ADVANCED BUILD
A ubiquitous but under-reported class of naval vessel, the Kriegsfischkutter has recently received good coverage. Mike Verier dons his sea boots to investigate ICM’s 1/144 version.
The hitherto obscure Kriegsfischkutter is proving popular, with ICM first releasing it in 1/350 and now 1/144. Maybe it is the intriguing name, but for this author, the fascination lies in the amount of gear that was carried on a relatively small craft and a realisation that here was the notorious ‘flak ship’, so frequently reported and respected by RAF Coastal Command crews. An armed trawler utilised a sturdy sea-going hull that could be easily adapted, carry various armaments and was readily available. Kriegsfischkutter (KFK for short) was a generic term, originating in a range of vessels produced in volume from the 1930s in an effort to standardise Germany’s fishing fleet.
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