GORCH FOCK I

1933, Germany

Gorch Fock I is a three-masted barque who served as a training warship.

Gorch Fock I was launched in Hamburg in 1933 as a training sailing warship for the German Navy of the Third Reich. She is three-masted barque and was named after the pseudonym of the German author Johann Kinau.

Prior to World War II she was used as a training warship. During the war she was used as office ship and was scuttled by her crew to avoid capture by the Soviet Union. After the war, she was salvaged by the Soviet Union, renamed Tovarishch (Comrade) and was put into service again as a training vessel. She also took part in many Tall Ships’ Races. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, she sailed briefly under Ukrainian flag but was deactivated due to lack of funds for her maintenance. She was subsequently acquired by private sponsors who sailed her to her home port of Stralsund where she is a museum ship. She is however still in great need of repair.