(C) Michael Emmerich, German Kriegsmarine Encyclopedia
T28
T22 Class Flottentorpedoboot (1944) 
WSW 1:700th Waterline Kit
In Box Review by
David Angelo

The fifteen ship T22 (1939) Class Flottentorpedoboots were graceful little ships, with flush decks, pleasing sheer, clipper bow, and raked funnels. They looked fast just sitting still. Don't be misled by the "Torpdedoboot" nomenclature. These are "destroyers" in any other navy, and heavily armed destroyers at that.

This type of small fast torpedo-carrying ship is what "destroyers" were originally designed to counteract. Like the destroyer, the torpedo boot grew in size as the years went by. The T22 class, all of which entered service from 1942-44, were the largest and most heavily armed Kriegsmarine "T-boots" completed.  They are unquestionably  destroyers, with 4 -10.5cm main guns and 6 21" torpedo tubes. Designed speed was 36 knots, and they could be used for escort, AA defense, mine-laying and torpedo attacks. There were fifteen ships in the class (T22 - T36), eleven of which were lost in action.

The three WSW kits are all somewhat different, the basic design evolving during the production run. The T23 & T28 had a prominent bow knuckle, T23 is modeled without the gun tub on the forward superstructure, T35 has 2 tubs in this location and no midships depth charges. The upper bridge levels are also different on each kit, and the photo etch has alternate parts for the 3 ships. There is radar for T35 & T28, and 3 additional types of gun shields for T35’s AA guns. Refer to the photos for the differences in the 3 kits.

Port Hull Profile Comparison	Stb Hull Profile	Bridge Levels	Guns, boats, davits and other small resin parts

The hull, about 5 ¾" long, is cleanly cast in gray resin and symmetrical. The bottom is dead flat and there is no keel or overpour to remove. The deck detail is very delicate and well done, with the anchors and chains cast to the deck. There are also scale bollards, midship depth charges and K guns, plus mine rails cast into the rear deck.

Also included is a resin sprue of small parts, 2 each of boats, triple torpedo tubes, tripod legs for the cast masts, machine guns, paravanes and other small widgets. All are very delicate and free of flash. A thin wafer holds the 3 bridge levels, square life rafts, boat davits, gun platforms, and radar platform. The other weapons are in a separate bag, and consist of very well detailed 10.5 CM shielded main guns, with hollow shields and detailed breach, single, twin & quad AA guns.

The stainless steel photo-etched sheet - a first for WSW - has railings, mast spreaders, alternate boat davits, 2 types of radar, and 3 types of gun shields.

The directions are 1 two- sided page in German & English. Side 1 has a parts breakdown, a drawing of the PE sheet, and sketches showing how the various armament assemblies go together. Side 2 has side & plan views showing the assembled model with all the parts identified and the rigging shown. There is also a starboard side 3-color camouflage pattern, with a note saying that all ships were painted about the same and both sides were symmetrical. The deck color (light gray) is also noted. Other colors are Black for the funnel tops, Dunkelgrau (Dark Gray), Mittelblaugrau (Medium Blue Gray), and Hellgrau (Light Gray) for the camouflage pattern .

Instructions

The kit's engineering and execution are both top notch, and it should build into a handsome finished model. A steady hand will be needed for the small, delicate weapons and photo etch shields, but assembly should otherwise be straightforward and fast for builders of moderate skill. And it's nice to see that WSW is finally including photo-etched parts in their kits. They've been criticized for this omission and apparently they've been listening. This is an excellent kit of an interesting and impressive Kriegsmarine warship. Highly Recommended!