German weather ship Lauenburg

Lauenburg was a German weather ship used in the early years of the Second World War to provide weather reports for German shipping, particularly German U-boats. After the German use of such vessels had been identified as a weakness that could be exploited to break the Enigma code, Lauenburg was captured and sunk on 28 June 1941. The Royal Navy acquired important German code books and parts of an Enigma machine.

HMS Tartar's boarding party prepares to board the weather ship Lauenburg north east of Jan Mayen
History
Nazi Germany
NameLauenburg
NamesakeLauenburg/Elbe
Laid down1 July 1936
Launched1938
Acquired1940
CommissionedNovember 1940
FateSunk 28 June 1941
General characteristics
TypeConverted trawler
Complement
  • 19–21 crew
  • 8 meteorologists
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