The second ship of this type in the navy, which served as accommodation for the crews of the Schnellboote and as a fuel, ammunition, fresh water and food depot for them.

The ship was originally commissioned by AG Neptun in Rostock as Qi Jiguang for the Republic of China Navy and was launched there on 4 December 1937.

Two MAN four-stroke diesel engines, each creating 4,100 horsepower (3,100 kW) and with Vulcan transmitters, enabled a top speed of 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) .

From here, the flotilla was to undertake a reconnaissance mission on 4 September 1939, but the operation had to be canceled due to heavy weather.

In addition, the flotilla provided anti-submarine protection for the heavy cruisers Admiral Hipper and Blücher and searched in vain for Polish submarines trying to break out of occupied areas in the western Baltic Sea, the Great and Little Belts and in the Öresund.

On 1 March 1940, the Tanga was assigned to the newly established 6th Schnellboot Flotilla, which was first used in the southern North Sea and then during the German western offensive in the English Channel.

After conversion and rearmament from October 1956 to February 1958, the main armament consisted of two British 10.2 cm rapid-fire guns.