Schnellboot S-31 -72 meters.

E-boat was the Western Allies' designation for the fast attack craft (German: Schnellboot, or S-Boot, meaning "fast boat") of the Kriegsmarine during World War II. The most popular, the S-100 class, were very seaworthy, heavily armed, and fast – capable of sustaining 43.5 knots (80.6 km/h; 50.1 mph) and briefly accelerating to 48 knots (89 km/h; 55 mph)

  The overall  Length: 34.9 m and Weight up to 120 t, with a  Speed: 43.8 knt the Engines Three 20-cylinder 2000 hp Daimler-Benz MB501 diesels driving three shafts. Armament: 2 × 53.3 cm (21 inches) torpedo tubes, with room for 2 more torpedoes (for reloading). 1 × 20 mm gun, (20 mm single on early boats, twin and special bow version on later classes) 1 × 40 mm gun (40 mm Bofors) on some S-38 class boats.

               

1 of the 3 engines that can be found.

The outside of S-Boats were covered by mahogany casing, with an internal hull of light metal. The mahogany would have rotted away. S-31 had three Daimler Benz MB502 diesel engines = 4800 BHP total. With 3 propellers. Maximum speed 38 knots. Range - 800 sea miles at 30 knots. Armament: 2 x 533 mm torpedo tubes, 2 x 20mm guns. Crew: 24 men. At the time of loss S-31 had 2 Italian officers as observers, who were among the survivors.

 During the afternoon of 9/5/42 intelligence through the Luftwaffe indicated that the WELSHMAN, which was making a solo run to Malta, would arrive at Valletta before dawn of 10/5/42. So the German 3rd MTB Flotilla carried out an operation to intercept the minelayer as she approached Valletta harbour from the NE, which was the normal direction of approach to Valletta by the British warships at that time. Four MTBs (S-54, S-56, S-57 & S58) would wait for WELSHMAN off the St Thomas area to attack her as she approached up the SE coast. Three other MTBs (S-31, S-34, and S-61) were first to lay a minefield stretching out off Sliema point in order to cover this side should WELSHMAN approach Valletta via the NW instead - this would be a fresh minefield which the British would have had no time to clear. After laying this minefield the three MTBs were to go eastwards.

Words cant explain the feeling of looking down a tube at a torpedo.

The 7 MTBs left Augusta at 2200 of the 9/5/42 and at 0414 of the 10 May the three MTBs began laying the minefield which was in the shape of an isosceles triangle. The minefield consisted of 20 FMC mines (contact mines), 6 explosive buoys and 2 cutting buoys and it was completed at 0421 (7 minutes). The three MTB had to regroup, & go eastwards in search for WELSHMAN, but suddenly one minute after the lay had stopped S-31 exploded a mine, probably one S- 31 had just laid and had cut loose from its moorings, rising to the surface and drifted into S-31. She now sits on the sea bed -72 meters fully intact with its original weaponry including torpedoes ready for launching in the torpedo tubes. However, divers are advised that the areas are prone to strong underwater currents & caution moving around on the wreck as its still got lots of live ammo on her and she is a war grave so respect the site pls.

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