Minensuchboot 1935 | German Naval History

Design and service

The type

In the mid 1930s, the minesweeping flotillas of the Kriegsmarine consisted of old ships built in World War I. To replace this old ships, a class of modern minesweepers, the "Mboot35" was designed.

The result was a very maneuverable and seaworthy ship exceeding the expectations. Heavily armed those ships were often called "Channel Destroyers" by the British during World War II. Despite the successful design, several factors prevented that a large number of ships were built during the war. The boats were very expensive and complicated to build, therefore a more simple design had to be developed (which later got the Minensuchboot 1940). The engines were difficult to maintain and needed specially skilled personal which was not available in the required numbers. Since the Mboot35 had oil fired boilers, they also suffered from the oil shortage in the later years of the war.

A total of 69 ships were built in eight different shipyards, 34 were lost during the war. After the war, 17 were taken over by the US Navy, 5 by the Royal Navy and 13 by the Soviet Navy which all were used in the Black Sea until the 1960s. Five of the ships taken over by the USA were returned to Germany in 1956/57 and were used by the Bundesmarine.

Construction records

Boats of the class

68 boats and their recorded construction details and fates.

Find a boat68 boats

Construction and fate of the boats in this class
Name	Construction	Launched	Commissioned	Fate
M1	Stülcken Hamburg, 1937	05.03.1937	01.09.1938	Sunk after air attack on 12.01.1945 in the Nordbyfjord.
M2	Stülcken Hamburg, 1937	20.05.1937	25.03.1939	Sunk after air attack on 11.03.1945 in the Fedjefjord.
M3	Stülcken Hamburg, 1937	28.09.1937	10.12.1938	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-918, on 02.08.1946, when arrived in Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 01.10.1946 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, reclassified as experimental ship and transferred to the Scientifical-Research Mine and Torpedo Weapon Institution of the Navy, on 13.01.1947 transfered to the ship detachment of the branch office of scientifical-research radiotechnical poligon of the Navy, and re-formed as sonar control station. On 01.04.1947 renamed as Issledovatel. On 16.10.1957 reclassified as target ship, on 17.11.1959 removed from the Navy lists, refitted as a floating target, and transfered to the special poligon of the Caspian Flotilla.
M4	Oderwerke Stettin, 1937	16.10.1937	10.11.1938	Taken over by France in 1945 as hulk Q108, still exisiting in 1972.
M5	Oderwerke Stettin, 1937	16.10.1937	14.01.1939	Sunk after mine hit in the Ramsoyfjord on 18.06.1940.
M6	Oderwerke Stettin, 1937	08.01.1938	06.06.1939	Sunk after mine hit near Lorient on 23.10.1941.
M7	Flender-Werke Lübeck, 1937	29.09.1937	31.10.1938	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-912, on 27.07.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 01.09.1955 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, and reclassified as staff ship, on 17.10.1955 renamed as Belbek. On 08.04.1957 reclassified as target ship, on 07.05.1957 renamed as ZL-5. On 26.10.1957removed from the Navy lists, refitted as a floating target, and on 26.11.1957 disbanded. In 1958 sunk off Theodosia.
M8	Flender-Werke Lübeck, 1937	29.09.1937	11.01.1939	Sunk by British MTBs off the Dutch coast on 14.05.1943.
M9	Flender-Werke Lübeck, 1937	16.11.1937	05.05.1939	Taken over by France in 1945 as hulk Q206, scrapped in 1966.
M10	Stülcken Hamburg, 1938	09.08.1938	30.05.1939	Sunk by coastal artillery near Lorient on 13.03.1945.
M11	Oderwerke Stettin, 1937	23.08.1938	07.08.1939	Sunk after mine hit on 06.06.1940.
M12	Flender-Werke Lübeck, 1938	06.08.1938	21.08.1939	Taken over by France in 1947, used as a floating barrack.
M13	Stülcken Hamburg, 1938	28.02.1939	07.09.1939	Sunk after mine hit by a own mine on 31.05.1944.
M14	Stülcken Hamburg, 1938	24.04.1939	01.12.1939	Sunk after mine hit in on 03.05.1945.
M15	Stülcken Hamburg, 1938	04.09.1939	22.02.1940	Sunk after air attack in Kiel on 20.03.1945.
M16	Stülcken Hamburg, 1938	15.11.1939	01.06.1940	Sunk after air attack in Kiel on 20.03.1945.
M17	Oderwerke Stettin, 1939	29.07.1939	17.01.1940	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-921, on 02.08.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 01.09.1955 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, and reclassified as staff ship, on 17.10.1955 renamed as Kacha. On 20.10.1958 removed from the Navy lists, and refitted as a floating target.
M18	Oderwerke Stettin, 1939	16.09.1939	19.03.1940	Blown up in shipyard while being under repair in May 1945.
M19	Oderwerke Stettin, 1939	28.10.1939	08.05.1940	Sunk after air attack near Kiel on 09.04.1945. Wreck scrapped 1946.
M20	Flender-Werke Lübeck, 1939	28.10.1939	11.12.1939	Sunk after air attack on 21.07.1944.
M21	Flender-Werke Lübeck, 1939	06.09.1939	18.04.1940	Taken over by France in 1945 as hulk floating barrack, scrapped.
M22	Flender-Werke Lübeck, 1939	20.03.1940	30.07.1940	Scuttled near Kiel on 07.04.1945.
M23	Flender-Werke Lübeck, 1940	11.07.1940	26.10.1940	Sunk after mine hit on 11.07.1941. Raised in July 1941, recommissiond in 1943, taken over by Britain after the war, scrapped.
M24	Flender-Werke Lübeck, 1940	12.10.1940	22.02.1941	Sunk after mine hit on 28.01.1944. Raised, taken over by Britain after the war. Given to France in 1947 as Ailette. Bought by German Bundesmarine in 1957 as Wespe. Sunk as a target ship in 1973 near Helgoland.
M25	Stülcken Hamburg, 1940	19.03.1940	16.11.1940	Sunk in September 1944.
M26	Stülcken Hamburg, 1940	21.05.1940	23.12.1940	Sunk after air attack in the British Channel on 15.05.1942.
M27	Stülcken Hamburg, 1940	20.01.1940	10.02.1941	Sunk after mine hit on 11.08.1944.
M28	Stülcken Hamburg, 1940	29.07.1940	22.05.1941	Taken over by Britain after the war. Given ot France as Meuse. Decommissioned in 1957, used as hulk Q57.
M29	Oderwerke Stettin, 1940	18.05.1940	04.09.1940	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-913, on 27.07.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 03.10.1947 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, and reclassified as hydrographical ship, on 11.11.1947 renamed as Tuman. On 08.09.1956 removed from the Navy lists, on 30.09.1956 transfered for scrapping and disbanded.
M30	Oderwerke Stettin, 1940	01.06.1940	31.10.1940	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-914, on 27.07.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 18.12.1954 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, reclassified as rescue ship, and transfered into the Caspian Flotilla, on 12.01.1955 renamed as Sangesur. On 22.10.1958 removed from the Navy lists and transfered for scrapping.
M31	Oderwerke Stettin, 1940	01.06.1940	19.12.1940	Sunk by Soviet MTB on 21.10.1944.
M32	Oderwerke Stettin, 1940	24.08.1940	08.03.1940	Taken over by the USA after the war. Given back to Germany in 1948, planned reconstruction to ferry canceled. Scrapped 1950.
M33	Lübecker Maschinenbaugesellschaft Lübeck, 1941	01.04.1942	18.12.1942	Taken over by Britain after the war, used as floating barrack, scrapped 1948.
M34	Lübecker Maschinenbaugesellschaft Lübeck, 1942	07.08.1942	26.06.1943	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 03.02.1946 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-920, on 02.08.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. Since 23.08.1952 in the Caspian Flotilla. On 16.03.1953 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, reclassified as rescue ship, and renamed as Aragaz. On 21.02.1957 removed from the Navy lists, on 12.03.1957 transfered for scrapping and disbanded.
M35	Schichau Elbing, 1940	09.11.1940	06.09.1941	Taken over by the USA after the war. Given to France as Bapaume in 1947. Scrapped 1952.
M36	Schichau Elbing, 1940	21.12.1940	02.01.1942	Sunk after air attack on 04.05.1945.
M37	Atlas Werke Bremen, 1940	12.10.1940	16.06.1941	Sunk by Soviet MTB on 04.06.1944.
M38	Atlas Werke Bremen, 1940	28.02.1940	13.12.1941	Used by France after the war as Oise. Scrapped 1958.
M39	Atlas Werke Bremen, 1940	08.08.1940	05.05.1942	Sunk by British MTB on 24.05.1944.
M81	Lübecker Maschinenbaugesellschaft Lübeck, 1940	20.12.1940	17.07.1941	Taken over by the USA after the war. Given to France as Laffaux in 1947. Sold to Germany in 1957 as Hummel. Decommissioned in 1963, used as target ship. Scrapped 1976.
M82	Lübecker Maschinenbaugesellschaft Lübeck, 1940	23.03.1941	17.11.1941	Taken over by Britain, scrapped 1948.
M83	Lübecker Maschinenbaugesellschaft Lübeck, 1940	05.06.1941	09.03.1942	Sunk by British MTB on 14.06.1944.
M84	Lübecker Maschinenbaugesellschaft Lübeck, 1940	03.09.1941	09.06.1942	Destroyed in Le Havre shipyard on 11.08.1944.
M85	Lübecker Maschinenbaugesellschaft Lübeck, 1940	06.12.1941	18.09.1942	Taken over by Britain after the war. Given to France as Yser in 1947. Sold to Germany in 1957 as Brummer. Decommissioned in 1963, Scrapped 1974.
M101	Rickmers Werft Wesermünde, 1941	15.03.1941	22.09.1941	Sunk after collision on 25.11.1942.
M102	Rickmers Werft Wesermünde, 1941	01.08.1941	28.04.1942	Taken over by Britain, scrapped 1948.
M103	Rickmers Werft Wesermünde, 1941	03.12.1941	06.08.1942	Sunk after air attack on 15.06.1944. Wreck located at 53,36,12N/06,11,14E.
M104	Rickmers Werft Wesermünde, 1941	01.04.1942	07.11.1942	Taken over by Britain, scrapped 1948.
M131	Lindeneau Memel, 1941	20.12.1941	21.08.1942	Taken over by Britain, scrapped 1948.
M132	Lindeneau Memel, 1941	07.04.1941	20.01.1942	Sunk by British submarine Sceptre on 20.09.1944.
M151	Oderwerke Stettin, 1940	19.10.1940	05.05.1941	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-915, on 27.07.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 08.01.1953 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, and reclassified as rescue ship, on 25.02.1953 renamed as Skalistyi. On 12.08.1964 removed from the Navy lists, on 27.08.1964 transfered for scrapping and disbanded.
M152	Oderwerke Stettin, 1940	16.11.1940	30.06.1941	Sunk after mine hit on 23.07.1943.
M153	Oderwerke Stettin, 1940	04.01.1941	01.09.1941	Sunk after battle with allied destroyer and MGBs on 10.07.1943 near Quessant.
M154	Oderwerke Stettin, 1940	03.05.1941	01.11.1941	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1946 as T-911. Scrapped 1958.
M155	Oderwerke Stettin, 1940	19.07.1941	27.01.1942	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-924, on 02.08.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 01.09.1955 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, and reclassified as target ship, on 17.10.1955 renamed as ZL-66. On 29.10.1956 re-formed as a Brandwache, on 04.12.1956 renamed as BRN-31. On 09.10.1957 reclassified as a floating barrack, on 28.01.1958 renamed as PKZ-132. On 21.06.1979 removed from the Navy lists, on 27.03.1980 transfered for scrapping and disbanded.
M156	Oderwerke Stettin, 1940	04.10.1941	28.04.1942	Beached after battle with allied destroyers on 05.02.1944. Sunk after air attack on 06.02.1944.
M201	AG Neptun Rostock, 1940	18.05.1940	20.12.1940	Taken over by Britain, scrapped 1948.
M202	AG Neptun Rostock, 1940	29.09.1940	03.04.1941	Taken over by the USa after the war, given to France as Craonne. Scrapped 1951.
M203	AG Neptun Rostock, 1940	29.09.1940	03.06.1941	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-919, on 02.08.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 08.01.1953 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, and reclassified as rescue ship, on 25.02.1953 renamed as Laila. On 01.06.1961 removed from the Navy lists, on 01.12.1961 transfered for scrapping and disbanded.
M204	AG Neptun Rostock, 1940	21.12.1940	24.08.1941	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-916, on 02.08.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 26.08.1952 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, and reclassified as sonar control station, on 19.09.1952 renamed as Barograf. On 07.07.1956 removed from the Navy lists and transfered for scrapping.
M205	AG Neptun Rostock, 1940	03.05.1941	04.11.1941	Taken over by the USA after the war. Given to France as Belfort in 1947. Sold to Germany in 1957 as Biene. Decommissioned in 1963, Scrapped 1974.
M206	AG Neptun Rostock, 1940	05.05.1941	21.12.1941	Sunk after air attack on 06.08.1944.
M251	Deutsche Weft Hamburg, 1940	12.07.1940	10.12.1940	Taken over by the USA after the war. Given to France as Péronne in 1947. Scrapped 1951.
M252	Deutsche Weft Hamburg, 1940	27.09.1940	15.02.1941	Taken over by the USA after the war. Given to France as Ancre in 1947. Decommissioned 1960.
M253	Deutsche Weft Hamburg, 1940	23.11.1940	21.04.1941	Taken over by the USA after the war. Given to France as Vimy in 1947. Sold to Germany in 1957 as Bremse. Decommissioned in 1963, Scrapped 1976.
M254	Deutsche Weft Hamburg, 1940	17.02.1941	16.06.1941	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 03.02.1946 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-917, on 02.08.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 08.12.1954 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, and reclassified as experimental ship, on 12.01.1955 renamed as Nerpa. On 26.10.1957 re-formed to a heating ship, on 26.11.1957 renamed as OT-44. In 1958 removed from the Navy vessels lists and scrapped in Novorossijsk.
M255	Deutsche Weft Hamburg, 1940	01.04.1941	11.10.1941	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 15.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-922, on 02.08.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 14.08.1946 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, reclassified as experimental ship and transfered to the Scientifical-Research Mine and Torpedo Weapon Institution of the Navy, on 07.10.1947 renamed as Ispytatel. On 31.01.1958 removed from the Navy lists and transfered for scrapping.
M256	Deutsche Weft Hamburg, 1940	31.05.1941	19.01.1942	Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945. Added into Soviet Navy lists on 05.11.1945, on 29.11.1945 taken by a Soviet crew, on 13.05.1946 renamed as T-923, on 02.08.1946, when arrived to Sevastopol, included into the Black Sea Fleet. On 18.11.1954 put out of the combat fleet, disarmed, and reclassified as rescue ship, on 12.01.1955 renamed as Beshtau. On 11.03.1958 reclassified as a floating barrack, on 18.03.1958 renamed as PKZ-143. On 21.09.1959 removed from the Navy lists, on 19.10.1959 transfered for scrapping and disbanded.