Kriegsfischkutter KFK
By Herwig Danner
Hardcover in dustjacket, 200 pages, ship list, bibliography
Published by Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH, August 2001
Language: German
ISBN-10: 3-8132-0729-3
ISBN-13: 978-3-8132-0729-3
Dimensions: 8.4 x 10.8 x 0.6 inches
During the Second World War the Kriegsmarine requisitioned smaller vessels of all types and impressed them into naval service as “Security Forces”. Captured naval vessels were used and suitable civilian vessels were requisitioned, others were new construction ships designed to be used as patrol vessels during the war and as fishing vessels after the war was over. They were organized into more than 120 separate Flotillas and operated anywhere the Kriegsmarine was active. The smallest of these ships were the Kriegsfischkutter (KFK), which broadly translates as “war fishing boat”. These small ships were armed and equipped to perform a variety of roles including minesweeping, anti-submarine warfare, patrol, and convoy escort. The KFK program was the largest German shipbuilding effort in terms of numbers during the war, 1,072 were ordered and 612 were built in 42 shipyards in 7 countries.
Despite the interest demonstrated by WWII history enthusiasts for all things German, the Kriegsmarine Security Forces remain obscure and very little has been written about them. In this book author Herwig Danner describes the design and construction of the KFK program as well as combat employment and flotilla organization. Fully a quarter of the book is devoted to a short basic history of each boat which includes construction, flotilla assignments, and ultimate fate when known. This list alone makes this work invaluable to researchers. Also included are several photographs, as well as maps and drawings. Of particular interest are drawings of the KFK-D, an enlarged version of the basic design with two engines and three weapons platforms, as well as conversions for civilian uses made after the war.
This book is rare on the used book market today, and largely unknown to English readers. Still, it is one of the very few works on the KFK. While I do have a very limited understanding of German I am no where near fluent enough to access the material in this book, as compelling as it may be. Fortunately, there are work arounds for both of these problems. My small-town local library punches far above its weight, I was able to secure a copy from them via inter-library loan. The Google Translate app allows the text to be converted to the language of your preference in real time right on your phone. Both tricks come in handy when the best reference on the topic is too expensive or in a language you cannot read.
This is intended as a history of the KFK and is invaluable as such. As a modeling reference, scale drawings in a gatefold format and color plates illustrating camouflage schemes would be welcome additions, as would larger reproductions of the photographic material. Having said that, this book is a great place to start when researching material for reproducing a Kriegsfischkutter in scale, highly recommended!
Inch High Guy 