M-class minesweepers ( 1918 )

M-class Minesweepers

These minesweepers were the first to be commissioned in the RNN. Laid down as tugs for the Bureau Wijsmuller, they were taken over during their construction and all commissioned in 1918. They were until the late twenties the only minesweepers the RNN possessed, but by WW II, they were outdated. They were all stationed in IJmuiden, together forming the Minesweeperdivision 2, under the command of the local naval commander. Unfortunately, they were equipped to sweep contact mines, but no minesweeper had the gear to cope with the new German magnetic mines. That type of mine was layed near every port in Holland, and these minesweepers tried some primitive methods to sweep them. The M 2, lacking the protection of a degaussing cable, fell prey to one of them on May 13. None of them reached the UK after the capitulation and went into German hands later in the war.

M 1 and M 4 pre-war

Construction details

Name M 1 (ex- Marie I) M 2 (ex- Marie II) M 3 (ex - Anna) M 4 (ex - Pauline)

Dockyard Van der Kuyk & Ree, Rotterdam Fa. Koopman, Dordrecht J & A van der Schuyt, Papendrecht J & A van der Schuyt, Papendrecht

Laid down October 15 1915 February 1917 1915 1915

Launched December 20 1916 July 12 1917 1918 1918

Commissioned October 31 1918 December 3 1918 October 1 1918 October 1 1918

Pennants Mijnenveger 1
M-1 Mijnenveger 2
M-2 Mijnenveger 3
M-3 Mijnenveger 4
M-4
A-847
Y-8262

Specifications

M 1 M 2 M 3, M 4

Displacement 238 tons 205 tons 230 tons

Crew 16 16 16

Dimensions 30,5 x 6,95 x 2,8 m 29,70 x 6,65 x 3,13 m 29,75 x 6,42 x 2,5 m

Main Battery -

AA-battery 1 x .50 MG

ASW -

Radar -

Propulsion details

M 1 M 2 M 3, M 4

Boilers 1 cylindrical boiler

Machinery 1 triple-expansion-engine

Shafts 1

Performance 500 hp 500 hp 450 hp

Max Speed 9,5 knots 10 knots 10 knots

Histories

M 1 Purchased by the RNN in 1918 and converted at the Rijkswerf in Willemsoorgd. At first, she bore the name "Mijnenveger I", which was later changed in M-1. She was part of the 2nd Minesweepers Division stationed in IJmuiden. She suffered from enginefailure and had to be scuttled by crew on May 14 1940. Salved by Kriegsmarine on July 27 1940 and commissioned as the Lazarettschiff "LAZ 46". She was renamed ZRD 5 as she became part of the Dutch Sea Rescue Service in 1941. She became part of the "Bergungsschiffe Verband" ( Rescue Tug Section ) and was renamed BS-10. Found in May 1945 and commissioned as the naval tug "RS-21". Sunk during a storm off Borkum, Holland on December 23 1949.

M 2 Purchased by the RNN in 1918 and converted at the Rijkswerf in Willemsoorgd. At first, she bore the name "Mijnenveger 2", which was later changed in M-2. She was part of the 2nd Minesweepers Division stationed in IJmuiden. She hit a magnetic mine on May 13 1940 near IJmuiden and sank with the loss of seven crewmembers. Salavaged in July 1940 and commissioned as the Lazarettschiff "LAZ-47". She hit the wreckage of the blockship "Jan Pieterszoon Coen" while entering IJmuiden during a storm on September 17 1940 and sank. Again salvaged in September 1940 and rebuilt at the Amsterdamsche Droogdok Mij in Amsterdam. The modifications included lengthening the ship. Commissioned by the "Schleppdampfschiffs-Rhederei RIchard Borchard" in Hamburg as Fairplay X on March 6 1941. Scrapped at Harmsdorf, Lübeck in July 1965.

M 3 Purchased by the RNN in 1918 and converted at the Rijkswerf in Willemsoorgd. At first, she bore the name "Mijnenveger 3", which was later changed in M-3. She was part of the 2nd Minesweepers Division stationed in IJmuiden. She was scuttled as a blockship on May 14 1940 between the piers of IJmuiden. The wreck was later blown up.

M 4 Purchased by the RNN in 1918 and converted at the Rijkswerf in Willemsoorgd. At first, she bore the name "Mijnenveger 4", which was later changed in M-4. She was part of the 2nd Minesweepers Division stationed in IJmuiden. She was scuttled off IJmuiden on May 14 1940 by her own crew. Salvaged by the Kriegsmarine on July 22 1940 and repaired at the Amsterdamse Droogdok Mij in Amsterdam. She was commissioned in 1941 as ZRD 57. Later, she became part of the Bergungsschiffe Verband as BS-9. Found in May 1945 and recommissioned in the RNN as the naval tug "RS-23", later as A-847. She was used as an auxiliary craft, also under the name Y-8262. Sold to "Enviroment Engineering" in Hoorn, Holland on March 10 1992

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Construction details
Name	M 1 (ex- Marie I)	M 2 (ex- Marie II)	M 3 (ex - Anna)	M 4 (ex - Pauline)
Dockyard	Van der Kuyk & Ree, Rotterdam	Fa. Koopman, Dordrecht	J & A van der Schuyt, Papendrecht	J & A van der Schuyt, Papendrecht
Laid down	October 15 1915	February 1917	1915	1915
Launched	December 20 1916	July 12 1917	1918	1918
Commissioned	October 31 1918	December 3 1918	October 1 1918	October 1 1918
Pennants	Mijnenveger 1 M-1	Mijnenveger 2 M-2	Mijnenveger 3 M-3	Mijnenveger 4 M-4 A-847 Y-8262

Specifications
	M 1	M 2	M 3, M 4
Displacement	238 tons	205 tons	230 tons
Crew	16	16	16
Dimensions	30,5 x 6,95 x 2,8 m	29,70 x 6,65 x 3,13 m	29,75 x 6,42 x 2,5 m
Main Battery	-
AA-battery	1 x .50 MG
ASW	-
Radar	-

Propulsion details
	M 1	M 2	M 3, M 4
Boilers	1 cylindrical boiler
Machinery	1 triple-expansion-engine
Shafts	1
Performance	500 hp	500 hp	450 hp
Max Speed	9,5 knots	10 knots	10 knots

Histories
M 1	Purchased by the RNN in 1918 and converted at the Rijkswerf in Willemsoorgd. At first, she bore the name "Mijnenveger I", which was later changed in M-1. She was part of the 2nd Minesweepers Division stationed in IJmuiden. She suffered from enginefailure and had to be scuttled by crew on May 14 1940. Salved by Kriegsmarine on July 27 1940 and commissioned as the Lazarettschiff "LAZ 46". She was renamed ZRD 5 as she became part of the Dutch Sea Rescue Service in 1941. She became part of the "Bergungsschiffe Verband" ( Rescue Tug Section ) and was renamed BS-10. Found in May 1945 and commissioned as the naval tug "RS-21". Sunk during a storm off Borkum, Holland on December 23 1949.
M 2	Purchased by the RNN in 1918 and converted at the Rijkswerf in Willemsoorgd. At first, she bore the name "Mijnenveger 2", which was later changed in M-2. She was part of the 2nd Minesweepers Division stationed in IJmuiden. She hit a magnetic mine on May 13 1940 near IJmuiden and sank with the loss of seven crewmembers. Salavaged in July 1940 and commissioned as the Lazarettschiff "LAZ-47". She hit the wreckage of the blockship "Jan Pieterszoon Coen" while entering IJmuiden during a storm on September 17 1940 and sank. Again salvaged in September 1940 and rebuilt at the Amsterdamsche Droogdok Mij in Amsterdam. The modifications included lengthening the ship. Commissioned by the "Schleppdampfschiffs-Rhederei RIchard Borchard" in Hamburg as Fairplay X on March 6 1941. Scrapped at Harmsdorf, Lübeck in July 1965.
M 3	Purchased by the RNN in 1918 and converted at the Rijkswerf in Willemsoorgd. At first, she bore the name "Mijnenveger 3", which was later changed in M-3. She was part of the 2nd Minesweepers Division stationed in IJmuiden. She was scuttled as a blockship on May 14 1940 between the piers of IJmuiden. The wreck was later blown up.
M 4	Purchased by the RNN in 1918 and converted at the Rijkswerf in Willemsoorgd. At first, she bore the name "Mijnenveger 4", which was later changed in M-4. She was part of the 2nd Minesweepers Division stationed in IJmuiden. She was scuttled off IJmuiden on May 14 1940 by her own crew. Salvaged by the Kriegsmarine on July 22 1940 and repaired at the Amsterdamse Droogdok Mij in Amsterdam. She was commissioned in 1941 as ZRD 57. Later, she became part of the Bergungsschiffe Verband as BS-9. Found in May 1945 and recommissioned in the RNN as the naval tug "RS-23", later as A-847. She was used as an auxiliary craft, also under the name Y-8262. Sold to "Enviroment Engineering" in Hoorn, Holland on March 10 1992