N8.jpg Mineship Preußen in dry-dock at Copenhagen, April 1941.EsikatselukuvatThe Netlayer IV ex MV Najade in March 1944 in the Kieler Förde.Mineship Preußen in dry-dock at Copenhagen, April 1941.EsikatselukuvatThe Netlayer IV ex MV Najade in March 1944 in the Kieler Förde.Mineship Preußen in dry-dock at Copenhagen, April 1941.EsikatselukuvatThe Netlayer IV ex MV Najade in March 1944 in the Kieler Förde.
1940: ordered by the Soviet Union as the large sea lighter No 788 (2270 GRT) to built by the Finnish Chrichton Vulcan O/Y wharf at Turku as a war reparation.
Late June 1941: the incomplete hull, named already Eggeroe, was seized by the Finns and building continued for the German Kriegsmarine.
1 Aug 1942: launched as Netzleichter 788 with the diesel engines installed only in Febr 1943.
1 June 1943: commissioned as Netzleger VIII Eggeroe and acted mainly in the Baltic Sea.
April-June 1944: took part in netlaying operations in the Gulf of Finland to renew the net and mine barrages laid in 1943.
15 Sept 1944: nearly captured by Soviet forces when still in the central part of the Gulf of Finland, NE of the Island of Nargön, and ordered by Finnish patrol boats to proceed direction east, towards Soviet bases.
16 Sept 1944: under escort of Finnish patrol boats approached the skerry island of Porkkala, then sharply turned west on maximum speed. The Finnish patrol crafts retreated when the German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen and 2 destroyers approached the scene and escorted Netlayer VIII to Danzig.
Jan 1945: decommissioned and all armament taken off for the use on shore.
May 1945: seized by British forces at Flensburg, in July 1945 acted briefly as hospital ship.
28 Dec 1945: handed over to the Soviet Union and towed into a Soviet Baltic port.
25 Oct 1946: recommissioned in his former duty as the Soviet netlayer Akhtuba, since 1950 acted as a submarine depot ship.
early 1960s: struck from the naval list and scrapped since 24 Aug 1965.

Text and photograph: Sebastian Boreck, Berlin.