German trawler V 406 Hans Loh

The German trawler V 406 Hans Loh was a steam trawler that became a Vorpostenboot in the Second World War. She was launched in Germany in 1936 as Hans Loh. In September 1939 she was converted into the Vorpostenboot V-402. That October she was renumbered V-206. A mine sank her in the Gironde estuary in August 1942, killing 18 members of her crew.

Building and registration

In 1936–37 Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau built a pair of trawlers at its Seebeck shipyard in Wesermünde, Bremerhaven for the fishing fleet of Grundmann & Gröschel. Yard number 560 was launched as Franz Dankworth, and completed in 1936. Her sister ship was built as yard number 565; launched on 23 November 1936 as Hans Loh; and completed on 7 January 1937.
Hans Loh had the same specifications as Franz Dankworth. Her registered length was ; her beam was ; and her depth was. Her draught was. Her tonnages were and. She had a cruiser stern, and a single screw. She was equipped with wireless direction finding, and an echo sounding device.
DeSchiMAG also built her engines. Her main engine was a three-cylinder triple-expansion engine. It was supplemented by an exhaust steam turbine, which drove the same propeller shaft via DeSchiMAG's patent Bauer-Wach system of a Föttinger fluid coupling and double-reduction gearing. The combined power of her reciprocating engine plus exhaust turbine was rated at 96 NHP, and gave her a speed of.
Grundmann & Gröschel registered Hans Loh at Wesermünde. Her port letter and number were PG 509, and her wireless telegraph call sign was DFCQ.

''Vorpostenboot''

The Kriegsmarine requisitioned Hans Loh on 17 September 1939; had her converted into a Vorpostenboot, and commissioned her as V-402. She served in the 4. Vorpostenflottille, which operated in the North Sea. On 16 October 1939 she was renumbered V-406. After France capitulated to Germany, the flotilla was transferred to the Bay of Biscay; mainly Bordeaux and Bayonne.
On 18 August 1942, V-406 steamed north up the coast from Arcachon to Royan with and. As the three trawlers entered the Gironde Estuary, V-406 struck a mine that the had laid, and sank at position. V-411 rescued 24 members of V-406s crew, but one died shortly afterward. V-411 landed survivors at Royan. In total, 18 members of V-406s crew were killed.