Schnellboot Type S-38/S-100 Super Drawings in 3D, by Carlo Cestra (Kagero)
E-boat was the Western Allies' designation for the fast attack craft (German: Schnellboot, or S-Boot, meaning "fast boat") of the Kriegsmarine during World War II. The most popular, the S-100 class, were very seaworthy, heavily armed and fast – capable of sustaining 43.5 knots (80.6 km/h; 50.1 mph) and briefly accelerating to 48 knots (89 km/h; 55 mph).
These craft were 35 metres (114' 10") long and 5.1 metres (16' 9"') in beam. Their diesel engine propulsion had substantially longer range (approximately 700 nautical miles) than the gasoline-fueled American PT boat and the generally similar British Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB).
This design was chosen because the theatre of operations of such boats was expected to be the North Sea, English Channel and the Western Approaches. The requirement for good performance in rough seas dictated the use of a round-bottomed displacement hull rather than the flat-bottomed planing hull that was more usual for small, high-speed boats. The shipbuilding company Lürssen overcame many of the disadvantages of such a hull and produced a craft that was fast, strong and seaworthy. This attracted the interest of the Reichsmarine, which in 1929 ordered a similar boat but fitted with two torpedo tubes. This became the S-1, and was the basis for all subsequent E-boats.
E-boats, a British designation using the letter E for Enemy, were primarily used to patrol the Baltic Sea and the English Channel, in order to intercept shipping heading for the English ports in the south and east. They were defined by many naval experts as the best boats of their category in the world.
E-boats of the 9th flotilla were the first naval units to respond to the invasion fleet of Operation Overlord. They left Cherbourg harbour at 5 a.m. on 6 June 1944. On finding themselves confronted by the entire invasion fleet, they fired their torpedoes at maximum range and returned to Cherbourg.
During World War II, E-boats sank 101 merchant ships totalling 214,728 tons. In addition, they sank 12 destroyers, 11 minesweepers, eight landing ships, six MTBs, a torpedo boat, a minelayer, one submarine and a number of small merchant craft. They also damaged two cruisers, five destroyers, three landing ships, a repair ship, a naval tug and numerous merchant vessels. Sea mines laid by the E-boats were responsible for the loss of 37 merchant ships totalling 148,535 tons, a destroyer, two minesweepers and four landing ships. In recognition of their service, the members of E-boat crews were awarded 23 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and 112 German Cross in Gold.
The development of the E-Boats was characterized by continuous growth. In 1939 & 1940 four S-26 were built, recognizable by two 533mm torpedo tubes, giving the bow of these units a characteristic aerodynamic appearance that was maintained by all successive classes. The S-38b in 1942 had a length of 35m and this gave life in 1943 to the more developed S-100 of 100 tonnes at full load.
A new book from Kagero...
Kagero is a well known Polish publisher of specialized modelling books and with the “Super Drawings in 3D” series they have taken the art of reference editions many steps further.
Their latest addition about the Type S-38 and S-100 german E-Boats is no exception: Packed with a plethora of 3D color drawings (we counted more than 130) in 70 pages on matte excellent quality heavy paper, A4 size (210x297mm), you get a wealth of reference material.
The text is minimal, in the form of a historical narrative (overview, design, propulsion, armor, armaments, operational service & conclusion) - 5 pages in total, including general data charts. The rest of the book is full of large color 3D drawings which show in detail almost every aspect of the boat, inside and out. As a bonus a folded double-sided black & white 1/75th scale drawing of the E-Boat is also included, showing the exterior of the craft.
If you plan to build any of the Italeri superb 1/35 scale kits of S-38 or S-100 then you should seriously consider buying this book, as an absolute and essential modeling reference and color guide. You will even find ideas for weathering and adding many small details, like these concerning the guns and cannons, lifeboats, hatches, smoke generators, naval mines, depth charges, etc. to your model.
Highly recommended!
You can order it online here.
