Mystery paddlers

[Walter Snowdon]

Two mystery photos came my way....

Both a German Navy paddlers apparently used as coastal escorts.

The two funneled vessel is photographed next to a double anti-submarine net, so must be in a large estuary? It has heavy anti-aircraft armament and is possibly fitted for minesweeping.

The single funneled paddler is fitted as an AA escort, and a note with it says it may be in the Baltic (could be a captured polish paddler?).

Any help in identifying these two greatly appreciated
Walter

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Walter,

I don`t know which paddler is on the first picture.

The two funneled paddler on the second pic is almost shure the "Westfalen" of the Emden-Borkum Dampfschiffsgesellschaft. She was build in 1907 by Mayer/Papenburg for the Emden - Borkum service, sometimes also to Helgoland. A few years later Mayer/Papenburg built "Graf Goetzen", later "Liemba", for service on Tanganyjka Lake in German East Africa, which is in use until today.
From 1942 on the "Westfalen" was used as an anti aircraft escort ship and possibly minesweaper at the Atlantic coast at northern France.
In 1944 she was sunk througt a mine in this area and never raised.

Tom

[Walter Snowdon]

Thanks Tom, an excellent result. Regards, Walter.