Project 89 Kondor Minesweeper

VEB Peene-Werft

339 t normal

52,00 m

7.12 m

2.40 m

24

2 diesel engines M 40D with 2942 kW, 2 screws

Maximum of 20 kn

1900 sm

Kondor - class was the NATO designation of a class of minesweepers and Räumschiffen (MSR ) of the People's Navy of the GDR. The ships wore in the People's Navy, the project number 89.1 and after the introduction of the extended variant (Project 89.2 ) to distinguish the term MSR shortly. In 1984 he was again a reclassification of Ships for coastal mine countermeasures ship ( MAW ).

Building and history

The plans for the project 89.0 in 1965 from the Institute of Shipbuilding Wolgast (ISW ) and the Peenewerft performed. As of 1967, the production of the development project began 89.1. By 1970, 21 ships ( project numbers 89101-89121 ) were built for the People's Navy.

The ships were deliberately equipped with little comfort, because after the force at the design time of doctrine of " immediate retaliation " in the event of an attack by NATO on the Warsaw Pact, the ships would minefields under a highly classified threat to evacuate from the air, and the loss many MSR with this action the planners of the people's Navy appeared likely.

In 1971, 18 vessels were delivered to the 6th Border Brigade coast of the border troops as patrol boats and used there in three border areas of the vessel of six ships.

The reasons for the rejection of this modern type of ship with good seaworthiness different causes can be mentioned. Firstly, it is assumed that the ships with their small dimensions were not suitable for the use of modern mine-clearing or their anti-aircraft armament was too weak, on the other hand it is stated that the ships were required by the border troops to the required " effectiveness of border security ' to ensure.

Despite their service to secure the border of the GDR, the ships kept their mine countermeasure equipment, as they were again assigned to the People's Navy as reinforcement in case of war. One of the main tasks of the 6th Border Brigade coast and their ships was to prevent the so-called " flight from the republic " by sea.

Technical Description

Drive, sensors and devices

The ships had a welded steel hull. The drive served two diesel engines of Soviet design of the type M -40D with a total of 2942 kW, which could accelerate the ships of the class by two screws at about 20 knots. The ships were equipped with a 3- cm - navigation radar Type 333 TSR and a sonar KLA 58m to search for sea mines. For recognition of friendly ships or aircraft and to confirm their own identity against the allies all ships were equipped with transmitters and receivers for the Soviet friend -or-foe recognition system of the type " Nichrome ".

For emergencies, there was a bilge pump, a separate fire pump and a so-called ship sprinkler system ( KS- spraying ), which in case of fire on the deck of the entire ship could sprinkle on a guided along the superstructure pipeline.

Arming

Main armament of the ships of this class was a double mount type 2M -3, equipped with 25 - mm machine guns, which was situated on the back in an open tower.

Even if it did not reflect the actual order, could be sold into the sea from the aft deck sea mines or depth charges if necessary.

For clearing mines a Räumgeschirr of type " Scheer dragon device" (SDG R / L) could be towed ( with floats of type " Scheer Dragon" ) on ropes behind the ships over the stern to naval mines or - with the help of so-called hollow bars - simple types of to combat underground mines.

Modifications

Current Status

There are no more ships of this type in service with the German Navy. Three ships had to be made earlier than 1990 out of service. The mass was scrapped after the turn of the other three were sold to Malta; two of them, Maltese P sunk 29 (ex " Bolton " ) and P 31 ( ex " Pasewalk " ), in 2007 and 2009 as an attraction for scuba divers in shallow water. KOMET and METEOR were given away to Estonia in 1994. Five other ships went to Tunisia, another was first adopted by the West German Coast Guard and later given to the Cape Verde Islands, there to be used as a fisheries inspection vessel.