Friday, August 10, 2012

the former Warnemünde to Gedser ferry 'Schwerin'

this scene was made into a German stamp in 1937
The Schwerin was built in 1926 by Schichau-Werken in Elbing for the Deutsche Reichsbahn (German State Railways) for use on the ferry service between Warnemünde in Germany and Gedser in Denmark. The vessel measured 106.8 metres long, 18.5 m wide, had a 4.4 metre draft und the tonnage was 3,133 grt, with space for 800 passengers.

Power was provided by two oil fired steam turbines each with two screws and rated at 2100 hp.  Top speed was 15.5 knots. The Schwerin was a double ended rail ferry with both rising stern and bow sections. The double track on the rail deck totaled 164.4 metres. Road vehicles could roll on and off under their own power, at this point in time this had only been possible on rail transporters.

In WW2 the ship was requisitioned by the German Navy and used until boiler repairs were underway in Rostock in 1944.  On 20 February this city was bombed by the Allies and the Schwerin was sunk.  She was raised later but not used and was scrapped in 1949.

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