Surface flotillas of the Kriegsmarine were organizational groupings of German naval vessels during World War II based on class of vessel and geographical location. Surface flotillas were not operationally deployed units, but functioned through the administrative command chain of the Kriegsmarine.Gröner E. Die Schiffe der deutschen Kriegsmarine und ihr Verbleib 1939-1945, J.F. Lehmanns Verlag, München (1976)
Overview and higher command
Surface flotillas were first formed in 1938 from preexisting surface divisions, some of which had existed since before the First World War. The surface flotillas were primarily used for mid to smaller class vessels, such as destroyers and minesweepers, while capital ships and heavy cruisers were considered "stand alone" vessels answering directly to a vessel type commander. Surface flotilla commanders reported to a type commander for their particular class of vessel. The Fleet commander of the Kriegsmarine, to which the vessel type commanders answered, was the highest authority for all flotillas.Hildebrand H. & Henriot E. Deutschlands Admirale 1849-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück (1989)
Submarine flotillas were unique in that they were considered operationally deployed commands and answered directly to the Commander of Submarines, oftentimes bypassing other chains of command, including the Fleet commander of the Kriegsmarine. Intermediary regional commands also existed for most U-boat flotillas.Hildebrand H. Die organisatorische Entwicklung der Marine nebst Stellenbesetzung 1848 bis 1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück (2000) Miniature submarines were under the command of the German Navy's special operations branch.
Late in World War II, the German Navy began consolidating several types of harbor defense units, along with their associated flotillas, into a series of naval security divisions. In most cases, the original surface flotillas were then placed as subordinate units to the security divisions.
Destroyer flotillas
German destroyer flotillas were the most recognizable surface units as they were organized along classic naval lines with a designated flotilla flagship and commander. Unlike most of the other surface flotilla commands, which operated out of shore offices, destroyer flotillas commanders were embarked onboard flagship vessels (known as Die Führerzerstörer) and would occasionally put to sea along with the vessels of their command. The destroyer Leberecht Maass (Z1) was the first flotilla's designated flagship in 1939, later replaced by the Wilhelm Heidkamp (Z21) and then the Z28 in 1943.
There were eight destroyer flotillas authorized by the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War, of which seven were eventually established. The standard rank for a destroyer flotilla commander (Flottillenchef) was Kapitän zur See, although some flotillas were commanded by officers ranked as Fregattenkapitän. Each flotilla staff also contained an engineering officer (Die Flottilleningenieure) who was normally a Korvettenkapitän. In tactical situations, destroyer flotillas commanders were often designated as small group leaders, as was the case during the invasion of Norway.Dildy, D. Denmark and Norway 1940: Hitler's Boldest Operation. Oxford: Osprey Publishing (2007)
List of Destroyer flotillas
Flotilla Formed/Predecessor Unit Assigned vessels1. Zerstörer-FlottilleJuly 1939(1st & 3rd Destroyer Divisions)Georg Thiele (Z2), Max Schultz (Z3), Richard Beitzen (Z4), Friedrich Ihn (Z14), Erich Steinbrinck (Z15), Friedrich Eckoldt (Z16)2. Zerstörer-FlottilleOctober 1939(2nd Destroyer Division)Paul Jacobi (Z5), Theodor Riedel (Z6), Hermann Schoemann (Z7), Bruno Heinemann (Z8)3. Zerstörer-FlottilleDecember 1939(5th Destroyer Division)Diether von Roeder (Z17), Hans Lüdemann (Z18), Hermann Künne (Z19), Karl Galster (Z20), Anton Schmitt (Z22)4. Zerstörer-FlottilleApril 1939(6th & 8th Destroyer Division)Wolfgang Zenker (Z9), Hans Lody (Z10), Bernd von Arnim (Z11), Erich Koellner (Z13)Reformed in 1942Z31, Z32, Z33, Z34, Z37, Z38, Z395. Zerstörer-FlottilleMay 1940(1st Destroyer Flotilla)Paul Jacobi (Z5), Theodor Riedel (Z6), Erich Steinbrinck (Z15), Friedrich Eckoldt (Z16)Reformed in 1942Richard Beitzen (Z4), Hermann Schoemann (Z7), Friedrich Ihn (Z14), Z25, Z296. Zerstörer-FlottilleMay 1940(2nd, 3rd, & 4th Destroyer Flotillas)Paul Jacobi (Z5), Theodor Riedel (Z6), Hermann Schoemann (Z7), Bruno Heinemann (Z8), Hans Lody (Z10), Karl Galster (Z20), Z33, Z36, Z438. Zerstörer-FlottilleDecember 1940Z23, Z24, Z25, Z26, Z27, Z28, Z29, Z30
Torpedo-boat flotillas
During the Second World War, the Kriegsmarine authorized the formation of ten flotillas for the "auxiliary destroyers", or German torpedo boats. The torpedo boat flotillas were formed from preexisting commands of the Reichsmarine, known as Torpedobootsflottille, several of which had been founded during or before World War I. Of the ten authorized World War II torpedo boat flotillas, nine were commissioned (8.Torpedobootsflottille was authorized but never formed).
List of Torpedo-boat flotillas
Flotilla Formed Assigned vessels Primary Class1. Torpedobootsflottille1935T1, T2, T3, T4, T9, T10 Type 35 torpedo boat2. TorpedobootsflottilleT5, T6, T7, T8, T11, T123. Torpedobootsflottille1937T13, T14, T15, T16, T17, T18, T19, T20, T21Type 37 torpedo boat4. TorpedobootsflottilleT22, T23, T24, T25, T26, T27Elbing-class torpedo boat5. Torpedobootsflottille1938TB Albatross, TB Greif, TB Falke, TB Kondor, TB MöweType 23 torpedo boatTB TigerSleipner-class destroyerT34, T35, T36Elbing-class torpedo boat6. Torpedobootsflottille1937T28, T29, T30, T31, T32, T337. Torpedobootsflottille1940TB Panther, TB LöweSleipner-class destroyerTB LeopardType 24 torpedo boat9. Torpedobootsflottille1943TA14, TA15, TA16, TA17, TA18, TA19, TA37, TA38, TA39Torpedoboot Ausland10. Torpedobootsflottille1944TA23, TA24, TA27, TA28, TA29, TA30, TA31, TA32, TA33
Escort flotillas
Escort flotillas were the smallest number of surface units to be created, due in part to the Kriegsmarine limited use of the destroyer escort type vessel. The Kriegsmarine would only construct ten F-class escort ships which were originally grouped into two escort flotillas (1. und 2. Geleitflottille) formed in 1937 and 1938 respectively. In September 1942, the Kriegsmarine authorized two additional escort flotillas and formed the 31. Geleitflottille to which were assigned fifteen "auxiliary patrol ships", with hull numbers G-3101 through G-3115. In the summer of 1943, the Kriegsmarine further formed the 30. Geleitflottille to which were assigned thirteen auxiliary escort ships (mostly converted civilian craft) with hull designations "D", "FZ", and "MR".
In March 1943, the Kriegsmarine overhauled the escort flotillas and ordered the formation of five new flotillas (1 through 5 Geleitflottille) utilizing foreign boats of the Torpedoboot Ausland program, "G class" auxiliary patrol ships, as well as auxiliary cutter ships designated by hull number "SG". The original F class escort ships were interspersed into the new flotillas, with the bulk of these ships assigned to the 5. Geleitflottille.
The final order of battle for the escort flotillas was:
1. Geleitflottille (March 1944 - March 1945): 13 Torpedoboot Ausland (TA) torpedo boats. 2. Geleitflottille (March 1944 - May 1945): 5 TA boats and 10 G type auxiliary patrol boats 3. Geleitflottille (March 1943 - June 1944): 7 TA boats and three SG type auxiliary cutters 4. Geleitflottille (March 1943 - August 1943): 5 TA boats 5. Geleitflottille (April 1945 - May 1945): 4 F-class escorts and 4 TF class auxiliary torpedo-boats
Minesweeper flotillas
Minesweeper flotillas were organized into over forty flotillas for the regular minesweepers, as well as thirty five auxiliary minesweeper units. A third category of flotilla existed for the Sperrbrecher "mine barrage" craft. The first minesweeper flotilla of the Kriegsmarine was formed in 1936 from pre-existing units of the Reichsmarine which had maintained two minesweeper and one auxiliary minesweeper flotilla during the inter-war years. The first auxiliary minesweeper flotilla was formed shortly afterwards in October 1937.
Minesweeper flotillas were considered administrative units, operating from shore offices, and did not maintain a standard flagship as was the case with the destroyer flotillas. The standard rank for a minesweeper flotillas commander was that of Korvettenkapitän.
Attack boat flotillas
The Kriegsmarine authorized twenty five Schnellboot flotillas for formation during the Second World War, of which fourteen were eventually established. The German Navy also maintained an attack boat training division (Schnellboots-Lehr-Division) consisting of four training flotillas. In November 1943, the 3rd, 7th, 21st, 22nd, and 24th S-boat flotillas were consolidated into the 1st S-Boat Division (1. Schnellbootsdivision).
The standard S-boat flotilla consisted of eight boats in 1939-40 (established strength often exceeding operational strength through maintenance or attrition), although some flotillas later in the war operated as few as six or in excess of twelve. Flotillas were commanded by officers ranked as Kapitänleutnant while S-boat divisions were commanded by those ranked Fregattenkapitän.
Patrol boat flotillas
Vorpostenboote were auxiliary naval vessels, often converted civilian craft for use as harbor patrol and sentry vessels. These patrol boats were organized into thirty five primary flotillas covering the various German naval ports. An additional two "security flotillas" (the 7th and 13th Sicherungsflotille) were formed in early 1943 for general port security duties.
Patrol boat flotillas were strictly administrative and operated from shore offices, most often commanded by an officer ranked as either Kapitänleutnant or Korvettenkapitän.Lohmann W. Hildebrand H., "Die deutsche Kriegsmarine 1939 - 1945", Podzun-Verlag (1956)
Submarine chaser flotillas
Submarine chasers were designated as "UJ" class vessels (U-Bootjäger) and were augmented by "service war craft" (KT class vessels) which were usually smaller converted ships used as ASW trawlers. Beginning in 1940, German minelayers (Minenschiffe) were also administratively attached to the submarine chaser flotillas. The standard rank for a submarine chaser flotilla commander was Korvettenkapitän.
List of submarine chaser flotillas
1st UJ-Flottille (Baltic Sea) 2nd UJ-Flottille (Adriatic Sea) 3rd UJ-Flottille (Black Sea) 11th UJ-Flottille (Norway) 12th UJ-Flottille (North Sea) 14th UJ-Flottille (Atlantic Coast) 17th UJ-Flottille (Norway) 21st UJ-Flottille (Aegean Sea) 22nd UJ-Flottille (Tyrrhenian Sea) 23rd UJ.-Flottille (Black Sea)
In 1943, a "13th UJ Group" (13. UJ-Gruppe) had also been formed from vessels of the smaller flotilla units.
Minelayers attached to submarine chaser units
- (11. UJ-Flottille) Cobra - (12. UJ-Flottille) Kaiser - (12. UJ-Flottille) Roland - (12. UJ-Flottille) Königin Louise - (13. UJ-Gruppe) Preussen - (17. UJ-Flottille) Tannenberg - (17. UJ-Flottille) Schiff 23 - (17. UJ-Flottille)
Submarine net flotillas
Known as Netzsperrflottille, these units were composed of small craft designed to mount submarine netting within German harbors. Submarine net flotillas were typically commanded by an officer ranked as Korvettenkapitän. A typical flotilla would be composited of between three and five "net layer" vessels and upwards of twelve to fifteen "net tender" vessels. Submarine net flotillas were designated by geographical regions; for larger regions, flotillas could be sub-divided into smaller submarine net groups (Netzsperrgruppe). Some of the large submarine netting groups were further subdivided into Arbeitsgebiet (Working Areas) to cover smaller ports and harbors.
List of submarine net flotillas
Netzsperrflottille Nord Group 1 - Kirkenes (Arbeitsgebiet "Petsamo" and "Kraftwerk Jäniskowski")