Schnellboot S-31

A victim of its own cargo, the Schnellboot S-31 was part of a sub-group of eight boats (S-30 to S-37) under construction for the Chinese Nationalist Government. At the outbreak of World War II, the eight boats were impounded and completed for the German Kriegsmarine. S-31 was built by the shipyard of Lurssen at Vegesack Beckedorf, Germany, launched in October 1939, and commissioned on 28 December 1939. Measuring 32.76 metres in length, she had a complement of 21 men. Immediately, S-31 joined the 2nd Schnellboot Flotilla at the North Sea in Ostee . In May 1940, S-31 succeeded in seriously damaging the British destroyer HMS Kelly , which had to be towed home. This incident highlighted the capabilities and danger of the Schnellboot. In early 1941, the S-30 type boats were handed over to the 3rd Schnellboot Flotilla . After the end of the Baltic operation , the 3rd Schnellboot Flotilla was released from its service at the end of September 1941, and assigned to the Mediterranean . Their new