this type of cutters varied widely, but usually consisted of two 533 mm torpedo tubes with four torpedoes, three or four 20 mm guns and one 37 mm or 40 mm gun. Already during the First World War the German Navy had worked intensively on the development of torpedo cutters and this work, which was stopped by the defeat in 1918, was continued at the turn of the 1930s and 1940s. Their result - in 1930 the first modern torpedo cutter appeared, designated S-1, and a year later (1931) the production of S-2 classes ships began (a total of 5 units). In addition, the rather long, but intensive development of this type of cutters led to the creation of the S-100 class (Schnellboot S-100 in German). Ships of this class had very high cruising and maximal speeds, relatively good seaworthiness for their size, and were fairly heavily armed. It is worth noting, that this was perhaps the most numerous class of German torpedo boats of 1939-1945. Torpedo cutters of the S-100 class fought in many areas of water combat: the Mediterranean, Black, Baltic and North seas. It is estimated, that in 1943-1945 they sank or severely damaged about 40 enemy ships and about 100 merchant ships.

A moderately complex, well designed and detailed ship model in gray wartime camouflage. From the publication one of three S-1 type torpedo boat models can be made, differing in cockpit markings (two German, one Spanish) and torpedo tubes (early or later type). The model is not complicated and even a novice modeler, who has made several models will be able to glue it perfectly under the supervision of a more experienced colleague. Of course, there is no place for haste here.