Parkkade, Rotterdam, Netherlands 16 December 1957
Photographer Ary Groeneveld
Of the Eider-class type 139 patrol trawlers, in fact former British Isles-class trawlers and which consisted of the Eider (A50) which was the former British HMS Flint (T287) and the Trave (A51) which was the former British HMS Dochet (T286). and built by G.T. Davie&Sons shipyard, Lauzon, Quebec, Canada in 1942 for anti submarine warfare. Both sold in 1947 for merchant shipping purposes but acquired by the Federal German Navy in 1956. Displacement 545 tons and ass dimensions 50,0 (between perpendiculars) x 8,4 x 3,4 (mean) metres or 164 x 27.8 x 11.1 feet. The machinery consisted of 1-850ihp/630kW triple expansion steam engine allowing a speed of 12 knots. Crew numbered 40 men. Armament consisted of light guns. Both ships were used as training ships and fishery protection vessels in the German navy and sold mid1970s to be broken up.
HMS Flint, building ordered on 8 August 1941. Laid down on 29 October 1941, launched on 14 July 1942, commissioned on 11 December 1942 and sold in 1947.
The Dutch newspaper De waarheid dated 17 December 1957 reported that it was a non-official visit to Rotterdam, Netherlands. Commanding officer was corvette captain Karl T Räder. On board were midshipmen. Another Dutch newspaper Het vrije volk dated 2 December reported the intended visit between Monday 16-Wednesday 18 December calling the ships former minesweepers each with a crew of 65 men including 4 officers and 28 midshipmen. It was a training voyage and another planned visit was Saint Malo, France. The edition dated Monday 16th reported that after their naval service both ships first were Belgian property before being resold to Germany. On board were 14 midshipmen between 18-23 years and the voyage was part of their 3 years training. Stationed at Kiel, Germany was a voyage of 4 weeks made around the United Kingdom an several foreign harbours visited. Via Cherbourg, France was Rotterdam visited before their return at Kiel coming Friday. It was the first visit of German warships at Rotterdam since the end of the Second World War.
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