Eisvogel-class icebreaker

Kingfisher, launched in Wilhelmshaven

20 tbp

Two eccentric wheels

Foundation for a 40 - mm Bofors gun

Germanischer Lloyd

IMO 8736198 (Italy Kingfisher )

The Kingfisher class consisted of two icebreakers Class 721, were from 1961 to 2006 for the Federal Marine / German Navy in the service. The kingfisher is used since 2010 as a civilian tractor in Trieste.

General

The two ships were in 1958 for 4 million each DM in the Hitzler Werft shipyard in Lauenburg commissioned ( yard numbers 645 and 646). The hull has a typical tractor shape and is divided by five bulkheads into six sections.

During their period of service with the German Navy, the two ships were used mainly as the tractor in the naval bases, as tugs of Seezielschießscheiben and in winter as an icebreaker. The equipment consisted of an imbalance ramming system with two eccentric wheels in the bow, a towing device with a bollard pull of 20 tbp and a platform for a 40 - mm Bofors gun behind the bridge superstructure.

Units

• 721/ 01 Germany / Italy Kingfisher (A 1401 )

The lead ship of this class was launched on April 28, 1960 from the pile and was placed on 11 March 1961, the command of the Troßschiffe in service. Later, the kingfisher was subordinate to the Naval Base Command Kiel.

After the decommissioning on March 3, 2006, the kingfisher was first placed in Wilhelmshaven and was then sold on the VEBEG to private owners. After upgrading the ship is registered in Trieste since 2010 and as a tractor for Lucatelli Towing & Salvage in use.

• 721/ 02 Germany Polar Bear (A 1402)

The second ship was built in parallel and ran on 9 June 1960 by the stack. The entry into service in command of the Troßschiffe took place on 1 November 1961. The Polar Bear moved in 1967 to the naval base command Borkum and after its resolution 1996 Naval Base Command Wilhelmshaven. After the decommissioning of 30 October 1997, the ship has VEBEG was sold to the Netherlands for scrapping.