We knew it a long time ago: at some point, the last "Barbe" class landing craft would come to an end. And now it's over, the era of the amphibian. After 58 years in service, the multi-purpose landing craft "Lachs" has been decommissioned. And with that, the list of special features surrounding this weapon system comes to an end. Weapon system? That's right. Weapon system! And what special features, it's low tech! Exactly, that's a special feature.
It was special that you could deliberately ground a landing craft, otherwise a nautical sin. It was also special that the commanders of the landing craft were petty officers and therefore wore the star. The star represented the special legal status of a warship commander. It was also special because objects that were too bulky, too cumbersome and too complicated to transport by road could be transported on the coast with little bureaucracy.
Commander MZL "Salmon".
Photo: hsc
Especially because these boats apparently contained an infinite wealth of wish fulfilment. Christmas party? No problem, huge lower deck. VIP trip or recruiting young talent? No worries, there was room here. Bringing officer candidates to the orientation march, of course! Cheetah tanks have even been spotted on the boats. There are no more. Only amphibious is not enough, at the end of its life "Salmon" with its endless possibilities to solve small fleet problems seemed to resist decommissioning like no other boat class before.
Deep respect for Staff Boatswain Hellwig and his crew!
What remains of the day: Name badge, bell and commander's pennant. Photo: Hummer
Tell us about your memories!
About the Amphibious Group, Plüschow harbour, Grossenbrode, the Strandmeisterkomanie and the many small and large heroic deeds of this era. Please send texts, pictures and stories to the editors!
Follow-up:
My grandson comes in and asks what kind of strange boat it is. I explain it to him. Conclusion of a nine-year-old: "like daddy's trailer, doesn't look cool, but no wood without it and stupid at OBI". Any more questions?
Multi-purpose landing craft "Lachs". Photo: Michael Nitz
English 
German
Yes, yes! We submariners always just smiled when we saw them.
In 1974 I travelled on the U9, type 205, as coxswain. In 1984, the time had come for me to become a
KommandatenSCHÖLER on the FORELLE...
One or two exercises later we got the GEPARD on board, an insane affair, they shot at sea, with a light swell on the drag bag, AIR TARGET SHOOTING with over 90% hit rate!!!!