Imperial minesweeper class

Minensuchboot 1916

The most numerous Imperial minesweeper class enlarged the proven design for the hazardous mine war in the North Sea and Baltic.

120 boats listed
Profile drawing for Minensuchboot 1916

Design and service

The class

The Minensuchboot 1916 was the largest class of minehunters built during World War I in Germany. Differing not much from its predescessors they showed an increase in size and armamament.

A total of 119 ships were ordered and most of them were completed. Because of their dangerous operations, many of them were lost during the war, especially caused by mine hits. The surviving ships are used for several different tasks after the war, many of them were specially rebuild into fleet tenders or other auxiliary ships. Many of these ships saw action in World War II again, some even in their initial role as mine sweepers.

Construction records

Boats of the class

120 boats and their recorded construction details and fates.

120 boats
Construction and fate of the boats in this class
NameConstructionLaunchedCommissionedFate
M57Seebeck Geestermünde, 191601.01.191716.09.1917Used as a floating barrack in 1939, fate unknown
M58Seebeck Geestermünde, 191604.08.191723.10.1917Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M59Seebeck Geestermünde, 191431.10.191730.11.1917On 02.08.1922 bought by Lithuania, renamed as Presidentas Smetona and served as patrol ship, training ship, and President's yacht. In 1934 renamed Anastasas Smetona, on 22.06.1940 renamed as Primunas. In 08.1940, the ship was included into 2nd Baltic detachment of board guard vessels of Sea Board Guard of NKVD as board guard ship and renamed Korall. On 22.06.1941 transferred and on 19.08.1941 included into Baltic Fleet as minesweeper No.76, on 07.09.1941 reclassified as guard ship and renamed Korall, on 25.11.1943 reclassified again as minesweeper, on 05.06.1944 refitted as electro-magnetic minesweeper, on 29.08.1944 renamed T-33. On 11.01.1945 mined and sunk in Finnish Gulf near Aegna island.
M60Seebeck Geestermünde, 191628.11.191715.01.1918Used as Fleet Tender Hecht in 1939. Taken over by Russia in 1945, renamed to Donec. Scrapped 1958.
M61Seebeck Geestermünde, 191613.04.191820.04.1918Sunk after mine hit in the North Sea on 26.07.1940.
M62Seebeck Geestermünde, 191613.04.191829.04.1918Sunk after mine hit in the North Sea on 09.08.1918.
M63Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191627.03.191706.05.1917Sunk after mine hit in the North Sea on 28.06.1917.
M64Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191621.04.191720.05.1917Sunk after mine hit in the North Sea on 20.04.1918.
M65Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191612.05.191710.06.1917Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M66Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191602.06.191701.07.1917Reclassified to experimental ship in 1937, renamed Störtebecker. Renamed M 566 in 1941, taken over by the USA after World War II. Scrapped in 1950.
M67Neptun Rostock, 191630.06.191704.09.1917Sunk after mine hit in the North Sea on 25.04.1918.
M68Neptun Rostock, 191625.07.191706.10.1917On 29.10.1917 mined and beached in Rigaer Gulf, in 1918 refloated by Germans and towed to Riga for repairs. In 01.1919 included into Red Lettland flotilla as dispatch vessel Sarkana Latvia, in 05.1919 captured in Riga by Germans, in 07.1919 renamed as Virsaitis. On 10.11.1921 commissioned into Lettland Navy as minesweeper. On 19.08.1940 included into Baltic fleet as minesweeper, on 17.10.1940 renamed T-297, on 25.07.1941 reclassified as guard ship and renamed Virsaitis. On 03.12.1941 mined and sunk in Finnish Gulf, when escorted convoy from Hanko.
M69Neptun Rostock, 191616.08.191703.11.1917Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M70Neptun Rostock, 191628.09.191707.12.1917Sold to Hungary in 1929, planed rebuild as a mine layer stopped, fate unknown.
M71Vulcan Bremen, 191711.01.191814.04.1918Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M72Vulcan Bremen, 191720.02.191828.04.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine as training ship. Taken over by the USA in 1945, returned to Germany in 1947, used as floating barrack for police officers. Scrapped in 1953.
M73Vulcan Bremen, 191720.02.191818.07.1918Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M74Vulcan Bremen, 191726.04.191818.06.1918Sold in 1922 to Argentine as Meta. Used as mine hunter M5, renamed to Murature in 1938. Reclassified to Aviso Cormoran in 1938, since 1940 used as a Museum ship.
M75Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191721.07.191716.08.1917Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine as training ship. Sunk during a storm on 01.03.1945.
M76Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191715.08.191709.09.1917Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M77Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191704.09.191730.09.1917Sold in 1922, rebuild as Rhine river tug Luwen 3. Renamed Reichspräsident in 1928. Sold to Blohm & Voss in 1935 as aircraft recovery ship Kranich, scrapped 1961.
M78Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191720.11.191713.12.1917Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M79Seebeck Geestermünde, 191815.01.191919.03.1919Sold in 1921 to Argentine as Melitta. Used as mine hunter M6, renamed Pinedo in 1938. Used as a floating barrack from 1951 on. Sold in 1969, fate unknown.
M80Seebeck Geestermünde, 191815.01.191901.04.1919Sold in 1921 to Argentine Margot. Used as mine hunter M7, renamed Py in 1938. Used up as a pontoon since 1937.
M81Seebeck Geestermünde, 191808.09.191913.10.1919Reclassified as fleet tender in 1920, renamed Nautilus in 1929. Scrapped 1950.
M82Seebeck Geestermünde, 191808.09.191908.11.1919Reclassified as fleet tender in 1925, renamed Jagd in 1929. Scrapped 1954.
M83Atlaswerke Bremen, 191719.09.191713.11.1917Sunk after mine hit in the North Sea on 01.07.1918.
M84Atlaswerke Bremen, 191710.10.191716.12.1917Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine as experimental ship. Renamed M584 in 1940. Sunk after mine hit on 30.11.1944.
M85Nordseewerke Emden, 191710.04.191803.08.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Sunk after mine hit on 01.10.1939.
M86Nordseewerke Emden, 191710.10.191721.03.1918Sold and scrapped in 1921.
M87Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191630.10.191723.11.1917Sold and scrapped in 1921.
M88Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191626.09.191714.10.1917Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M89Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191611.12.191701.01.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Sunk after mine hit on 26.07.1940.
M90Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191629.12.191723.01.1918Sold in 1922 to Argentine as Marianne. Used as mine hunter M8, renamed Segui in 1938. Reclassified to diver ship in 1934, scrapped 1963.
M91Neptun Rostock, 191701.11.191710.01.1918Sunk after mine hit in the North Sea on 10.03.1918.
M92Neptun Rostock, 191708.12.191721.02.1918Sunk after mine hit in the North Sea on 01.07.1918.
M93Neptun Rostock, 191718.01.191814.03.1918Sold and scrapped in 1921.
M94Neptun Rostock, 191720.02.191815.04.1918Sold and scrapped in 1921.
M95Atlaswerke Bremen, 191721.12.191705.03.1918Sunk after mine hit in the North Sea on 20.04.1918.
M96Atlaswerke Bremen, 191722.02.191815.04.1918Reclassified as hospital ship. Capsized on 15.03.1920 in Stettin, raised in 1922, scrapped.
M97Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191728.03.191821.04.1918Sold in 1921 to Yugoslavia, used as tug boat and minelayer Orano. Captured by Italian troops in 1941, renamed Vergada. Given back to Yugoslavia in 1943, scrapped 1962.
M98Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191716.04.191807.05.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Scrapped 1949.
M99Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191708.05.191826.05.1918Sold and scrapped in 1921.
M100Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191723.05.191816.06.1918Sold in 1921 to Yugoslavia, used as tug boat and minelayer Galeb. Captured by Italian troops in 1941, renamed Selve, sunk 1942.
M101Atlaswerke Bremen, 191720.04.191819.06.1918Sold in 1922 to Argentine as Margarita. Used as mine hunter M9, renamed Thorne in 1938. Reclassified as Aviso Petrel in 1947, hulk still existing in 1992.
M102Atlaswerke Bremen, 191731.05.191827.07.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Scrapped 1946.
M103Neptun Rostock, 191727.03.191824.05.1918Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M104Neptun Rostock, 191727.04.191829.06.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Sunk after air attack on 09.04.945 in Kiel.
M105Reihersteig Hamburg, 191806.07.191810.10.1918Sold in 1922 to Argentine as Mecha. Used as mine hunter M10. Rebuilt as presidential yacht Golondria in 1925. Sold for scrap in 1958.
M106Reihersteig Hamburg, 191808.07.191821.03.1919Sold in 1921 to Yugoslavia, used as tug boat and minelayer Gavran. Captured by Italian troops in 1941, renamed Zuri. Sunk during an air attack on 10.07.1943.
M107Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191703.07.191830.07.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine as R-boat tender Von der Groeben. Beached after mine hit on 18.08.1940, repaired and sunk after air attack on 15.06.1944.
M108Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191717.07.191810.08.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine as artillery training ship Delphin. Taken over by Russia after World War II, fate unknown.
M109Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191707.08.191829.08.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine as experimental ship Johann Wittenborg. Renamed M509 in 1940, scrapped in 1950.
M110Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191727.08.191819.09.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Beached on 20.11.1943, repaired and put into service again. Scraped in 1950.
M111Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191717.09.191811.10.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Sunk after run into own minefield on 03.11.1941 near Kolberg.
M112Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191712.11.191831.10.1918Sold in 1921 to Yugoslavia, used as tug boat and minelayer Jastreb. Captured by Italian troops in 1941, renamed Zirona. Sunk during an air attack on 25.11.1941.
M113Stücklen Hamburg, 191827.05.191928.04.1920Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Reclassified as U-Boat tender Acheron. Scrapped after 1946.
M114Stücklen Hamburg, 191828.09.1920---Incomplete sold and rebuild as transport ship Leopold David. Sunk on 09.01.1922 after explosion of its payload.
M115Atlaswerke Bremen, 191712.07.191819.09.1918Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine as experimental ship Arcona. Sunk after mine hit on 21.05.1944.
M116Atlaswerke Bremen, 191710.08.191815.10.1918Used as floating barrack W WB 1 since 1922, fate unknown.
M117Atlaswerke Bremen, 191720.09.19181919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Scrapped after 1946.
M118Atlaswerke Bremen, 191712.10.191801.04.1919Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M119Neptun Rostock, 191722.06.191817.08.1918Sold to Italy in 1921 as Meteo. Renamed Viesti in 1925. Scraped in 1945.
M120Neptun Rostock, 191724.07.191820.09.1918Sold to Italy in 1921 as Abastro. Renamed Cotrone in 1925 and Crotone in 1931. Taken over by German troops in 1943, used as Minelayer Kehrwieder. Used as training ship Garaventa until 1968.
M121Neptun Rostock, 191710.09.191825.10.1918Sold in 1921 to Yugoslavia, used as tug boat and minelayer Kobac. Captured by Italian troops in 1941, renamed to Unie. Sunk during air attack on 30.01.1943.
M122Neptun Rostock, 191721.09.191827.02.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Sunk on 18.05.1946.
M123Seebeck Geestermünde, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M124Seebeck Geestermünde, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M125Flensburger Schiffsbaugesellschaft Flensburg, 191826.10.191824.04.1919Used as prison ship in 1920, after that reclassified as floating barrack W WB 2. Still existent in 1941, final fate unknown.
M126Flensburger Schiffsbaugesellschaft Flensburg, 191821.12.191801.07.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Scrapped after 1946.
M127Union-Gießerei Königsberg, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M128Union-Gießerei Königsberg, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M129Reihersteig Hamburg, 191815.01.191920.05.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine, renamed Otto Braun. sunk after mine hit on 02.12.1941.
M130Reihersteig Hamburg, 191813.02.191929.07.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine, renamed training ship Fuchs. Taken over by the Soviet Union in 1945, renamed Minoga. Fate unknown.
M131Reihersteig Hamburg, 191807.06.1919---Incomplete ship sold to Montevideo in 1919.
M132Reihersteig Hamburg, 191814.01.191914.11.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Sunk after nearby depth charge explosion on 13.11.1939.
M133Frerichs & Co. Einswarden, 1918191915.12.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine as tender Wacht. Renamed Raule in 1939, sunk after air attack on 17.05.1942.
M134Frerichs & Co. Einswarden, 191828.07.191912.03.1920Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Renamed tender Frauenlob in 1929. Sunk near Bergen on 09.05.1940 after an air attack. Raised and recommissioned in 21.03.1941. Renamed to Jungingen and sunk by British MTB on 27.9.1943.
M135Frerichs & Co. Einswarden, 191815.03.191931.10.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Renamed tender Hela in 1923. Taken over by Russia in 1946 used as floating barrack. Scrapped 1965.
M136Frerichs & Co. Einswarden, 1918191915.11.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Renamed tender Havel in 1938. Sunk after mine hit on on 26.07.1940.
M137Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191715.01.191926.10.1920Sold and scrapped in 1922.
M138Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191717.02.191921.03.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Renamed tender Zieten in 1921. Renamed Nettelbeck in 1939, sunk after air attack on 21.60.1944. Raised and towed to Königsberg, beached during a storm on 26.01.1945
M139Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191712.03.1919---Sold in 1919, rebuild as ferry Helgoland. Sold to Norway in 1922 as Tönsberg I, 1931 to Columbia as patrol boat Bogota. Sunk after accident in 1946.
M140Tecklenborg Geestermünde, 191715.05.1919---Sold in 1919, rebuild as ferry Hörnum. Sold to Britain in 1922 as St. Elian, 1927 to Italy as Partenope. Renamed Ischia in 1949, 1972 rebuild as restaurant ship Bucaneer. Still existing in 1994.
M141Stücklen Hamburg, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M142Stücklen Hamburg, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M143Stücklen Hamburg, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M144Neptun Rostock, 191719.03.191920.06.1919Sold in 1921 to Yugoslavia, used as tug boat and minelayer Sokol. Captured by Italian troops in 1941, renamed Eso. Sunk by air launched torpedo on 19.01.1943.
M145Neptun Rostock, 191722.05.191920.06.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Scrapped 1949.
M146Flensburger Schiffsbaugesellschaft Flensburg, 191821.12.191811.08.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine as fleet tender Taku. Renamed Von der Lippe in 1943, sunk after bomb hit on 15.06.1944
M147Flensburger Schiffsbaugesellschaft Flensburg, 1918May 1920---Incomplete sold and rebuild as transport ship Erna David, renamed to Principio in 1922. Sold to Mexico in the 1930s, sunk during a storm in 1966.
M148Flensburger Schiffsbaugesellschaft Flensburg, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M149Flensburger Schiffsbaugesellschaft Flensburg, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M150Hansawerft TönningMay 1920---Sold and scrapped in 1920.
M151Hansawerft TönningSeptember 1920---Incomplete sold and rebuild as transport ship Kosmos I. Sold to Nicaragua in 1925, used by several South American countries. Beached in 1964.
M152Hansawerft TönningNovember 1920---Incomplete sold and rebuild as transport ship Wilbo. Capsized during a storm in 1923.
M153Frerichs & Co. Einswarden, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M154Frerichs & Co. Einswarden, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M155Frerichs & Co. Einswarden, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M156Frerichs & Co. Einswarden, 1918------Construction stopped, incomplete ship scrapped.
M157Nordseewerke Emden09.04.191708.12.1919Used by Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine. Sunk after a mine hit during a snow storm on 27.12.1941.
M158Nordseewerke Emden1920---Rebuilt as ferry in 1923, renamed Grille. Sold to France as Dinard. Sold to Columbia as patrol boat Cordova, sunk after accident in 1946.
M159Union-Gießerei Königsberg------Order canceled.
M160Union-Gießerei Königsberg------Order canceled.
M161Reihersteig Hamburg, 19181920---Rebuilt as transport Julius, beached on 14.11.1920.
M162Reihersteig Hamburg------Order canceled.
M163Tecklenborg Geestermünde------Order canceled.
M164Tecklenborg Geestermünde------Order canceled.
M165Tecklenborg Geestermünde------Order canceled.
M166Tecklenborg Geestermünde------Order canceled.
M167Frerichs & Co. Einswarden------Order canceled.
M168Frerichs & Co. Einswarden------Order canceled.
M169Unterweser Schiffbau Lehe------Order canceled.
M170Unterweser Schiffbau Lehe------Order canceled.
M171Henry Koch Lübeck------Order canceled.
M172Henry Koch Lübeck------Order canceled.
M173Janssen & Schilinsky Hamburg------Order canceled.
M174Janssen & Schilinsky Hamburg------Order canceled.
M175Nüscke & Co Stettin------Order canceled.
M176Nüscke & Co Stettin26.10.191824.04.1919Order canceled.

At a glance

Technical profile

Principal dimensions, armament, machinery and performance.

Dimensions

Size (Max)
535-630 t
Length (Total)
59,30 m
Beam
7,30 m
Draft
2,15 m

Armament

8,8 cm L/30
2
Mines
30

Machinery

Shafts
2
Engines
2
Type
3-cyl triple expansion engine

Performance

Total Performance
1600-1850 shp
Speed
16-16,5 kn
Range
2000 sm at 14 kn

The archive

Models

Ship models in 1/1250 scale.

MBoot 1916
MBoot 1916
MBoot 1916
MBoot 1916