A total of 36 old units from World War I served in World War II. Some of these were converted to experimental ships, artillery school ships, fleet tenders or R-boat tenders, and 1 (ex-M109) was converted into a survey ship. In 1940, most of these converted vessels were re-designated as minesweepers again.
The first series; the M1935 were ordered in the late 1930s to replace worn out World War I vintage boats. These ships proved versatile and seaworthy. The vessels could also undertake convoy escort, anti-submarine warfare and minelaying tasks as well as minesweeping. However, the ships were very expensive and complicated to build, and their oil-fired boilers meant they suffered from the fuel shortages in the later years of the war. A total of 69 ships were built in eight different shipyards, between 1937 and 1941. 34 were lost during the war.[4]
M1940
Although the M1935 was a very satisfactory vessel, it was complex and expensive to build and a simplified design was put into production in 1941. These ships had coal-fired boilers because of oil shortages. A total of 127 ships were built between 1941 and 1944, and 63 M1940 class ships were sunk during the war.[5]
The M1940 ships had a standard displacement of 543 tons and a full load displacement of 775 tons. They measured 62.3 meters in length, with a beam of 8.5 meters and a draught of 2.3 meters. Armament consisted of one 105 mm guns plus one 37 mm and six to eight 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. They were powered by two coal-fired boilers driving a two-shaft triple-expansion engine, which generated an output of 2,400 hp resulting in a top speed of 17 knots and a range 1,043 nautical miles at that speed.
Four vessels of this type were launched for the Romanian Navy in 1943 as the Democrația class. They were built locally from German materials. These were structurally identical with the German boats but with a different armament.[6]
M1943
This was a further simplified and slightly enlarged version of the M1940. These ships were designed for pre-fabrication and were produced in four versions:
Only 18 vessels were completed by the time the war ended.[7]
Post-war
Demilitarized M1940s in 1949
After the end of the war the surviving ships were allocated to the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union. Many were assigned to the German Mine Sweeping Administration under British control to clear the coast of Northern Europe of mines. Several were later also given to France and Norway, and two to Italy.[8][9][10]
Fourteen M1940-type minesweepers (known as the Guadiaro class) were built for the Spanish Navy in Spanish shipyards. Seven of them were modernised with some help from the US Navy and served in the Spanish Navy for more than thirty years.
Sperrbrecher for another type of German World War 2 minesweeper
References
Notes
^"Minensuchboot 1935 Technical Data". german-navy.de. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
^"Minensuchboot 1940 Technical Data". german-navy.de. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
^"Minensuchboot 1943 Technical Data". german-navy.de. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
^"Minensuchboot 1935 History". german-navy.de. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
^"Minensuchboot 1940 History". german-navy.de. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
^Frederick Thomas Jane, Jane's Fighting Ships, Sampson Low, Marston and Company, 1974, p. 275
^"Minensuchboot 1943 History". german-navy.de. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
^"Minensucher 1935 Ships". german-navy.de. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
^"Minensuchboot 1940 Ships". german-navy.de. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
^"Minensuchboot 1943 Ships". german-navy.de. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
Bibliography
Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946
Online sources
Mine hunter M1935, at German Navy website
Mine hunter M1940, at German Navy website
Mine hunter M1943, at German Navy website
Further reading
Groener, Erich (November 1991). German Warships, 1815–1945: U-Boats and Mine Warfare Vessels (rev. ed.). Naval Institute Press. ISBN978-1-55750-301-5. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
March 05, 2023
class, minesweeper, germany, class, were, standard, minesweeper, german, minensuchboot, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, vessels, were, primary, force, germany, harbor, defense, command, were, organized, administratively, into, minesweeper, flotilla. The M class were the standard minesweeper German Minensuchboot of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II The vessels were the primary force in Germany s harbor defense command and were organized administratively into minesweeper flotillas M1940 series minesweeper in 1941Class overviewNameM classOperators Kriegsmarine Royal Romanian Navy Post war United States Navy Royal Navy Soviet Navy Royal Norwegian Navy French Navy German Navy Italian NavySubclassesM1915 M1916 M1935 M1940 M1943Built1937 1945 not including older M1915 and M1916 ships CompletedM1935 69 M1940 131 M1943 18LostM1935 35 M1940 63 M1943 1General characteristics M1935 1 Displacement682 long tons 693 t standard 874 long tons 888 t full loadLength68 4 m 224 ft 5 in Beam8 5 m 27 ft 11 in Draught2 65 m 8 ft 8 in Propulsion2 shaft VTE engines with exhaust turbines 2 oil fired boilers 3 200 hp 2 386 kW Speed18 knots 33 km h 21 mph Complement113Armament2 10 5 cm 4 1 in SK C 32 guns 2 3 7 cm 1 5 in SK C 30 guns 2 2 cm 0 79 in SK C 30 gunsGeneral characteristics M1940 2 Displacement543 long tons 552 t standard 775 long tons 787 t full loadLength62 3 m 204 ft 5 in Beam8 5 m 27 ft 11 in Draught2 8 m 9 ft 2 in Propulsion2 shaft VTE engines with exhaust turbines 2 coal fired boilers 2 400 hp 1 790 kW Speed16 knots 30 km h 18 mph Complement80Armament1 105 mm 4 1 in gun 1 37 mm gun 6 8 20 mm gunsGeneral characteristics M1943 3 Displacement582 long tons 591 t standard 821 long tons 834 t full loadLength67 8 m 222 ft 5 in Beam9 m 29 ft 6 in Draught2 7 m 8 ft 10 in Propulsion2 shaft VTE engines with exhaust turbines 2 coal fired boilers 2 400 hp 1 790 kW Speed16 knots 30 km h 18 mph Complement107Armament2 105 mm 4 1 in guns 2 37 mm guns 6 8 20 mm guns Contents 1 History 1 1 M1915 and M1916 1 2 M1935 1 3 M1940 1 4 M1943 1 5 Post war 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingHistory EditM1915 and M1916 Edit A total of 36 old units from World War I served in World War II Some of these were converted to experimental ships artillery school ships fleet tenders or R boat tenders and 1 ex M109 was converted into a survey ship In 1940 most of these converted vessels were re designated as minesweepers again M1935 Edit M1935 vessel in occupied France in 1941 The first series the M1935 were ordered in the late 1930s to replace worn out World War I vintage boats These ships proved versatile and seaworthy The vessels could also undertake convoy escort anti submarine warfare and minelaying tasks as well as minesweeping However the ships were very expensive and complicated to build and their oil fired boilers meant they suffered from the fuel shortages in the later years of the war A total of 69 ships were built in eight different shipyards between 1937 and 1941 34 were lost during the war 4 M1940 Edit Although the M1935 was a very satisfactory vessel it was complex and expensive to build and a simplified design was put into production in 1941 These ships had coal fired boilers because of oil shortages A total of 127 ships were built between 1941 and 1944 and 63 M1940 class ships were sunk during the war 5 The M1940 ships had a standard displacement of 543 tons and a full load displacement of 775 tons They measured 62 3 meters in length with a beam of 8 5 meters and a draught of 2 3 meters Armament consisted of one 105 mm guns plus one 37 mm and six to eight 20 mm anti aircraft guns They were powered by two coal fired boilers driving a two shaft triple expansion engine which generated an output of 2 400 hp resulting in a top speed of 17 knots and a range 1 043 nautical miles at that speed Four vessels of this type were launched for the Romanian Navy in 1943 as the Democrația class They were built locally from German materials These were structurally identical with the German boats but with a different armament 6 M1943 Edit This was a further simplified and slightly enlarged version of the M1940 These ships were designed for pre fabrication and were produced in four versions Minesweeper Anti submarine vessel with extra depth charges Torpedo boat with two 533 mm 21 in torpedo tubes Torpedo training vesselOnly 18 vessels were completed by the time the war ended 7 Post war Edit Demilitarized M1940s in 1949 After the end of the war the surviving ships were allocated to the United States Britain and the Soviet Union Many were assigned to the German Mine Sweeping Administration under British control to clear the coast of Northern Europe of mines Several were later also given to France and Norway and two to Italy 8 9 10 Eleven of the ships were returned to Germany in 1956 57 and were recommissioned into the Bundesmarine Fourteen M1940 type minesweepers known as the Guadiaro class were built for the Spanish Navy in Spanish shipyards Seven of them were modernised with some help from the US Navy and served in the Spanish Navy for more than thirty years See also EditR boat for smaller German minesweepers Sperrbrecher for another type of German World War 2 minesweeperReferences EditNotes Minensuchboot 1935 Technical Data german navy de Retrieved 10 September 2010 Minensuchboot 1940 Technical Data german navy de Retrieved 10 September 2010 Minensuchboot 1943 Technical Data german navy de Retrieved 10 September 2010 Minensuchboot 1935 History german navy de Retrieved 10 September 2010 Minensuchboot 1940 History german navy de Retrieved 10 September 2010 Frederick Thomas Jane Jane s Fighting Ships Sampson Low Marston and Company 1974 p 275 Minensuchboot 1943 History german navy de Retrieved 10 September 2010 Minensucher 1935 Ships german navy de Retrieved 10 September 2010 Minensuchboot 1940 Ships german navy de Retrieved 10 September 2010 Minensuchboot 1943 Ships german navy de Retrieved 10 September 2010 BibliographyConway s All The World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Online sourcesMine hunter M1935 at German Navy website Mine hunter M1940 at German Navy website Mine hunter M1943 at German Navy websiteFurther reading EditGroener Erich November 1991 German Warships 1815 1945 U Boats and Mine Warfare Vessels rev ed Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 1 55750 301 5 Retrieved 6 May 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title M class minesweeper Germany amp oldid 1061300092, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
