The engine powered a single screw propeller driven via a low pressure turbine, double reduction gearing and a hydraulic coupling.

[2][3] At the outbreak of the Second World War, she was interned in Murmansk, Soviet Union, but was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in January 1940.

[5][6][4] Sachsenwald was returning from a 50-day operational cruise in the Atlantic under her commander, the experienced trawler skipper Ernst Wilhelm Schütte, when she received orders on 27 May 1941 to move to the area where the Bismarck was known to be.

[5] After sailing through heavy seas, and being briefly attacked by a Bristol Blenheim aircraft with machine gun fire, she reached the debris field left after the sinking of Bismarck on 28 May.

[5][a] Sachsenwald continued to search the area, recovering an empty raft from Bismarck but failed to find any more survivors.

She briefly communicated with the Spanish cruiser Canarias, which was also searching the area, before making for the French coast on 31 May, escorted by several patrol boats.

[3][5] In August 1944 she formed part of a seven-ship convoy, which included V 414 Sachsenwald, Otto, V 1549 Höheweg, M 263, M 486 and SG 3 Sans Souchi, which was carrying ammunition from St. Nazaire to La Pallice.