Kergroise was built in 1918 as the German patrol vesselSMS Bunnemann. Allocated to the French Navy in 1920, she was sold in 1921, becoming the fishing trawlerKergroise. She was requisition by the French Navy in 1939 for use as a minesweeper. She was sunk in June 1940. Subsequently refloated in April 1941 and repaired. In October 1942 was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a vorpostenboot, serving as V 422 Kergroise. She was sunk in June 1944.
Description
The ship was 38.24 metres (125 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 7.06 metres (23 ft 2 in). She had a depth of 4.15 metres (13 ft 7 in), and a draught of 3.06 metres (10 ft 0 in).[1] She was assessed at 261 GRT, 84 NRT. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine, which had cylinders of 33 centimetres (13 in), 51 centimetres (20+1⁄4 in) and 84 centimetres (33 in) diameter by 60 centimetres (23+3⁄4 in) stroke. The engine was made by Görlitzer Maschinenbau AG, Görlitz. It was rated at 52nhp.[2] The engine powered a single screw propeller. It could propel the ship at 9 knots (17 km/h).[3]
In 1921, Bunnemann was sold. She was renamed Kergroise and converted to a fishing trawler. She was owned by the Société des Pêcheries de St. Pierre et Miquelon. The Code Letters OKSX were allocated.[2] In 1931, she was sold to the Compagnie Laurentaise de Chalutage, Lorient, Morbihan, France.[4] The fishing boat registration L 2109 was allocated,[1] In 1934, her Code Letters were changed to FNVH.[5]
On 23 September 1939, Kergroise was requisitioned by the French Navy for use as a minesweeper. The pennant number AD 134 was allocated.[1] She was scuttled at Loirent on 18 June 1940.[6]Kergroise was refloated on 4 April 1941 and subsequently repaired. She was commissioned by the Kriegsmarine on 13 October 1942 as the vorpostenboot V 422 Kergroise. She was bombed and sunk off Lorient by Allied aircraft on 30 June 1944.[1]
^ ab"Kergroise (58298)"(PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. KER-KIN (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1930–1931. Retrieved 6 January 2023 – via Southampton City Council.
^"Kergroise (08332)"(PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. KER-KIN (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1931–1932. Retrieved 6 January 2023 – via Southampton City Council.
^"Kergroise (61932)"(PDF). Lloyd's Register: Chalutiers &c. KEN-KET (in English and French). London: Lloyd's Register. 1934–1935. Retrieved 6 January 2023 – via Southampton City Council.
Gröner, Erich (1993). Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945 (in German). Vol. 8/I: Flußfahrzeuge, Ujäger, Vorpostenboote, Hilfsminensucher, Küstenschutzverbände (Teil 1). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN3-7637-4807-5.
