"Supply of surface forces in long-range and long-term operations with engine fuels and consumables, spare parts, artillery and torpedo ammunition, general consumables, equipment and provisions, transport of personnel". At least this is how the tasks of the newly established troopship unit and its floating units were defined in June 1940.
When the first floating units of the German Navy went into service in 1956, they already included auxiliary ships from the American "Labour Service Unit". Planning for the Class 404 tenders began on 26 October 1990 with the approval of funding for the construction of the six units "Elbe", "Mosel", "Rhein", "Werra", "Main" and "Donau". This booklet gives an overview of the history of the tenders, the development history of the Class 404 and takes you on a tour of the last corners of these ships.
