Friesenland was a purpose-built counterpart to the converted Schwabenland and entered the Luftwaffe's maritime service at the outbreak of war. She operated first from France and then Norway. Soviet aircraft damaged her in 1944, after which she was beached at Narvik and employed as a workshop hulk before serving as a repair ship at Trondheim. The Royal Navy took her over in 1946 and used her as a seaplane depot. Sold into merchant service in 1949, her crane and capacious hull kept her useful under later names until the late 1960s, giving her a much longer career than the other tenders discussed.
Chapter · 25:00-27:05
Friesenland's long life after seaplane-tender service
The purpose-built Friesenland survived wartime damage, Royal Navy depot use, and a return to merchant service lasting into the late 1960s.