Kondor-class minesweeper explained

-- warship classes -->
Ship Caption:Ueckermünde (GS01) in Malta service as P30
Builders:Peene-Werft, Wolgast
Operators:
Class After:
  • (Malta)
  • (Malta)
Built Range:1967-1970
In Commission Range:1967-present
Total Ships Completed:
  • 21
  • 4 modified
Total Ships Active:2
Ship Type:Minesweeper
Ship Displacement:339t
Ship Length:51.98m (170.54feet) o/a
Ship Beam:7.12m (23.36feet)
Ship Draft:2.4m (07.9feet)
Ship Propulsion:MD 40 diesel engines
Ship Speed:20kn
Ship Range:1900abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Ship Complement:24
Ship Armament:
  • 1 × 25 mm FlaK 2M-3
  • up to 28 mines or 20 depth charges
-- warship classes -->
Ship Caption:Eisleben (312)
Builders:Peenewerft shipyard
Class After: (Latvia)
Built Range:1971-1973
In Commission Range:1971-present
Total Ships Completed:
  • 30
  • 2 modified
Total Ships Active:10
Total Ships Lost:1
Total Ships Retired:2
Ship Type:Minesweeper
Ship Displacement:449t
Ship Length:59.52m (195.28feet) o/a
Ship Beam:7.76m (25.46feet)
Ship Draft:2.22m (07.28feet)
Ship Propulsion:MD 40 diesel engines
Ship Speed:18kn
Ship Range:1900abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Ship Complement:29
Ship Armament:
  • 3 × 25 mm FlaK 2M-3
  • up to 24 mines or 24 depth charges

The Project 89 minesweeper, also known as the Kondor class, was a class of minesweepers designed in the German Democratic Republic which was given the NATO designation of "Kondor". There were three versions, namely, the prototype unit, Project 89.0; the first version, Project 89.1 (NATO designation: Kondor I); and the second version, Project 89.2 (NATO designation: Kondor II).

Ships in class

PennantNameIn commissionFate
Project 89.0
V32unnamed1967-1981
Project 89.1 (Kondor I)
V814Greifswald1969-1990Sold in Guinea-Bissau as Mawia
S425Bergen1969-?Fishing surveillance, 1981 as Warnemünde
Transferred to Tunisia as Ras Ipirkia
S426Anklam1969-1976Sport and training vessel, 1976 as Ernst Thälmann
Rebuilt in the UK, Denmark and Israel
GS01Ueckermünde1969-1990
1992-2004
Transferred to Malta, 1992 as P30
Laid up as of 2013
GS02Demmin1969-?Transferred to Tunisia as Ras el Blad
GS03Malchin1969-?Transferred to Tunisia as Ras el Drek
GS04Altentreptow1969-?Transferred to Tunisia as Ras Mamoura
GS05Pasewalk1969-1990
1992-2004
Transferred to Malta, 1992 as P31
Scuttled 2009
GS06Templin1969-?Transferred to Tunisia as Ras Ajdir
G412Neustrelitz1969-1990
G421Vitte1970-1990
G444Zingst1970-1990
G413Prerow1970-1990
G424Graal-Müritz1970-1990
GS07Kühlungsborn1970-1995
1998–present
Transferred to German Coast Guard as Kühlungsborn (BG 32).
Transferred to Cape Verde, 1998 as Vigilante (P521)
GS08Ahrenshoop1970-1995Transferred to German Coast Guard as Ahrenshoop (BG 33).
G425Kirchdorf1970-1990
GS09Boltenhagen1970-1996
1997-2004
Transferred to German Coast Guard as Boltenhagen (BG 31).
Transferred to Malta, 1997 as P29
Scuttled 2007
G416Klütz1970-1990
G426Rerik1970-1990
G446Bansin1970-1990
Project 65.1 or 129 (torpedo trials craft)
V661Libben1971-1990
V662Strelasund1971-1990
Project 65.2 or 115 (reconnaissance ships)
Komet1972-1990
1994-2000
Transferred to Estonia, 1994 as Vambola (M411)
Laid up
Meteor1972-1990
1994-2000
Transferred to Estonia, 1994 as Sulev (M412)
Scrapped 2000
Project 89.2 (Kondor II)
V811Wolgast1971-1990
1994–2019
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rote (721)
Decommissioned 28 August 2019
S321Kamenz1971-1981
1992-2008
Transferred to Latvia, 1992 as Viesturs (M01)
334Stralsund1971-1990
315Wittstock1971-1990
321Kyritz1971-1990
345Neuruppin1971-1990
346Strasburg1971-1990
324Röbel1971-1990
1992-2008
Transferred to Latvia, 1992 as Imanta (M02)
325Pritzwalk1971-1990
1994–present
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Romang (723)
Decommissioned 6 February 2024
326Rathenow1972-1990
331Dessau1972-1990
332Bitterfeld1972-1991
1994–present
Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Bitterfeld (M2672)
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rimau (724)
333Tangerhütte1972-1991Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Tangerhütte (M2669)
V812Genthin1972-1988
335Zerbst1972-1990
1994–present
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rondo (725), later renamed KRI Kelabang (826)
V813Rosslau1972-1990
341Oranienburg1972-1990
1994–present
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rusa (726)
342Jüterbog1972-1990
1994–present
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rangsang (727)
343Bernau1972–2014Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Bernau (M2673)
Transferred to Uruguay, 1991 as Fortuna (ROU 33)
344Eilenburg1972-2000Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Eilenburg (M2674)
Transferred to Uruguay, 1991 as Valiente (ROU 32)
Sunk after collision in 2000
322Riesa1973-1990
1991–present
Transferred to Uruguay, 1991 as Temerario (ROU 31)
323Wilhem-Pieck-Stadt Guben1973-1990
311Sömmerda1973-1991
1994–present
Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Sömmerda (M2670)
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Raibu (728), later renamed KRI Kala Hitam (828)
312Eisleben1973–presentTransferred to Germany, 1990 as Eisleben (M2671)
Transferred to Uruguay, 1991 as Audaz (ROU 34)
313Gransee1973-1990
314Zeitz1973-1981
315Hettstedt1973-1981
1994–present
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Raas (722)
316Altenburg1973-1990
314Schönebeck1973-1990
336Grimma1973-1990
1994–present
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rempang (729)
Decommissioned 15 October 2021
Project 131 (state yacht)
Ostseeland1971-1990
Project 136 (survey vessel)
Carl Friedrich Gauß1975-?Transferred to Germany

Foreign service

Cape Verde

The Kondor I vessel Kuhlungsborn was used by the German Coast Guard. In 1998 it was transferred to Cape Verde and was renamed Vigilante carrying the pennant number P 521.[1] It is still in service.

Estonia

The Kondor I vessels Komet and Meteor were transferred to Estonia as Vambola and Sulev in 1994. Sulev was scrapped in 2000 while Vambola remains laid up awaiting to be scrapped.

Indonesia

Nine Kondor II vessels were transferred to Indonesia around 1994. Six of the vessels are still in active service. KRI Kala Hitam (828) (ex-Sömmerda) and KRI Kelabang (826) (ex-Zerbst) were converted into patrol vessels due to minehunting equipment failures.[2] KRI Pulau Rote (721) (ex-Wolgast) was decommissioned on 28 August 2019.[3] KRI Pulau Rempang (729) (ex-Grimma) was decommissioned on 15 October 2021.[4] KRI Pulau Romang (723) (ex-Pritzwalk) was decommissioned on 6 February 2024.[5]

Latvia

Two Kondor II vessels were transferred to Latvia in 1992 and were renamed Viesturs and Imanta. They were used as minehunters until they decommissioned in 2008.

Malta

Two Kondor I vessels, Ueckermünde and Pasewalk, were sold to Malta in 1992, where they were given the pennant numbers P30 and . A third ship, Boltenhagen, was also sold in 1997 and it was given the pennant number . The three vessels served with the Offshore Command of the Maritime Squadron of the AFM until they were decommissioned in 2004 and were replaced by more modern patrol boats. P29 was scuttled as an artificial diving site off Ċirkewwa in 2007,[6] while P31 followed being sunk off Comino in 2009.[7] As of 2013, P30 was laid up at Cassar Ship Repair Yard, Marsa.[8]

Tunisia

Five Kondor I minesweepers were transferred to the Tunisian Navy as coastal patrol craft according to Jane's Fighting Ships for 1999-2000.[9] Today only one is still in service.

Uruguay

The Kondor II vessels Riesa, Eilenburg, Bernau and Eisleben were transferred to Uruguay and renamed Temerario, Valiente, Fortuna and Audaz on 11 October 1991. Valiente was rammed by the Panamian freighter Skyros on 5 August 2000 and was torn in half with 8 sailors killed and 3 missing.[10] Fortuna was scrapped and the other two are still in service.

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. JFS 1999-2000 p.102
  2. Web site: Kondor Class: Penyapu Ranjau TNI AL dari Era Perang Dingin – Indomiliter.com. www.indomiliter.com. 27 August 2013. en-US. 2017-11-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021727/http://www.indomiliter.com/kondor-class-penyapu-ranjau-tni-al-dari-era-perang-dingin/ . 2017-11-12. live.
  3. Web site: 28 August 2019 . KAPUSHIDROSAL PIMPIN UPACARA PENGHAPUSAN KRI PULAU ROTE-721. 9 February 2024. www.pushidrosal.id.
  4. Web site: Subdispen. Pushidrosal. 15 October 2021 . KRI PULAU REMPANG-729 AKHIRI MASA PENGABDIANNYA DI TNI AL. 2021-10-18. www.pushidrosal.id.
  5. Web site: 7 February 2024 . Penyerahan Lonceng Kapal, Tandai Purna Tugas Unsur TNI AL KRI Pulau Romang-723 . Handover of Ship Bells, Marking the Retirement of TNI AL Elements KRI Pulau Romang-723 . 8 February 2024 . Tentara Nasional Indonesia . id.
  6. News: Another wreck off Cirkewwa. 8 September 2014. Times of Malta. 15 August 2007.
  7. Web site: Malta’s newly scuttled wreck – The ex-Pasewalk P31 Patrol Boat. Oxygene Malta. 8 September 2014. 11 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220311091149/http://www.oxygenediving.com/malta/p13. dead.
  8. Web site: Dalli. Lawrence. Filming Marine Units. Malta Ship Photos. 8 September 2014.
  9. JFS 1999-2000 p.718
  10. Web site: El bagayo del barreminas "Valiente". El Muerto. 8 September 2014.