VEB SCHIFFSELEKTRIK ROSTOCK AND SHIP CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR IN EAST GERMAN SHIPYARDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006700830008-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2008
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: May 23, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the ftPionale Laws. Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which In any manner to an unauthoriasd person is Prohibited by law.
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRE
DATE ACQUIRED
1. In Juns 19148, the VIB Sohiffselektrik was organized in Rosteck-
Marienehs. Until 31 December 1952 it was subordisted to t1 HT
Elektrotechnik, but from 1 January 1953 it came under the BY
Shiffbau of the Ministry for Machine Construction.
2 a It is estimated that there are 3, 000 employees of all types, of which
approximately 18% are women and 420 are apprentices. The specialist
production personnel number 1,150. One hundred and forty apprentices
are trained there at present,l and in the autumn of 1955 it is
expected tint a further 120 new apprentices will arrive.
3e Personalities
Manager: Knoll, Walter
Technical Manager: Mouser., Heins
Commercial Manager: Rockmana
Labor Manager: Weiss, Rudi
Chief Accanntaat: Bahlendorf
Head of Central Planningt Thomaschek, Hans
C. 0. of Factory Guard: Horn, Erich
SSD Representative: Boettcher
Last Germany
TO Sohiffselsktrik Rostock
and Ship Construction and
Repair in East German Ship-
yards
Cr%llorc CUAIIIATIANC ?RF DEFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
a
DATE DISTR. 23 Mc,~ 1955
NO. OF PAGES 10
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
This is UNEVALUATED Information
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39D Informer: Fett, Walter
4. Plant construction Program.
The VIB Schiffselektrik Rostock-Marienehe is the only enterprise
of this type in East Germany. It deals with the entire development,
construction, preparation of material, and the building and installing
of all electrical equipment in ships.
5. Departments and Sections
a. The main office at Marienehe is the head office for all departments
and works.
b. The management of the enterprise is under the Technical Manager,
Commercial Manager for Labor, Chief Accountant, Head of Central
Planning and Works Security.
c. The following sections are subordinated to the Technical Manager:
Construction, Technology, Goods Control, Section Investments
and the Chief Engineer's Section which maintains the plant
equipment.
d. The construction office is divided into three sections, research,
development and general constructione
e. Until 1 January 1955,the chief constructor was Groebel (fna) who,
after this date, was appointee '. professor of the Faculty
for Shipbuilding at the Restock University. The Research and
Development Department is headed by Haertel (fns). The General
Construction Office is headed by H. Bartz. Since the departure
of Groebel, the function of Deputy Chief Engineer Constructor has
been given to Bartz*
f. The General Construction Office is divided into 11 sub-sections,
of which sub-sections 1 to 9 are actual construction sections.
Sub-section 10 is the drafting office and sub-section 3.1 the
tracing office. They are distinguished by the prefix TKR, with
a number. Section TRR-5 is the section dealing with the actual
construction of main and supplementary switchboards and is
located on Friee~richstrasse, Rostock. All other sections are in
Rostock-Bahnhof' where the special section which handles technical
installations in ships for the VP is situated. Access to this
section is only possible with a special pass. All drawings and
designs of this section are highly classified and kept in special
vaults*
g. Under the Construction Office are also the following construction
sections of other shipyards:
Neptunwerft, Rostock
Warnowrwerft, Warnemuende
Mathias Thesen-Ierft, Wismar
Volkswerft, Stralsund
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Small construction groups also under the particular sections of
the Construction Office at Bahnadorf2 are at:
Elbewerft, Res took
Schiffswerft, Rosslau
Schiffswerft, Rothensee
Yachtwerft, Kopenick
Schiffsreparaturwerft, Stralsund
h. Technology
The manager of this section is Kurt Behnke, who lives in Rostock,
Quartierstrasse 3? The section is divided into 3 sub'sebtieast
(1)Planning technology
(2)Production "
(3)Equipnemt and tools
At all building sites there are technical sections which handle
the preparations required for the various tasks.
i. Control of Materials
The Central Office is in Rostock-Marienehe, but there are
representatives at each building site.
6. Outlying Departments
VIB Warnowwerft, Warnemuende
VIB Mathias-Thesea-Werft, Wismar
VIB Neptunwerft, Rostock
VIB Volkswerft, Stralsund
VIB Schiffsreparaturt Stralsund
VIB Yaohtwerft, Koppenick
VIB Thaelmann-#erft, Brandenburg
VIB Schiffswerft Edgar Andre, Rothenses
VIB Schiiffswerft, Rosslau
VIB Peenewerft, Xolgast
VIB Elbewerft, Boisenburg.ti
VEB Schiffswerft, Fuerstenberg/Odor
VIB Schiffswerft, Oderberg
VIB Schiffswerft, Uebigau (Dresden)
VIB Fis chkonbinat, Rostock
VIB Schalttafelwerk, Rostock-Marienehe
Smaller groups are at:
VIB 3chiffewerft, Schuets-Akers
VEB Schiffawerft, Genthin
Reparatur erft, Rechlin
Greifewald
Barth
7. Material Supplies
a. Semifinished or finished components or materials are supplied
first and foremost by the IBA enterprises (installations, cable
and apparatus construction plants) which come under the
Ministry for Machine Construction. As a result of a number
of contracts or agreements, the IKA enterprises had to supply
VIB Schiffselektrik for 1954 with materials to the value of
44,000,000 hE[E. By 31 October 1954, VEB Sohiffselektrik bad
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received materials to the value of 34,000,000 DILL This figure
was expected to rise to 55,000,000 DNS by 31 Deceeber 1954. The
final payments figure f cr 1954 came to approximately 75,000,000
DILL This figure, however, included some 20,000, 000 DKE for
assembly costs (salaries and overhead expenses)*
be Output capacity
The works have been and are working to full capacity. bough orders
are available, and it is the intention to increase the 1954 plan of
65,000,000 to 89,000,000 DNE for 1955. This increase in the
planned figure will, however, be entirely due to an increase in
the value of materials and semifinished components held, and not
to an increase in completed installations. The actual assembly
costs in fact are to be reduced rather than increased as compared
with the 1954 figure of 20,000,000 D ME,
A number of difficulties were encountered during 1954, which
seriously threatened the fulfilment of the year's plan. Apart
from shortages of certain supplies and materials, there was also
a manpower shortage which, especially during the last quarter,
could only be overcome by recruiting workers from Central Germany
as Fremdarbeiter (outside workers) for the VIB Schiffselektrik.
c. Turnover
since 1949, the works were able to fulfil their turnover plans as
laid down by the yearly plans as follows:
1949----6,000,000 DIE
1950---24,000,000 "
1951-22,000,000 "
1952---22,000,000 "
1953---50,000,000 "
1954---65,000,000 "
The 1954 turnover will probably reach the figure of 75,000,000 AL;
the figure is, however, the result of additional orders received
for materials and components and not for actual installations,
It would be unrealistic to deduce from the plan fulfilment of
VEB Schiffselektrik, the fulfilment of the 1954 ship building
program which is known not to have been fulfilled.
d. Reti
Until 1952, the works showed a profit. In 1954 (or even 1953)
the first signs of exceeding the planned costs per installation
appeared, which resulted in the works starting to run at a
loss. This was caused by extensive repairs done to the Soviet
ships -?OVETS I SOYUI, ADMIRAL NAKHINOV ,and NR? DOLGOKUBI at
the warnowwerft shipyards and the LENSOVI&T at the Mathias-
ThesenEerft at Wismar. The cost in ss of the plan for the
SOVWSKI SOYUZ alone came to 1,000, 0O of which only 400,000
was charged; the remaining 600,000 DM had to be borne by the
works. The extra charges arose through waste, faulty material,
faulty workmanship, and overtime. Nevertheless, the works showed
on paper not only a profit of 600,000 3, as per the 1954 plan,
but will probably reach a profit figure of 1,500,000 M. These
profit figures are, however, misleading. They are entirely
connected with the "material" position.
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?. VJM - 1955 Plan
The overall planned budget figure is 89,000,000 DII, of which
approximately 69,000,000 DM are costs for materials and 20,000,000
DI= for installation costs and overheads. The total
number of employees would be similar to 1954, ie a. appr ozi-
mately 3.9000-
f. The total amount of planned work hours of the specialist
personnel (qualified worker s) is 4, 203.306 hours . Wit h a
120% work norm and a production increase to 105%, this equals
1,600 basic roduction workers. The average pay per day
is 1.82 =1 ' in^i uding supplementary pay it usually reaches
about 4.75 DI I ? As some of the employees are not up to
standard, it is intended to exchange them for qualified
personnel. No personnel reductf an is visualized. The sum, of
12,000 DY! is included in the 1955 budget for increase of
salaries.
8. The delivery of switchboard installaticas, cables and motors
in 1954 was not satisfactory and seldom covered the demand.
The tors and generators in particular lad bad insulation
properties. Among other shortcomings,the binding screw of
motors and generators was poorly made, and in the larger types
of equipment the binding screw and its pin broke. 1- -oga?nt
production o1stacles occurred also in the case of switchboards,
as the IKA and W TRBPTOW supplying centers did not supply
the necessary materials because of shortages. At the and of
1954, a prolonged hold-up in the production of cables occurred
as the present type of cable delivered (11100) was to be exchanged
for trpes NI (Marinekabel) and Nil (Narinekunststoffkabel).
The lead coating of the 1(00 often broke or cracked. Breaks in
cables occurred frequently. Supplies of measuring egniprt,
angle . iron, water-tight aluminum alloys,4an3 screws were
unsatisfactory. The various works, therefore, were forced to
seek substitute materials,which resulted in a rise in the asst
of production and cons tructi era.
PART II
Production Orders
1. I_arnowwerft, Warnemundft Activities
a. Now Construction Program 1955
The new construction program at the Warnow shipyard for 1955/56
is confined to the following projects:
(1)
One 10,000 ton freighter, to be 60% structurally
completed in the curreq year. Keel laid
at date of information.
(2) Three 65 m Volga River craft, to be completed this
year .
(3) One 50 ton floating crane, commenced last year, to
be completed by April 1955-
(4) 0mo 15 ton floating crane, commenced last year, to
be completed by April 1955.
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b. Ships Under Repair
(1) 3 SOTUZ - ex HANSA - expected to be ooapleted in
August 1955?
(2) ADIQRAL NAKHIYOV - ex BNLIN - to be 85% ca .p]e ted this
year.
(3) YURY DOLCORUKI - ex HAlBURO - to be 90% completed this
year.
2. gar Andr? Yard, Rothensee,Activitibs
a. New Construction Program 1955
(1) Twelve deep sea tugs (deiner type), to be outfitted
at Rothensee.
(2) light Kuehl Logger (refrigerator luggers), to be out-
fitted at Rothensee. Sea trials at
Wismar but carried out by Rothensee
personnel.
3,. Thaelmaan Yard, Brandenburg Activities
New Construction Program 1955
Twenty-five Fischerei-Seiner for expert to the USE. Sea
trials to be carried out at Greifswald by Brandenburg
persoanal.
4. Xathias-Theses-4erft, Wismar. Activities
a. New Construction Program 1955
New construction work at present in progress or to be begun
during the current year:
(1) Three Volga River craft 95 a-
(2) light tank Tuggers to be built during current year.
(3) One 50 ton floating crane.
(4) .One 15 tea floating crane.
(5)" Seagoing passenger vessel - length 110 m.;8000 H.P.;
to be 40% completed this year.
b. Ships under Repair
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
L 1SOVIN - to be completed at the end of the year.
333TRORITSK, VOLOGDA, VORONISH, to be completed in
September 1955?
KALININI)RAD, to be completed in December 1955?
KRASSIN - this icebreaker is due to return to the
yard by the and of 1955.
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5. Neptuzwerft, Roetock.Actiyities
a. New construction work at present in progress or to be begun
during the current year is as follows:
(1)
(2) Freighters - 3000 to coal firing.
These are supply ships for the USSR Navy and are
locally referred to as Schwimmbrandwachen. The
distinguishing features in connection with these
ships are the powerful pump installations to be
provided. The keel of one vessel has been laid
to date 1
(3) Freighter - 3000 tonal Similar type to
pars, (1) above, but oil firing.
(4) Freighter - 3000 torn Similar type to
(5)
pars, (2) above, but oil firing.
Auxiliary vessel - approx 3000 tons - referred to
as "Project Hilfsschiffw. To be 90% structurally
completed during the current year. Other details
not Imown.
(6) 2 salvage vessels, begun in 1954, to be completed
in December 1955-
(7)
(8)
be Repairs
(1)
6.
One floating crane, 50 tons. To be completed in
September 1955?
Two floating cranes, 15 tons. To be completed in
October 1955-
a small number of
ainesweepers.
(2) SOFIA - expected shortly. Details not known.
Sohiffswerft, (}ehlsdorf/Rostock.Activitiss
a. New Coin traction Program 1955
(1)
Fire fighting boat, 26 m, probably for Sassnita
Harbor.
Two motor launches for the lASTOR.
Four motor launches far the BRAND WHEN
Two motor launches for the EQUATOR (under repair at
the Neptuwserft)
b. Ship Repairs
In addition to the normal repairs to trawlers, loggers and
cutters, the Gehlsdorf yard has been commissioned to
arrange for the general overhaul of the 12 Schwalben
owl epenick,
type vessels built at the Tachtwerft, Berlin-
during 1953/54.
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Of late the Seepolizei VP(S) have shorn an increased interest
in the Schiffawerft itself. Facilities include a modern buildirg
slip for vessels up to 1000 tons and one of 300 tons.
7. Peenewerft, Wolgast, Activities
a. New Construction Program 1955/56
(1) Code name Krake. It was originally planned to
construct four of these vessels in 1955 and four more
in 1956. The revised program calls for the 50%
completion of one Krake during the current year*
The ships are for the VP(S) and are to be 6 m. longer
than the enlarged series of Habicht-type vessels at
present under construction at Wolgast.
(2) Habicht. In addition to the six under construction
and expected to be put into service within the next
four months, a further six are scheduled to be
completed by the spring of 1956.
(3) Code name Skorpion. Also known by the designation
of Object Putbus. Believed to have some connection
with a degaussing station in the vicinity of Wolgast
or on the Island of Ruegen.
(4)
(5)
Six 300 ton coastal motor vessels for export to the
USSR.
One Delphin.
8. Volkswerft, Stralsund Activities
a. New Construction Program 1955
(1) Eighty loggers, for export to the USSR. Constructed
on Taktstrassen (assembly lines) Nos. 1 and 2.
(2) Four trawlers, carried over from the 1954 program,
for export to the USSR. After com letion of the
trawlers,Taktstrassen will be kept clear
for special projects. Details not known.
90 Schiffs u. Reparaturwerft, Stralsund.Activities
a e New Construction Program 1955
(1) Twenty refrigerator ships from the 1954 Elbewerft,
Boizenburg, program. Up to the and of December 1954,
eighteen were completed at Boizenburg and transferred
to Stralsund; not one of these had been fitted out
up to the date of information. A Russian acceptance
committee had insisted be completed
by 10 February 19 55 .
(2) Fitting out of twenty-five refrigerator ships from
the Boizenburg 1955 program. Facilities to cope
with such large contracts are not available at the
yard, consequently the program is unlikely to be
completed during 1955 ?
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10. Elbewerft, Boizenburg,Activitiea
a. New Construction Program 1955
(1)
(2)
Two refrigerator ships left over from 1954 program.
Twenty-five refrigerator ships for 1955 program.
Fitting out yard is the Schiffs u. Reparaturwerft,
Stralsund.
11. Yachtwerft, Berlin/Koepenick,Activities
as New Construction Program 1955
(1) 12 Schwalben for the VP(S), similar in design to the
previous series.
(2) Motor cruiser for the VP(S), length 24 m.
(3) Nineteen steel cutters, length 21 in. from Fuerstenberg.
12. Schiffswerft, Fuerstenberg,Activities
a. New Construction Program 1955
(1) Steel cutters, 17 in number, length 21 m. Built
entirely at Fuerstenberg for export to the USE.
(2) Nineteen steel cutters, length 21 in. ships bodies
only, completion yard fachtwerft, Berlin/Koepenick.
(3) Two steel hulls to be completed by Volkswerft,
(4)
Stralsund.
Two steel hulls to be completed by Mathias-Thssen-
Werft, Wismar*
13. Schiffswerft, Oderberg,Activities
a. New Construction Program 1955
Seventeen steel cutters for export to the USSR. Fitting out
also carried out at Oderberg.
14. Schiffswerft, Rosslau,Activities
a. New Construction Program 1955
(1) Tragflaechenboot - one, similar in design to those
built for the Kriegsmarine in 1940/44. VP(S)
contract.
(2) Forellen - four. Six were originally planned.
VPZ-ST contract.
(3) Freighter (Motorgueterschiff) - 300 tons, six in
number .
(4) 15 refrigerator luggers.
e ?? n_n_s m
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150 Schiffswerft Uebigau Activities
a. New Construction Program 1955
(1) Freighter (Yotorguetersohiff), 450 tons, two
in number to o oaple to 1954 program*
(2) Twelve Schwim fahlrsmmsn3 for export to the
USSR. Transported to destination unassembled.
3?
4.
Comments Possibly Rostock-Barnstorf is ssant.
Comment: As received.
Comment: Possibly the word "containers" was
comment, Floating pile drivers
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