UJ.2172 ex MANNHEIM ex KT.29

[Dido]

As we all know UJ 2172 (ex MANNHEIM, KT.29) was damaged by air attack in Salamis in 15.10.44 while already damaged . I attach two photos taken in late-1944 showing a ship damaged inside the dock in Salamis Naval Base. The ship was positively identified by the AIDMEN team as UJ.2172.

A few days ago, I was going through the pages of an old book when I noticed a sentence concerning the wrecks salvaged postwar in Salamis Base. There it wrote that also salvaged was "a German ship, later named AVRA".
Sometime ago, I found that in March 1952 a steel cargo ship named AVRA was registered in Piraeus under No.1210. Her specifications were: 998 grt, 552 net, 67.53 x 11.12 m.
It was noted in the register that she was the "former auxiliary of the Navy, under the same name".
She changed ownership several times until deleted as having sunk on 14-12-1967 off the coast of Egypt in the Red Sea. Back, then I though that there must have a been a mistake made by the register, as there was no AVRA in the Greek Navy at that time.

Then, I realised that the dimensions of the KTs were exactly identical to the postwar motorship AVRA.
Apparently the former UJ 2172 was refloated and taken over by the Navy (possibly not commissioned) and renamed AVRA. She was sold off in 1952, re-engined and converted to a motorship and sailed for some more years under the same name.

[MarkusL]

Hello,
great pics. One small add up.
The ship is docked in one the 1.200t - "Hebepontons" (lifting pontoons), possible II/41 or III/41, prefabricated by Gollnow/Stettin and assembled at place to be used at Salamis naval facility.
Gives the pictures for sure an extra value.
Regards
Markus

[de domenico]

Thanks for mentioning AIDMEN, Dido

[Seelöwe]

This is a great find, Dido!
Thank you very much! Also the story of the Hebeponton was unknown to me - thanks Markusl!
The old Greek floating dock from Salamis as sunk on the way to Saloniki.
Peter

[SchlPr11]

Hallo Dido,
thanks for you private information and your informations here.
Additional from Lloyds Register 1964-65 the notice about AVRA.
REINHARD

[Asahi.3]

Hi Dido,

Very interesting story and highly interesting photographs of UJ 2172 (ex MANNHEIM, ex KT 29). I would be very much interested on any additional information confirming that MV AVRA is the former Kriegstranporter KT 29.

Only a few weeks ago I got a new photograph of KT 29 Mannheim taken on the Danube River in Linz, Austria in 1944 from Austrian naval specialist Franz Dosch which I have published in my new photographic documentation on KT/SME-Ships in the English language: "German Military Cargo Ships Produced in Series Programs in Southern Europe 1941-1945".

Best greetings from Oslo,
Asahi.3 (Wilhelm Donko)

[Peter K.]

... great pic, WILLI!