Admiral Karpfanger (barque)

l'Avenir under sail
History
Name	l'Avenir (until 1937) Admiral Karpfänger (1937 onward)
Namesake	French for "The Future" (until 1937) Berend Jacobsen Karpfanger (from 1937)
Owner	Association Maritime Belge (until 1932) Gustaf Erikson (1932–37) Hamburg America Line (1937–38)
Operator	Association Maritime Belge (until 1932) Gustaf Erikson (1932–37) Hamburg America Line (1937–38)
Port of registry	Antwerp (until 1932) Mariehamn (1932–37) Hamburg (1937–38)
Builder	RC Rickmers, Geestemünde
Completed	1908
Identification	code letters MLBN (until 1932) call sign OHPZ (1935–37) call sign DJTX (1937–38)
Fate	Lost without trace, March 1938
General characteristics
Tonnage	2,738 GRT
Length	285.6 ft (87.1 m)
Beam	45.2 ft (13.8 m)
Depth	25.2 ft (7.7 m)
Sail plan	four-masted barque
Crew	60
Sensors and processing systems	submarine signalling (until 1935)

Admiral Karpfanger was a German four-masted barque that was a cargo ship and sail training ship. She was built near Bremerhaven in 1908 as l'Avenir, which was the name that she bore until 1937. She spent most of her career with the Association Maritime Belge, SA.

In 1932 Gustaf Erikson bought l'Avenir and added her to his fleet of commercial sailing ships. In 1937 Erikson sold her to Hamburg America Line (HAPAG), who refitted her as a sail training ship and renamed her Admiral Karpfanger.

In 1938 she disappeared on her first voyage with HAPAG, with the loss of all 60 crewmen and cadets aboard.