Hi Peter, thank you for your great efforts and your contribution to clarify the mystery of the ship's design

And also a big thank-you for your nice compliment Jens, always helpful to satisfy my ego:-))

Regards, David

Bow details seen here:
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2227638
Regards Peter

Great photo and info, thank you David and Peter.

@Peter:
I especially liked "...and let the crew of ELBE 1 spoil you." :-))

Cheers,
Jens

@ David: The ELBE 1 (the first) was also built by Meyer-Werft at Papenburg in 1912. Her generalplan shows: She was very similar to the ELBE 1 the second: Same shape, same bowsprit. ELBE 1 (the first) came in service, when sailships had there peak. She had triangular staysail forward of the forwardmost mast and a traditional bowsprit. I think not for sailing but for better stability in heavy seas on station in the german bight. It might be "state of the art" for a lighthouse vessel. ELBE I (the second) was built at the same pattern and plans (only 30 years later) and Meyer took the old plans in war times. Please remember ELBE 1 (the first) sank under dramatic circumstances in heavy groundseas and storm on the 27th of October 1936. She capsized and sadly all of the crew drowned: Friedr. Lösekann, Albert Sawatzki, Ernst Heuck, Hans Feldhusen, Walter Ahlf, Willi Darr, Karl Debrodt, Josef Dörr, Gustav Garms, Wilh. Kröncke, Johann Lau, Claus Mahler, Claus Mink, Paul Krauser, Karl Kühle. http://www.baken-net.de/image/fs_elbe1_boswald.jpg
Source: Das neue Feuerschiff für die erste Station der Elbe. "Schiffbau" XIII. Source: Jahrg. 1912, Nr. 18 und 19 (The new Lighthouseship for the first Station for the River Elbe; German Shipbuilding 1913. Hope this may help to clarify matter. Regards Peter

Thank you Peter for your detailed supply with information. I did some research work myself, but could not find any explanation about the purpose of the bowsprit myself, maybe you have an answer?

Regards to all and thank you for your comments,

David

She never was built as a sailing ship, but only as a lighthouse ship.
She was built for the Seewasserstraßenamt Cuxhaven (the authority responsible for the waterways around Cuxhaven) to replace the original Elbe 1 or "Bürgermeister O'Swald (I)" which sank under dramatic circumstances on the 27th of October 1936.

She was built by Jos. L. Meyer, Papenburg, Ems. The estimated cost was 1,500,000 Reichsmark but the actual cost turned out to be 1,513,628 DM.

The keel was laid down on the 4th September 1941 and she was launched on the 2nd June 1943.

Building was held up by WWII and the ship was sunk in the Papenburg Harbour to protect her form being destroyed by overzealous German officers who wanted to stop her form falling into enemy hands. After the war she raised again, but it took a while to finish her, because of the lack of materials.

So it was not until the 4th of October 1948 did the test runs take place and she finally was commissioned on the 8th November 1948.

A day later she went to her station.

From that day on the largest light vessel in the world did her duty at sea. And that despite the fact that she also became the most rammed light vessel in the world.

She survived 50 collisions, the worst in March 1970, when even the huge engine had to be replaced.

On the 17th October 1970 the position was changed from 53° 59' 57" North, 08° 10' 40" East to 54° 00' 00'' North, 08° 10' 03'' East. On the 22nd of April 1988 ELBE 1 is one of the last manned German Lightvessels to be de-commissioned. The station is now guarded by a buoy and the station is renamed "Elbe".

Today the vessel is looked after by a group of enthusiasts "Feuerschiff-Verein ELBE 1 von 2001 e.V. Cuxhaven". She has been restored extensively and work goes on. Fairly recently she has received her Seaworthiness Certificates. Not only is she open to the public and visitors can explore the whole ship, but also she is used for trips, a vital contribution to the financial strain of maintaining an old lady like this magnificent ship! Interested visitors can, for payment of the costs, take part in these journeys and on journeys of several days, stay in the historically restored crew quarters, eat on the weather proofed former deck and let the crew of ELBE 1 spoil you.

A radio station of the Cuxhaven Radio Amateurs (DL0CUX) is on board. This can be used by visitors with a valid Amateur Radio Licence both when visiting the ship in Cuxhaven and on journeys. The former ships carpenters workshop and hobby room of the crew - the so-called Timmermannshuuk - has been appropriately converted to a room for functions. The officer's mess, also a traditional room, today serves as a wedding room for the Cuxhaven Register Office. Couples can arrange to enter the "Port of Marriage" here. Source: feuerschiffseite.de - Regards Peter

I think the tall masts were for the radio aerials

I assume she was originally designed to have a foresail, hence the bowsprit. Other than that I can't help I'm afraid.

Brgds
Phil

Why would she have a tallship-like hull?
And what's that thing on her foremast?