RETURN OF THE ‘SHARK’
Launched in 1943, S130 is thought to be the only surviving example of what has been described as an ‘ocean-going shark’ – a class of fast torpedo boats (the S stands for ‘Schnellboot’ – ‘fast boat’ in German) that used their speed and deadly armament to sink scores of Allied ships during the war. Some 200 were built.
Displacing around 110 tonnes the 114-foot vessels were built in aluminium and timber and powered by three V20 MB 501 Daimler-Benz diesels, each developing 2,000hp. Together they gave the S-boats a top speed of 43 knots – easily the fastest craft
