s130 The Last Survivor pt 1
The first video podcast in a unique series of five. S130 is an astonishing craft. Built in 1943, she was one of the fastest boats on Earth and was a feared weapon of war. The allies had nothing that could match her for both speed and raw firepower. S130 is the last known surviving craft of her type. An S-100 class Schnelleboot, or E-boat, she represents the pinnacle of naval engineering and has had an incredible service history spanning some 48 years with three different Navies.
This was the maddest
This was the maddest enterprise I've ever been involved with, but also the most exciting and unusual. "Find me an E-Boat" said JW, so for three days the marketing of Liquid Bandwidth came to a grinding halt whilst I scoured the internet for a world war 2 German Kreigsmarine fast attack craft - a Schnelleboot or E-Boat.
And find one we did - the first was in the River Seven, in a bit of a state, but a start. Then we heard about one still afloat in Germany so we went over to see her. Three ladies were living on board and one negotiation later we'd secured her.
A major engineering project then got underway as we had to prepare S130 for the journey back to England. We had planned to sail her under her own steam as the engine (a 16 cyliner Italian diesel) was fine, but for safety we'd have a tug with us just in case.
Unfortunately she was sabotaged and we got a frantic call saying she was 4ft underwater! By the time we'd sorted the leak (sea cocks smashed) the briney salty water had destroyed the starter motor and flooded the engine.
But at least we sail her in the inner harbour before this incident, she slipped along at 7 knots on tickover!
A break in the weather saw us prepare to bring the boat back under tow, and that's really where this multi-part documentary begins.