Warships of the Reichsmarine: The Minesweepers

M28 and M50
Although nominally built as ships from different classes, this pair of ships were almost identical.

The minesweepers M28 and M50 were very similar in appearance.

When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 480 tons (M28)/486 tons (M50)
• Dimensions:
• Length: 191ft 6in (58.4m)
• Beam: 24ft (7.3m)
• Draught: 7ft 3in (2.25m)
• Propulsion: 2 triple expansion engines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 16.5 knots
• Complement: 40 officers and enlisted men
• Armament: 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) (M28)/3 x 3.5in (88mm) (3 x 1) guns (M50)

Service histories
M28 was renamed Pelican in 1929 when she served as an experimental mine vessel with the Barrage Research Command. She was renamed M528 in October 1940. Ceded to the USA in 1945, she was used in various capacities by the US forces, including as a barrack ship at Seebeck. She then passed into the control of the US Army in early 1949, but was stricken and broken up during the 1950s.

M50 renamed Brommy in 1937 when she became depot ship for R-boats. She was renamed M550 in 1940, and was bombed and sunk at Boulogne by RAF aircraft on 15th June 1944.

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M57-class

The M57-class, M71-class, M89, and M97-class minesweepers were all built to the same basic design .

When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 500 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 194ft 6in (59.8m)
• Beam: 24ft 6in (7.5m)
• Draught: 7ft 3in (2.25m)
• Propulsion: 2 triple expansion engines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 16.5 knots
• Complement: 40 officers and enlisted men
• Armament: 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1)

Service histories
M60 was renamed Hecht in 1938 when she became an experimental ship and tender. Renamed M560 in 1940, and converted into an escort ship for R-boats in 1942. Renamed Hille in 1943, and ceded to Russia in 1945.

M61 she was used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1938 onwards. Sunk by a mine on 26th July 1940 of the Hook of Holland.

M66 was renamed Störtebeker in 1937 when she became an experimental ship. Renamed M566 in 1940 whilst she was attached to the Communications Research Command. Ceded to the USA in 1945, she was used in various capacities by the US forces before being passed into the control of the US Army in early 1949. She was stricken and broken up during the 1950s.

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M71-class
When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 515 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 194ft 6in (59.8m)
• Beam: 24ft 6in (7.5m)
• Draught: 7ft 3in (2.25m)
• Propulsion: 2 triple expansion engines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 16.5 knots
• Complement: 40 officers and enlisted men
• Armament: 2 x 3.5in (88mm) (2 x 1) (M72 and M85)/3 x 3.5in (88mm) (3 x 1) (M75 to M84)

Service histories
M72 was renamed M572 in 1940. Acted as a barrage training ship from 1942 onward. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and used as police barrack ship in Bremen. Scrapped in Belgium in 1953.

M75 was renamed M575 in 1940. She sank on 2nd March 1945.

M81 was renamed Nautilus in 1929 when she became an experimental ship. Renamed M581 in 1940 after which she was converted into a torpedo recovery ship. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and used as a barrack ship. Transferred to the US Army in 1949 and scrapped in Bremerhaven during the 1950s.

M82 was renamed Jagd in 1929 when she became a tender. Renamed M582 in 1940. In 1941 she became a torpedo recovery ship. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and used as a barrack ship. She was sold in 1954 and scrapped in Bremerhaven in 1955.

M84 was renamed M584 in 1940. In 1942 she was being used as a torpedo recovery ship. She sank on 30th November 1944 after hitting a mine in the Kattegat.

M85 sank on 1st October 1939 after hitting a mine off Heisternest.

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M89 and M97-class
The M89 was the sole survivor of the M87-class to be retained by the Reichsmarine. The M97-class was almost identical to the M87-class.

When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 590 tons to 610 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 194ft 6in (59.8m)
• Beam: 24ft 6in (7.5m)
• Draught: 7ft 3in (2.25m)
• Propulsion: 2 triple expansion engines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 16 knots
• Complement: 40 officers and enlisted men
• Armament: 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1)

Service histories
M89 sank on 26th July 1940 of the Dutch coast after hitting a mine.

M98 was renamed M598 in 1940, and used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 onward. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and used as a police barracks ship in Bremen until 1948. She was scrapped in 1949.

M102 was renamed M502 in 1940, and used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 and then a leader boat for barrage training. She was ceded to the USA in 1945, and scrapped in Ghent in 1949.

M104 was renamed M504 in 1940. She was bombed and sunk at Kiel on 9th April 1945.

M107 was renamed Von der Groben in 1939 when she became a depot ship for R-boats. She was renamed M507 in 1940 and damaged by a mine off Boulogne in the same year. She was repaired and returned to service, but was bombed and sunk on 15th June 1944 near Boulogne.

M108 was renamed Delphin in 1928 when she became a gunnery training ship. Renamed M508 in 1940. She was ceded to Russian in 1945.

M109 was renamed Johann Wittenborg in 1938 when she became an experimental ship. Renamed Sundevall in 1939 and M509 in 1940. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and used as a barracks ship until 1949, when she was handed over the US Army. She was scrapped in 1950.

M110 was renamed M510 in 1940. She was used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 onward, and ceded to the USA in 1945. After being used as a barracks ship, she was handed over to the US Army in 1949 and scrapped in Ghent in 1950.

M111 was renamed M511 in 1940. She was used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 onward, and sank on 3rd November 1941 off Kolberg after hitting a mine.

M113 was renamed Acheron in 1936 when she became a submarine tender. Renamed M513 in 1940. She was ceded to the USA in 1945.

M115 was renamed Arkona in 1935 when she became an experimental ship. Renamed M515 in 1940, she was used as a barrage training ship from 1942 onward. She sank on 22nd May 1944 near Fehmarn after hitting a mine.

M117 was renamed M517 in 1940, and used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 onward. She was ceded to the USA in 1945.

M122 was used as an S-boat escort from 1938 onward. Renamed M522 in 1940, and used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 onward. She was bombed and sunk at Kiel on 20th March 1945. She was subsequently raised and scuttled in the Skagerrak in 1946.

M126 was renamed Alders in 1935 when she became a depot ship for R-boats. Renamed M526 in 1940. She was ceded to the USA in 1945.

M129 was renamed Otto Braun in 1938 when she became an experimental ship. Renamed M529 in 1940. She sank on 2nd December 1941 off Kolberg after hitting a mine.

M130 was renamed Fuchs in 1928 when she became an anti-aircraft training ship. Renamed M530 in 1940 and M3800 in 1944. She was ceded to Russian in 1945.

M133 was renamed Wacht in 1928 when she became a tender. Renamed Raule in 1939 when she became an R-boast escort ship, and M533 in 1940. She was sunk on 9th May 1942 after a collision with R45 off the coast near Boulogne.

M134 was renamed Frauenlob in 1928 when she became a tender. Renamed M534 in 1940, she was bombed and sunk in April 1941 in Bergen. She was subsequently raised, repaired, and then recommissioned and renamed Jungingen when she became an escort ship for R-boats. She was ceded to the USA in 1945.

M135 was renamed Hela in 1923 when she became a fleet tender. Renamed Gazelle in 1938 and M353 in 1940. She was ceded to Russian in 1945, where she was renamed Densa in 1946 and Venta in 1951. Scrapped during the 1960s.

M136 was renamed Havel in 1939 when she became a submarine tender. At some point she was renamed M89. She sank on 26th July 1940 of the Dutch coast after hitting a mine.

M138 was renamed Zieten when she became a fishery protection ship in 1928. She became a station tender in 1932 and an escort ship for R-boats in 1936. She was renamed Nettlebeck in 1939 when she became a depot ship for R-boats and M538 in 1940. She was bombed and badly damaged on 21st June 1944 near Vyborg and towed to Konisgberg, where she was repaired. She was subsequently scuttled by her crew or stranded near Hela as a result of a storm.

M145 was renamed M545 in 1940 and used as a barrage training ship from 1942 onward. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and sold in 1948 for use as a barrack ship in Hamburg. She was wrecked in 1949, and subsequently broken up.

M146 was renamed Taku in 1933 when she became a fleet tender. Renamed M146 in 1935 and M546 in 1940. In 1941 she was renamed Von der Lippe when she became an escort ship for R-boats. She was bombed and sunk on 15th June 1944 near Boulogne.