As a replacement for the test boats Adolf Bestelmeyer, Friedrich Voge, Rudolf Diesel and Hans Christian Oersted built in the 1940s, three medium test boats, (ship type according to the ship number list) were commissioned from Fr.

For better maneuvering, transverse thruster systems with 150 kW each are installed in the fore and aft.

The ships are used in a variety of ways and take the required equipment on board in containers.

The fixed equipment includes a ship's crane, a swiveling A-frame at the stern, a pinasse and accommodation for embarked test personnel.

[1] The state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania bought the Schwedeneck in 2010 and had it converted into a research ship at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast.