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KRIEGSMARINE / GERMAN NAVY (GERMANY / WEST GERMANY)

MINE WARFARE SHIPS

"1935", "1938" and "1939 (Mob)" types minesweepers (1938-1943)

M1 1938

M25 1940

M24 1942

Project history: Multi-purpose ships for operations in coastal areas, built by three slightly differing series, but frequently concern to uniform class. Type 1935 ships were ordered by two series on 12 ships in 1935-1936. Type 1938 had increased hull dimensions for seaworthiness improvement, besides, it has allowed to place additional generators for magnetic sweeps. On type 1939(Mob), ordered after a beginning of war, the changes directed on simplification of technology of building have been entered.

All these minesweepers were equipped by VTEs and Wagner or La Mont boilers (35atm, 450°C) with oil-burning. M1 and 2 had Voith-Schneider vertical-axis propellers, significantly raising manoeuvrability; it planned to equip by them all ships of type 1938, but because of their complexity and low reliability it have refused. Design armament consisted of 2 105mm guns and 3 20mm MGs; during war twin 37mm (instead of aft 105mm or 20mm gun) and quadruple 20mm MGs, and also DCTs were installed; in 1944 some ships received strengthened artillery: 2 single 105mm, 1 twin 37mm, 1 quadruple and 4 twin 20mm mounts.

Modernizations: 1944, some survived were armed with 2 x 1 - 105/42 Tbts C/16, 1 x 2 - 37/80 SK C/30, 1 x 4 - 20/65 C/38, 4 x 2 - 20/65 C/38, mechanical, acoustic, magnetic minesweeping gear

Some ships were reverted to West Germany from France in 1956 and commissioned by navy in February 1957, F207 Biene, F208 Bremse, F209 Brummer, F210 Hummel, F211 Wespe with data as given in the table.

1958, all: - 1 x 1 - 105/45; + 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 11 ASWRL, sonar

1960, all: - 1 x 1 - 105/45; + 2 x 1 - 40/70 Bofors 315, 2 x 2 - 20/80 Mk 5 (HS804)

Naval service: M1 was sunk 12.1.1945 by British aircraft off Bergen. M2 was sunk 11.3.1945 by British aircraft at coast of Norway. M5 was lost 18.6.1940 at coast of Norway on a mine laid by British submarine Porpoise. M6 was mined 23.10.1941 at Lorient. M8 was sunk 14.5.1943 by British MTBs at Hoek van Holland. M9 was disarmed in St. Nazaire 23.8.1944, captured by American troops 11.5.1945 and BU in 1945. M10 was sunk 13.3.1945 by American field guns at Lorient. M11 was lost 6.6.1940 on a mine laid by British submarine Narwhal at S coast of Norway. M13 was mined 31.5.1944 in a mouth of Gironde. M14 was mined 3.5.1945 at Rügen. M15 and M18 were sunk 20.3.1945 by British aircraft at Kiel. M16 was hard damaged by Soviet aircraft at Kotka 4.11.1943, repair was not completed; 20.3.1945 she was destroyed by British aircraft in Kiel. M17 was scuttled 22.8.1944 at Rochefort. M19 was sunk 9.4.1945 by British aircraft in Kiel Bight. M20 was sunk 21.7.1944 by Soviet aircraft in Narva Bay. M22 was scuttled 7.5.1945 in Kiel Canal. M23 was sunk 11.7.1941 on a mine at Pyarnu; salvaged 26.7.1941 and 22.4.1943 commissioned again. M25 was scuttled 16.11.1944 at W coast of France. M26 was sunk 15.5.1942 by British aircraft at La Hague. M27 was mined 11.8.1944 in a mouth of Gironde. M31 was sunk 21.10.1944 by Soviet MTB TK-215 at Honningsvaag. M36 was sunk 4.5.1945 by British aircraft in Great Belt. M37 was sunk 4.6.1944 by Soviet MTB TK-101 in Narva Bay. M39 was sunk 24.5.1944 by British MTB354 and MTB261 in Seine Bay. M83 was sunk 14.6.1944 by British destroyer Ashanti and Polish destroyer Piorun at Jersey. M84 was hard damaged 25.5.1944 on a mine in Seine Bay and 11.8.1944 scuttled at Le Havre. M101 was sunk 25.11.1942 as result of collision with s/s Levante W off Namsos. M103 was sunk 15.6.1944 by British aircraft in mouth of Ems. M132 was sunk 20.9.1944 by British submarine Sceptre at S coast of Norway. M133 and M206 were scuttled 6.8.1944 at St. Malo. M152 was mined 23.7.1944 in a mouth of Gironde. M153 was sunk 10.7.1943 by British escort destroyers Melbreak, Wensleydale and Glaisdale in La Manche. M156 was hard damaged 5.2.1944 by British escort destroyers Tanatside, Talybont, Brissenden and Wensleydale in La Manche and 6.2.1944 destroyed by British aircraft.

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-16