1/400 Torpedoboot T 28 (Heller)
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by Stein Gildberg |
1/400 Torpedoboot T 28 (Heller)
Before and during WW2, the German Kriegsmarine built different designs of so-called Torpedoboote – Torpedo Boats. >From the smaller (600 tons) to the larger Fleet Torpedo Boats.The development of German torpedo boats of World War II was centred around the classic concept of using those kind of ships similar to World War I. The key idea was to execute torpedo attacks on other, bigger surface vessels as it was done during the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
While the first new torpedo boats build after World War I were basically small destroyers with an adequate mix of artillery and torpedo armament, those designs build in the mid-1930s were totally focused on torpedo attacks. When it got obvious that those kind of attacks were not possible anymore during World War II, those ships proved to be almost useless for other operations. Therefore, the last Fleet torpedo boat designs returned to a ship equal to a small destroyer.
The Torpedo boats were used in several different ways, for escort duty, mine laying, surface patrols or U-boat training, of the 51 ships build, only 12 survived the war. Some of them were handed over to allied navies and used until the mid-1950s.T28 was one such boat. Being one of the 15 larger Torpedoboats of the «Flottentorpedoboot 1939»-class with a displacement of 1294-ton standard / 1754-ton full load, she was more in class with a destroyer.
Following the conflict, she was transferred to the French navy and given the name Lorraine.
My T 28 was built in 1980 (!) of the box and has spent most of her life stored away. Until 2007-08. My interest in the Kriegsmarine was reawakened, and the alternative was to throw away the old lady, or to carefully take her apart and go for a complete rebuild. Lucky for the ship, the last alternative was chosen.
All colours are Royal Ensign enamels, bought when they were still available and while Royal Mail allowed export… Besides, all remedies from the spare parts bin combined with extensive searches in the Internet ended up in a reasonable decent result. So here she is:
PS: The kit was introduced in 1979 and is still in the market under the name Heller 1:400 Torpedoboot T 23 1943. The kit , being fairly basic and out-dated, can be bought for a reasonable price for those who are bold enough to take on the challenge! Take a close look on the last picture “As built ca 1980”. It IS the same model!
