KM Minesweepers (MS-1917-45)
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The Germanic States went into war production with the introduction of the Nazi
Party to power. This would affect all facets of production from minesweepers to
battleships, fighters to bombers and howitzers to tanks. Within five years
weapons production would provide the Germanic States with virtually full
employment, while the annexation of lands around the fringes (and their
treasuries) helped to pay for it all. The Nazis confiscated wealth from every
where and into the government coffers.
At the end of World War One, many countries had minefields off their coasts and
had to remove them. There were lots of Germanic States minesweepers still extant
and these were parceled out to countries needing this service. This included the
Germanic States that retained 24 of the 1917-18 versions and 20 of these were
still in service at the start of World War Two. The new vessels started
commissioning in 1936 and replaced the oldest vessels.
Completed:
M1935 : 69
M1940 : 131
M1943 : 18
Lost:
M1935 : 35
M1940 : 63
M1943 : 1
Half those that were built were lost. Almost as bad as the submarine service.
Minesweeping was a dangerous business.
The following details are culled from Wiki:
General characteristics : M1935
Displacement: 682 long tons (693 t) standard, 874 long tons (888 t) full load
Length: 68.4 m (224 ft 5 in),
Beam: 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
Draught: 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Propulsion: 2 shaft VTE engines with exhaust turbines, 2 oil-fired boilers,
3,200 hp (2,386 kW)
Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement: 113
Armament:
2 × 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 guns
General characteristics : M1940
Displacement: 543 long tons (552 t) standard, 775 long tons (787 t) full load
Length: 62.3 m (204 ft 5 in)
Beam: 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
Draught: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Propulsion: 2 shaft VTE engines with exhaust turbines, 2 coal-fired boilers ,
2,400 hp (1,790 kW)
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement: 80
Armament:
1 × 105 mm (4.1 in) gun
1 × 37 mm gun
6-8 × 20 mm guns
General characteristics : M1943
Displacement: 582 long tons (591 t) standard, 821 long tons (834 t) full load
Length: 67.8 m (222 ft 5 in)
Beam: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
Draught: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Propulsion: 2 shaft VTE engines with exhaust turbines, 2 coal-fired boilers,
2,400 hp (1,790 kW)
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement: 107
Armament:
2 × 105 mm (4.1 in) guns
2 × 37 mm guns
6-8 × 20 mm guns
