The spectacular wartime career of S130 - unwaveringly linked with Gunther Rabe, known by his peers and enemy alike as “The Raven” - ended officially on the 7th May 1945 when the German High Command surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Nations.

This delay, and well publicised re-enactment, was to allow Joseph Stalin to be the first in telling his Nation “that the European War was finally over”.  

Although confidently expected for some time by the Allies, the news of the Official surrender was withheld, to be re-enacted the following day in front of many gathered Russian Military Officials and Recorders.

While the mutual distrust between the former allies festered, seen by many to be growing more ‘septic’ by the day, it was not then realised that the military career of S130 was far from over; S130 was shortly to begin another and quite unique phase in its existence.
One of the fears, that had been discussed for some time within the Allied coalition, was a perceived threat from undisciplined fanatical Nazi elements that may surface within the German Military or civilian population after any eventual surrender. Consequently an item within the ‘Articles of Surrender’ was the demand by the Allies that after the cessation of hostilities, “…proper order and discipline must be maintained….” Just days before the official surrender, on the 2nd May 1945, Kiel had suffered a very heavy, but significantly the very last, European  attack by the RAF’s Bomber Command. With great concern for any situation that may develop, possibly with Allied POW’s being used as ‘bartering instruments’ (to try and dilute the severe ‘Unconditional Terms’ demanded), the German Military attache were warned that if they did not fully comply, and agree to the complete Terms, the threat of ‘renewed and severe bombing’, including the direct targeting of the surviving German civilian population, would be issued to Gross Admiral Doenitz, (the then incumbent German Furher). This threat also included action if the German Fleet tried to scuttle any of its surviving craft; as had happened after the WW1 Armistice. However, if any example was required of ‘dedication to duty and discipline’ – part of an exemplary culture still followed by many within German Officer ranks - Fds  (Fuhrer Der Schnellboote) Rudolph Peterson, saw clearly that to maintain authority and discipline’ within his own area of responsibility - the

After the War, Rudolph Peterson, although feted as a National hero by German Schnellbootewaffe Veterans at their post war re-union meetings, that decision would weigh heavily upon his conscience. Later it was said to have contributed to his deep melancholic demeanour and diagnosis of ‘Severe Depressions’. He was to regret signing that Warrant to his dying day. (b1905 - d1983).

Kapitan Lt Gunther Rabe and S130, still attached to the war weary 9th Flotilla, had entered Den Helder on the 4th May 1945; he having been in command of the boat since it was first launched on October 21st 1943.
Technically, from the time of the surrender, he was a Prisoner Of War,  but on the 5th of July he was ordered, together with his entire crew, to sail S130 to Wilhelmshaven, where many vessels of the former Kreigsmarine were being concentrated. There the official paths of Gunther Rabe and S130 were finally parted.
To gain release from his Prisoner of War status, Gunther Rabe joined the German Minesweeping Administration (GMA) in 1946, and ‘shipped aboard’ the former Schnellboote Tender ‘Tsingtao’; by then engaged in the dangerous activity of clearing the minefields around Denmark and the Netherlands.
He was finally allowed to return to a peace time employment as an Import-Export Salesman in Hamburg in 1948.

‘ Schnellbootewaffe – he signed a Warrant ordering the execution of three deserters. This being performed, by firing squad, aboard the ex-Danish ship ‘Buea’ on the 10th May 1945, 2(3) days after the official surrender.

S130, being declared a ‘Prize of War’, was requisitioned by the Royal Navy. Not much is known for an absolute certainty of its activities from mid ’45 to ’48 but there has been some conflicting ‘evidence’ seen that, alongside sister boat S208, it was partly crewed by British Officers with certain ‘key’ RN Ratings, (together with former German combatants) and used in some early, pre ‘Gehlen Org’, activities.

A post war shot of S130 - (the original of this image shows that he/she is flying a White Ensign) - without its RN Pennant number (P5230) - but carrying  late British pattern marine radar.

It had also been recognised, fairly early during the hostilities, that post War there would be a need for a far reaching intelligence network to ‘protect’ the delicate peace that was being foreseen. To illustrate just a small fraction of the murky world of espionage, as far back as 1943, during the height of the European War, the German General, Reinhard Gehlen, Hitler's Intelligence Chief of Staff for the Eastern Front, had been approached by an agent of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The US agent who had put these overtures in motion, was to be a future Director of  

the CIA  - the ‘tainted’ Allen Dulles.
At the end of the War, after much intrigue between several factions in the US Army and the OSS, General Gehlen was whisked away to Fort Hunt in Virginia USA (images of Gehlen, from the US National Archive - taken shortly after being arrested and transferred to Fort Hunt).  

An intensive ‘debrief’ of his wartime activities then began, especially regarding his work as a Nazi Intelligence Officer. After being given special protection and dispensation from arraignment to the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, he agreed to continue with his espionage network (which was largely still in place); it became known as the "Gehlen Org".
Used and funded by the United States, for almost ten years the Gehlen Org was virtually the CIA's only source of intelligence regarding Eastern Europe (by 1955 it had evolved into the Bundesnachrichtendienst, or BND – West Germany's equivalent of the CIA).

Some former German Naval personnel regarded General Gehlen a traitor to their Fatherland and refused to work with him or ‘his’ organisation, but Kapitan Lt Hans Helmut Klose - the ex-War time CO of S208 - formed a small Flotilla of requisitioned German S boats, which came to be known as the ‘Klose Fast Patrol Boat Squadron’ - KFPBS. This little fleet became actively engaged with the insertion of secret agents onto the Baltic coastlines of Lithuania, Poland, Estonia and other ‘buffer’ states of the then Soviet Republic.

Gunther Rabe was not believed to have to have participated; while any evidence, as to whether S130 was an active participant in those very early excursions, is contradictory. What is known, is that after the RN had refitted ‘her/him’ with sophisticated signal listening equipment (and radar) in 1949, P5230 (as ‘she’ was then known) became actively engaged in eavesdropping on Soviet Naval and Military manoeuvres in the Baltic Sea - being attached to the ‘The British Baltic Fishery Protection Service’ - BBFPS, this organisation having been formed by MI6, as a cover.
The western ‘Exercises'– (by now NATO - Treaty signed April 1949)  in that area were given various code titles. One of the most infamous and well known, was ‘Operation Jungle’. This operation, being just one of many, was to be severely compromised by the capture and the ‘turning’ of agents by the Soviet KGB. It was to be several years before the Western Allies became aware of the extent of the damage done by agents ‘turned’ by the Soviet Secret Service.
During the Cold War years of ’49-’52, much information was gathered electronically by craft of the KFPBS, and including - at least after 1949 – the craft known as P5230 - now operating with the BBFPS.
While on these ‘exercises’, occasionally boats deliberately flew Ensigns of many different nations (including Soviet). The remains of the former German Schnellboote fleet, having been widely distributed as War booty, the ruse of ‘False Colours’ did cause some confusion - at least until properly identified – by which time the KFPB and/or BBFPS  craft would have made a fast retreat.

Ex S216, here seen flying the ‘Stars and Stripes’ requisitioned by the USN and first used, with ‘mixed’ crews, on Mine sweeping duties out of Bremerhaven.
Later shipped over to the USA for ‘trialing’ and ‘modifications’, then shipped back to Europe for use in the ‘Gehlen Org’ program, S216 was eventually turned over to the German Federal Navy to be used in Damage Control exercises, being lost on such an exercise in 1966.

By 1952 P5230 had returned to HMS Hornet (at Gosport. UK). Her place in the British Baltic Fishery Protection Service was eventually taken by new build German Naval craft that had been confiscated by Great Britain (their top speed having breached the Potsdam Agreement). “True to type” - as quoted in some quarters - Great Britain had allowed the construction to be completed before confiscation – the ‘Perfidy of Albion’? - perhaps - but Britain had just emerged from a costly war and could not look a gift horse in the mouth.
During her later days at HMS Hornet, it was known (by the author) that she was at one time fitted with a single Napier Deltic Engine, this being just before the RN’s ‘Dark’ class entered full Squadron service in 1954/5, while also there is  some written ‘evidence’ (unable to confirm) that 2 or even 3 of these engines had been fitted to P5212 - reportedly improving the top speed of that vessel by no less than 5 Knts.
As late as early ‘50’s, there were certainly ‘teething’ problems being experienced with this complicated, but beautifully designed engine. Although eventually it was to become a reliable, (if expensive), engine to operate, it would be doubtful whether the P5230 (or P5212 craft, if so fitted with 3 engines), would have operated with the BBFPS/KFPBS with these power plants. (As reported elsewhere).

The story of S130 – alias – P5230 may certainly have ended after her de-commissioning by the RN, but in 1957 she was transferred, not much more than a war weary Hulk, to the then Federal German Navy (Bundesmarine).
Her Pennant number again being altered to ‘UW 10’, she was to be used in the Bundesmarine ‘Under Water Weapons and Torpedo Training Establishment’; later transferred to the ‘Diver Training Dept’, then being renumbered once more to ‘EF 30’.
Her military career however was finally to be over when he/she was finally ‘stricken’ in 1962, eventually to be sold and converted into a Houseboat at Wilhelmshaven.
There it lay until 2003, it being purchased and brought back to the UK by a member of the British Military Powerboat Trust and moored up near their then Marchwood Nr. Southampton premises, with a view as a ‘long term’ preservation project.
The Trust, having a very full list of preservation responsibilities and with limited Funds available, it was inevitable that this very unique vessel would be placed on the ‘back burner’ - so to speak.

Ex-S130 moored up at Hythe Nr Southampton and lying on her mud berth (2003). Although showing signs of his age the ex-S 130 can be still be recognised by the unique, and so called ‘streamlined’, Torpedo Tube outlets.

At first, it was an unfortunate turn of events that had forced an issue in S130’s favour (as it can now be hoped). Internal ‘politics’ aside, good fortune was to play a major part in this boats extraordinary history. The ‘Eyemouth International Sailing Craft Association’, E.I.S.C.A, entered into an agreement with the BMPTrust Ltd – the Trust by now having become a Limited company.
Prompted by the Trust Ltd having to vacate the ‘Husbands Shipyard’ premises at Marchwood, a decision was made to secure the boat for a ‘towed sea movement’ to Mashford’s Yard at Cremyll, Cornwall UK.

The preparations for this long tow were not made without having to overcome several major obstacles, one of which was a suspected broken Back (after lying across an underwater obstacle while on the tidal mud berth).

On the Slip at Hythe. Close inspection and intensive preparations for the long Tow to Cremyll. Cornwall.

The actual tow itself had a very poignant moment when it approached Slapton Sands, Devon UK. This was the scene of one of the most deadly Channel attacks on the Allies by the ‘Schnellbootewaffe’ in the build up toward ‘D-Day’.
Gunther Rabe, as C.O. of S130, had played a leading role in this attack when 9 S-boats, from the 2nd and 9th Flotilla’s, pounced on a convoy taking part in a dress rehearsal for the coming landing on the ‘Utah’ beachhead. Over 1000 young American men lost their lives on the night of 28/29 April 1944 - the ‘Exercise Tiger’ tragedy.

There were rumoured ‘suggestions’ being mooted - at first to bring ‘her/him’ back to a ‘cosmetic appearance’ only and made into a shore bound exhibit at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. Or, as a ‘water borne’ artefact, to be moored alongside HMS Belfast in the Pool of London. Wise minds prevailed, it had been realised that this craft is a unique and important relic of the Second World War. An opinion is that it should really rank in front of the ‘Spitfire’ aircraft, (it being a sole survivor), and therefore it really is a priceless relic of this period in World History. So, with another change in the fortunes for the ex S130, an exciting opportunity is now unfolding; with the boats renovation being undertaken by “The Wheatcroft Collection” – the largest privately owned collection of WW2 military memorabilia.
Mr Kevin Wheatcroft, together with the help of several volunteers and contractors, are making every effort to bring this unique craft back to a fully operating example of the superb German Schnellboote.

Their progress to date (2009) can be seen at the web site specially constructed for the craft - www.s130.co.uk