Concept/Program: A small merchant ship taken over at the start of WWI and modified for service as a Baltic Fleet seaplane carrier.
Design/Conversion: Very minimal conversion. Seaplanes stored in the aft well deck, hoisted with cargo booms. No hangars.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Rendered unservicable by mine damage in 1916.
Served in the Baltic. Damaged by mines 4 June 1915 and not fully repaired, used as auxiliary hulk after 9/1916. Surrendered to England 21 Jan 1919, repaired and sold into merchant service as Akenside postwar. Renamed Agia Varvara 1920's. Scrapped circa 1955.
Concept/Program: A merchant ship taken over for conversion to a small seaplane carrier. Other details unknown.
Concept/Program: A small merchant ship leased for conversion to a seaplane carrier for Baltic Fleet service.
Design/Conversion: Fitted with hangars and hoisting booms fore and aft. Also fitted as a torpedo boat tender. Initially deemed unsuitable for service after conversion and required modifications prior to commissioning.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Surrendered postwar.
Served in the Baltic. Surrendered to England 1919, sold into merchant service as Vulcan City postwar. Scrapped in 1933.
Concept/Program: A small merchant ship taken over for conversion to a seaplane carrier for Baltic Fleet service.
Design/Conversion: Similar to Answald. Fitted with hangars and hoisting booms fore and aft. Initially deemed unsuitable for service after conversion and required modifications prior to commissioning.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Surrendered postwar.
Served in the Baltic. Surrendered to USA 1919, sold into merchant service as Santa Elena postwar. Renamed Linois 1922, Orvieto (Italian) 1924. Became property of German Navy 9/1943 following Italian surrender. Sunk at Marseilles 8/1944 by bombing or scuttling. Raised and scrapped 1945.
Concept/Program: A small merchant ship taken over for conversion to a depot ship, then converted to a seaplane carrier late in the war, probabl as an emergency measure.
Design/Conversion: Similar to Answald, but more elaborate. Fitted with hangars and hoisting booms fore and aft.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Surrendered postwar.
Surrendered to England 18 Dec 1919, sold into merchant service as Eian Maru (Japanese) 1924. Sunk by US aircraft 25 July 1945.
Concept/Program: A light cruiser converted to operate seaplanes late in the war, probably as an emergency measure.
Design/Conversion: Large hangar fitted between funnels and aft mast; cranes, etc. fitted. Retained cruiser armament forward.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Surrendered postwar.
Stricken 5 November 1919, surrendered to England 20 July 1920 as Prize "S", scrapped in 1921.
Concept/Program: A planned conversion of a large, obsolete armored cruiser as a seaplane cruiser for fleet scouting duties. The project was not carried out, probably because other work had higher priority.
Design: The superstructure aft of the 4th funnel would have been removed, and the hull would have been cut down by one deck, to make space for an extensive hangar and maintenance area. Several cranes would have been carried. The original heavy guns were to be replaced by QF and AA guns.
Concept/Program: Four ships, two converted and two purpose-built, which served as tenders/base ships for civilian trans-Atlantic seaplane operations during the 1930's. All were taken over by the Luftwaffe in 1939-1940 and employed as seaplane tenders. These are not sisterships, but are listed together for convenience.
Design: Of varying designs. Westfalen and Schwabenland were built as smallish passenger liners; they were fitted with a single huge crane and a catapult aft during conversion to merchant tenders. Ostmark was purpose-built; she had a long, open forward deck, 2/3 the length of the ship, a small superstructure offset to starboard, and a large crane at the stern, also offset to starboard. The catapult ran the full length of the ship along the port side. Friesenland was also purpose built. She had a fairly conventional small superstructure forward with a large, open working deck and catapult aft. Modifications in Luftwaffe service, if any, are unknown.
Operational: Served as seaplane tenders in various locations throughout the war.
Built by Tecklenburg AG. Laid down ??, launched 11/1905, completed 1906. Converted to civilian seaplane tender 1933. Taken over 1940.
Modified mid-1941 with superstructure removed and funnel trunked to port. served mostly in the Baltics and Norway. Mined and sunk 7 September 1944.
Built by Duetsche Werke, Kiel. Laid down ??, launched 14 March 1925, completed 17 July 1925. Converted to civilian seaplane tender 1934. Taken over 1939 and commissioned 12 October 1939.
Operated in French ports after 1940, then transferred to Norway. Torpedoed by HMS Terrapin 24 March 1944 and grounded at Egersund to prevent sinking. Temporarily repaired 5-6/1944 and used as an accomodations/stores hulk. Postwar was loaded with gas shells and scuttled 31 Dec 1946 in the Skagerrak.
Built by Howaldtswerke, Kiel. Laid down ???, launched 22 May 1936, completed 1936. Taken over 1939.
Operated in Norway, then off France. Torpedoed and sunk by HMS Tuna 14 September 1940.
Built by Howaldtswerke, Kiel. Laid down ??, launched 23 March 1937, completed 1937. Taken over 1939 and commissioned 5 September 1939.
Operated in France and Norway. Damaged by Russian aircraft 29 September 1944 and beached at Narvik as a workshop hulk, later became repair ship at Trondheim.
Taken over by RN 4/1946 and used as a seaplane depot hulk. Sold into merchant service as Fairsky in 1949. Renamed Castel Navoso, later Argentine Reefer. Scrapped 1968-1969.
Concept/Program: Generally similar to the two purpose-built civilian seaplane catapult ships, this vessel was apparently built for Luftwaffe service. She had a long, flat deck with a catapult, a large crane aft, and a small island forward, on the starboard side.
Hulked as a floating crane at Wilhelmshaven 1949. Fate unknown.
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Concept/Program: Larger versions of Sperber, but otherwise similar to other purpose-built catapult ships. Constructed for Luftwaffe service.
Turned over to the USA in 1946 and sold or transferred in 1947; converted to dredge Ahoy 1951. Fate unknown.
Turned over to the Soviets 1946 and renamed Aeronaft. Fate unknown.
Concept/Program: A series of four tug-type seaplane tenders built for Luftwaffe service. The design featured a large, open working deck aft, with a heavy crane at the forward end of the deck. These are not sisterships but are listed together for convenience; the three initial vessels seem to have been considered as a single series, with the 4th vessel presumably being a later addition to the fleet. Most service details are unknown.
Displacement: 196 tons
Dimensions: 125.25 x 22 x 8.2 feet/38.15 x 6.7 x 2.5 meters
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 750 hp, 15 knots
Crew: ??
Armor: none?
Armament: none?
Aircraft: 1 seaplane; working deck
Built by Norderwerft Koser & Meyer, Hamburg. Laid down ???, launched 11 March 1934, completed 23 March 1934.
Sunk by British bombing at Kiel 7 January 1944.
Displacement: 375 tons
Dimensions: 176.3 x 27 x 8.5 feet/53.75 x 8.3 x 2.65 meters
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 3,200 hp, 19 knots
Crew: ???
Armor: none?
Armament: none?
Aircraft: 2 seaplanes; working deck
Built by Norderwerft Koser & Meyer, Hamburg. Laid down ???, launched 1935, completed 14 April 1935.
Turned over to the Soviets 1946 and renamed Kodor. Fate unknown.
Displacement: 880 tons
Dimensions: 252.6 x 36 x 10 feet/77 x 11 x 3 meters
Propulsion: 3 diesels, 3 shafts, 4,800 hp, 18.4 knots
Crew: ???
Armor: none?
Armament: none?
Aircraft: 2 seaplanes; working deck
Built by Norderwerft Koser & Meyer, Hamburg. Laid down ???, launched 1935, completed 7 November 1935.
Sunk by British bombing at Kiel 7 January 1944.
Displacement: 985 tons
Dimensions: 250 x 35.5 x 11.3 feet/76.2 x 10.8 x 3.45 meters
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 2 shafts, 8,800 hp, 19.5 knots
Crew: ??
Armor: none?
Armament: none?
Aircraft: 3 seaplanes; working deck
Built by Norderwerft Koser & Meyer, Hamburg. Laid down ??, launched 20 February 1937, completed 9 February 1938.
Mined and sunk 10/1944. Hulk raised 1949 and scrapped 1950-51.
Concept/Program: A series of four nearly identical tug-type seaplane tenders built for the Luftwaffe. The design is very similar to Hans Rolshoven and is obviously derived from the Krischan type.
Sunk by British bombing 9/1944.
Interned in Spain 8/1944, turned over to RN 12/1945, then transferred to France 2/1948 as O.E. Paul Goffeny, later renamed Paul Goffeny. Initially designated F754, later designated A754. Operated as a seaplane support ship in Indochina from 1948 to 1955, then as a patrol and rescue ship in the South Atlantic until 1964. From 1964 to 1968 served as a hydrographic vessel. Decommissioned to reserve 30 December 1968. Fate unknown.
Interned in Spain 8/1944, turned over to RN 12/1945, transferred to France 8/1946 as Commandant Robert Giraud (A755) (may have been F755 initially). Operated as a seaplane support ship in Indochina through the 1950's; armament was 1 105 mm, 2 40 mm, 2 dual 20 mm, 2 MG and 1 mortar with a crew of 78. Reclassified as netlayer in 1963 and stationed in Madagascar. Decommissioned to reserve 1976. Fate unknown.
Sunk by Russian bombers 8 April 1945.
Concept/Program: A slightly enlarged version of the Karl Meyer design.
Sunk by Russian bombers 8 April 1945.
Concept/Program: A tug-type seaplane tender, generally similar to the other Luftwaffe tug-tenders.
Taken over by the US 22 Dec 1945, transferred to France 2/1948 as Marcel Le Bihan (A759) (may have been F759 initially). Operated as a seaplane support ship in Indochina from 1948 to 1961, then became a deep-sea dive support ship. Survived at least through 1982. Fate unknown.
Concept/Program: A class of four small seaplane tenders, captured incomplete from the French. The Germans initially planned to complete them as seaplane tenders, but a shortage of cranes lead to the ships being converted to gunboats starting 4/1942. The Germans considered these ships to be lightly built and poor seaboats. The German names listed for these ships were provisional only, were changed before the ships were completed, and were never carried in service; thus the vessels are listed in order by their later numeric designations. Two were lost and two decommissioned in 1944, later returning to French ownership.
Rebuilt as survey ship Beautemps Beaupre postwar, completed 8 May 1947. Stricken 1969, hulked as Q456, scrapped 1973.
Rebuilt as survey ship La Perouse, completed 23 April 1947. Stricken 1969, hulked at Brest, hulk survived at least through 1984. Eventually sunk as a target, date unknown.
Concept/Program: The first class of carriers to be laid down by the Germans. This program was subject to political arguments over which service would operate the aircraft, leading to delays; wartime events brought the program to a halt, and it was killed by Hilter's decision to devote most naval resources to the submarines.
Design: Initially conceived as a ship very similar to HMS Courageous. The design was modified when final design work was undertaken, and emerged with many features typical of European carrier design, especially heavy armor and armament. The ship was very fast so she could outrun raiders or hunters. The armament was designed to counter surface ships and aircraft, leading to significant inefficiencies. The aircraft would have been modified land-based types. Aircraft operating features were poorly designed due to a total lack of experience in shipboard aircraft operation. The design was subject to several changes dictated by wartime events.
Departure from Service/Disposal: Both ships suspended in 1940, but one resumed 1942, only to be cancelled in 1943. The ship became Soviet property postwar and was destroyed as a target.
Raised and seized by the Soviets August 1947; loaded with war booty and towed to Leningrad, then anchored off Swinemunde as a target hulk. Used extensively as a target for bombs and torpedoes before sinking; probably continued as a target after sinking. Hulk was probably eventually scrapped.
Concept/Program: A series of five cruisers and merchant ships were planned for conversion starting 5/1942 as an effort to provide a practical naval aviation force. None of the ships was ever completed as a carrier, and most conversions were never started. All were cancelled late in 1942 or early in 1943, when the carrier programs were cancelled. These were not sisterships, but are listed together for convenience. These vessels are commonly identified by their original names; new names had not been assigned prior to cancellation of the conversions.
Design/Conversion: Generally similar to Graf Zeppelin. The conversion would have involved removal of existing superstructure and construction of a new flight deck, hangar, large island, and a heavy defensive battery. Details varied among the ships.
Built by Blohm & Voss. Laid down 1927, launched 16 August 1928, damaged by fire 26 March 1929, completed 19 March 1930. Accomodations ship 1939, planned for use as invasion transport 6/1940. She would have been the largest of the converted carriers, but the design suffered stability problems. Conversion abandoned 25 November 1942.
Taken as a US prize 8 May 1945, transferred to USN and commissioned as USS Europa 25 August 1945. Served as troop transport, then decommissioned 2 May 1946, transferred to the State Department for further transfer to France 8 June 1946. Wrecked and sunk at Le Havre 8 December 1946 but raised 15 April 1947, repaired, and placed in service 17 August 1950 as SS Liberte. Scrapped at LaSpezia in 1962.
Built by Arsenal de Lorient as a French light cruiser Laid down 11/1938, suspended at the outbreak of war. Conversion abandoned 2/1943. Returned to Franch postwar, launched 11 August 1946 and completed 3 September 1956 as antiaircraft cruiser DeGrasse. Reconstructed 1966 as a command cruiser. Stricken 1973 and subsequently scrapped.
Built by Deschimag, Bremen as a heavy cruiser Laid down 29 Dec 1936, launched 19 Jan 1939, suspended circa 1940, carrier conversion ordered 26 Aug 1942. Stripping work began at Deschimag, Bremen, 12/1942; work stopped 6/1943. Hulk scuttled at Konigsberg 29 January 1945 to avoid capture by the Soviets. Salvaged by the Soviets and eventually scrapped.
Built by Blohm & Voss. Laid down 1934, launched 16 January 1935, completed 27 June 1936. Taken over as transport 6/1940, conversion to carrier started 12/1942 at Blohm & Voss. Conversion cancelled 2 February 1943 after minimal stripping had been carried out; converted to accomodations ship.
Taken over by the British 20 June 1946, put in service as troopship Empire Fowey. Sold as Pakistani pilgrim ship Safina-E-Hujjaj 1960; scrapped in 1976.
Built by AG Bremem. Laid down 1934, launched 17 May 1935, completed 3 January 1936. Taken over as transport 6/1940; planned conversion cancelled 25 November 1942. Mined and sunk 2 May 1943.
