Model Forum / General / Models / May 2009

Basically from what little I have been able to find out these
(F-Lighters)  were Large Self-Propelled seagoing barges that were
designed for the use of transport purposes initially before , and during
the early days of the war.  With the threat from Allied air increasing
during the day, and from Allied P.T. Boats increased the Germans began
applying armor and armament to many of these barges. This had the end
result of turning them into formidable weapons platforms which they used
for the escort of coastal convoys.

From what I understand the weaponry on these Craft included Two 88mm
cannons protected inside gun houses.  37mm Flak mounts and I think
something around 8 or more 20mm mounts. These Barges could easily outgun
P.T. Boats.  Combining that with the very shallow draft they had made it
really very difficult to torpedo them.

In the Med. the Allies countered them by using mixed groups of Royal
Navy Motor Gunboats and USN P.T. Boats and the M.G. Boats would take on
the F-Lighters while the P.T.'s applied torpedoes to the bulk of the
convoy the  F-Lighters were trying to protect,  and Help the M.G.B.'s
deal with the  F-Lighters.

I have been doing searches for a while. This is so far the only
information I have been able to find out about them.  Would any of you
have or be able to help me to find any more out about them.  The only
pictures i've seen so far have been at an extreme distance an not much
at all.  Can someone find much closer pics of them or some drawings as
to the Detail.  This would be really a very nice project in 1/72 scale I
think.

I do hope some of you out here can give me some help with this.  Or
point me to some sites that would have what I need.
So I do hope you can find something to help out just a little with this.

Thanks so very much in advance

 ...  Carl  ..........

.

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