LADUNGSSCHNELLBOOT LINSE (LENTIL)

In early 1942 was initiated the development of a small motorized vessel for riverine sabotage. These crafts operated in threes, two explosive boats and one control boat. The former, packed with a 300 kg (later 400 kg) charge in the stern, was piloted by a single crewman until the moment when the control boat took over by radio control. The boat operator then jumped overboard to be rescued by the control boat. 

The Linse displaced 1.2 tones. It was 5.75 meters length and was powered by a 3.6-litre Ford 95 hp Otto motor V-8 giving 3,300 revolutions driving two Voith-Schneider propellers. The boat could turn on the spot. Range was 80 sea miles at 15 knots cruising speed. Maximum speed was 31 knots.

Source: Rob Arndt

The Linse displaced 1.2 tones. It was 5.75 meters length and was powered by a 3.6-litre Ford 95 hp Otto motor V-8 giving 3,300 revolutions driving two Voith-Schneider propellers. The boat could turn on the spot. Range was 80 sea miles at 15 knots cruising speed. Maximum speed was 31 knots.

The boat was equipped with an ultra shortwave transmitter (7-metre band, manufacturer Blaupunkt). The radio beam of the high frequency transmitter was modulated with various low frequency tones. Each tone was an order.

The first use of the Lentil was during the  attack on the Anzio bridgehead in April 1944, but  mainly it participated in defensive struggles of small combat units on the Dutch Scheldt estuary  ( Battle of the Scheldt estuary ). In addition, there were missions in the Mediterranean, on the Balaton (Hungary) and in the Lake Peipsi ( Estonia).

You can see the Lentil in action on YouTube at KRIEGSWOCHENSCHAU.

The Explosive Boats of the Kriegsmarine