German minesweeper M-1

German minesweeper M-1 was a M 1935-class minesweeper of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
Name: M-1
Builder: Stülcken
Yard number: 710
Laid down: 9 July 1936
Launched: 5 March 1937
Commissioned: 1 September 1938
Nickname(s): Tiger der Fjorde
Fate: Sunk 12 January 1945, Nordbyfjord
General characteristics
Class and type: M 1935-class minesweeper
Displacement:
  • 682 tonnes (671 long tons) standard
  • 874 tonnes (860 long tons) full load
Length:
  • 68.10 m (223 ft 5 in) o/a
  • 66.60 m (218 ft 6 in) CWL
Beam: 8.70 m (28 ft 7 in)
Draught: 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Propulsion: 2 shaft VTE engines with exhaust turbines, 2 oil-fired boilers, 3,500 PS (2,574 kW; 3,452 shp)
Speed: 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph)
Range: 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement: 95
Armament:
  • 2 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 guns
  • 2 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) AA guns
  • 2 × 2 cm (0.79 in) AA guns
  • 30 naval mines
Service record
Part of
  • 1. Minensuchflottille
  • 2. Minensuchflottille
  • 4. Minensuchflottille
  • 55. Vorpostenflottille
  • 52. Minensuchflottille
Commanders
  • Kptlt. Hans Bartels
  • 5 March 1939 - April 1940
  • Albrecht Brandi
  • April 40 - March 1941
  • Lt.z.S.d.R. Dornberger
  • 1943
  • Eberhard Kühn
  • April 1944 - January 1945
Operations

History

Laid down in 1936, M-1 was launched on 5 March 1937. Commissioned on 1 September 1938 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Bartels, she was used to transfer the Marinestosstruppkompanie to the battleship Schleswig-Holstein on 24 August 1939 in preparation for the Invasion of Poland. After service in the campaign, M-1 was relocated to the North Sea.

In February 1940, M-1 sank four Esbjerg fish trawlers, Ejjam (E 92), Gerlis (E 456), Merkator (348), and Polaris (E 504), killing all 16 crew members. Bartels later justified his decision with military necessity, as the neutral fishermen allegedly send coded messages to alert British forces to his presence on the Doggerbank.

After the German attack on the Soviet Union, M-1 was part of the naval component of Operation Siegfried, the occupation of the islands Dagö, Ösel, and Moon. Soon afterwards, M-1 became flotilla leader of 55. Vorpostenflottille operating on the west coast of occupied Norway.

On 12 January 1945, M-1 was sunk in Nordbyfjord, near Bergen in Norway, by Avro Lancaster aircraft of 9 and 617 Squadrons, Royal Air Force, using Tallboy bombs. She sank with the loss of 20 crew members.[1][2] The wreck lies in 340 metres (1,120 ft) of water, partly covered in sand.

References

Citations
  1. Rohwer, Jürgen; Gerhard Hümmelchen. "Seekrieg 1945, Januari". Württembergische Landesbibliothek Stuttgart (in German). Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  2. "M-1 (6110528)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 18 February 2016.

Bibliography
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

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