Project 89 Kondor Minesweeper
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 3 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).
 Ueckermünde (GS01) in Malta service as P30 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Peenewerft shipyard |
| Operators: | |
| Succeeded by: |
|
| Built: | 1967-1970 |
| In commission: | 1967-present |
| Completed: |
|
| Active: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Minesweeper |
| Displacement: | 339 tonnes (334 long tons) |
| Length: | 51.98 m (170 ft 6 in) o/a |
| Beam: | 7.12 m (23 ft 4 in) |
| Draft: | 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) |
| Propulsion: | MD 40 diesel engines |
| Speed: | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Range: | 1,900 nmi (3,500 km) |
| Complement: | 24 |
| Armament: |
|
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 Eisleben (312) | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Peenewerft shipyard |
| Operators: | |
| Succeeded by: | Tripartite class (Latvia) |
| Built: | 1971-1973 |
| In commission: | 1971-present |
| Completed: |
|
| Active: | 11 |
| Lost: | 1 |
| Retired: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Minesweeper |
| Displacement: | 449 tonnes (442 long tons) |
| Length: | 59.52 m (195 ft 3 in) o/a |
| Beam: | 7.76 m (25 ft 6 in) |
| Draft: | 2.22 m (7 ft 3 in) |
| Propulsion: | MD 40 diesel engines |
| Speed: | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Range: | 1,900 nmi (3,500 km) |
| Complement: | 29 |
| Armament: |
|
Ships in class
| Pennant | Name | In commission | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project 89.0 | |||
| V32 | unnamed | 1967-1981 | |
| Project 89.1 (Kondor I) | |||
| V814 | Greifswald | 1969-1990 | Sold in Guinea-Bissau as Mawia |
| S425 | Bergen | 1969-? | Fishing surveillance, 1981 as Warnemünde Transferred to Tunisia as Ras Ipirkia |
| S426 | Anklam | 1969-1976 | Sport and training vessel, 1976 as Ernst Thälmann Rebuilt in the UK, Denmark and Israel |
| GS01 | Ueckermünde | 1969-1990 1992-2004 |
Transferred to Malta, 1992 as P30 Laid up as of 2013 |
| GS02 | Demmin | 1969-? | Transferred to Tunisia as Ras el Blad |
| GS03 | Malchin | 1969-? | Transferred to Tunisia as Ras el Drek |
| GS04 | Altentreptow | 1969-? | Transferred to Tunisia as Ras Mamoura |
| GS05 | Pasewalk | 1969-1990 1992-2004 |
Transferred to Malta, 1992 as P31 Scuttled 2009 |
| GS06 | Templin | 1969-? | Transferred to Tunisia as Ras Ajdir |
| G412 | Neustrelitz | 1969-1990 | |
| G421 | Vitte | 1970-1990 | |
| G444 | Zingst | 1970-1990 | |
| G413 | Prerow | 1970-1990 | |
| G424 | Graal-Müritz | 1970-1990 | |
| GS07 | Kühlungsborn | 1970-1995 1998–present |
Transferred to German Coast Guard as Kühlungsborn (BG 32). Transferred to Cape Verde, 1998 as Vigilante (P521) |
| GS08 | Ahrenshoop | 1970-1995 | Transferred to German Coast Guard as Ahrenshoop (BG 33). |
| G425 | Kirchdorf | 1970-1990 | |
| GS09 | Boltenhagen | 1970-1996 1997-2004 |
Transferred to German Coast Guard as Boltenhagen (BG 31). Transferred to Malta, 1997 as P29 Scuttled 2007 |
| G416 | Klütz | 1970-1990 | |
| G426 | Rerik | 1970-1990 | |
| G446 | Bansin | 1970-1990 | |
| Project 65.1 or 129 (torpedo trials craft) | |||
| V661 | Libben | 1971-1990 | |
| V662 | Strelasund | 1971-1990 | |
| Project 65.2 or 115 (reconnaissance ships) | |||
| Komet | 1972-1990 1994-2000 |
Transferred to Estonia, 1994 as Vambola (M411) Laid up | |
| Meteor | 1972-1990 1994-2000 |
Transferred to Estonia, 1994 as Sulev (M412) Scrapped 2000 | |
| Project 89.2 (Kondor II) | |||
| V811 | Wolgast | 1971-1990 1994–present |
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rote (721) |
| S321 | Kamenz | 1971-1981 1992-2008 |
Transferred to Latvia, 1992 as Viesturs (M01) |
| 334 | Stralsund | 1971-1990 | |
| 315 | Wittstock | 1971-1990 | |
| 321 | Kyritz | 1971-1990 | |
| 345 | Neuruppin | 1971-1990 | |
| 346 | Strasburg | 1971-1990 | |
| 324 | Röbel | 1971-1990 1992-2008 |
Transferred to Latvia, 1992 as Imanta (M02) |
| 325 | Pritzwalk | 1971-1990 1994–present |
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Romang (723) |
| 326 | Rathenow | 1972-1990 | |
| 331 | Dessau | 1972-1990 | |
| 332 | Bitterfeld | 1972-1991 1994–present |
Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Bitterfeld (M2672) Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rimau (724) |
| 333 | Tangerhütte | 1972-1991 | Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Tangerhütte (M2669) |
| V812 | Genthin | 1972-1988 | |
| 335 | Zerbst | 1972-1990 1994–present |
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rondo (725), later renamed KRI Kelabang (826) |
| V813 | Rosslau | 1972-1990 | |
| 341 | Oranienburg | 1972-1990 1994–present |
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rusa (726) |
| 342 | Jüterbog | 1972-1990 1994–present |
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rangsang (727) |
| 343 | Bernau | 1972–2014 | Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Bernau (M2673) Transferred to Uruguay, 1991 as Fortuna (ROU 33) |
| 344 | Eilenburg | 1972-2000 | Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Eilenburg (M2674) Transferred to Uruguay, 1991 as Valiente (ROU 32) Sunk after collision in 2000 |
| 322 | Riesa | 1973-1990 1991–present |
Transferred to Uruguay, 1991 as Temerario (ROU 31) |
| 323 | Wilhem-Pieck-Stadt Guben | 1973-1990 | |
| 311 | Sömmerda | 1973-1991 1994–present |
Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Sömmerda (M2670) Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Raibu (728), later renamed KRI Kala Hitam (828) |
| 312 | Eisleben | 1973–present | Transferred to Germany, 1990 as Eisleben (M2671) Transferred to Uruguay, 1991 as Audaz (ROU 34) |
| 313 | Gransee | 1973-1990 | |
| 314 | Zeitz | 1973-1981 | |
| 315 | Hettstedt | 1973-1981 1994–present |
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Raas (722) |
| 316 | Altenburg | 1973-1990 | |
| 314 | Schönebeck | 1973-1990 | |
| 336 | Grimma | 1973-1990 1994–present |
Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rempang (729) |
| Project 131 (state yacht) | |||
| Ostseeland | 1971-1990 | ||
| Project 136 (survey vessel) | |||
| Carl Friedrich Gauß | 1975-? | 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. They are still in active service.
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 P31. A third ship, Boltenhagen, was also sold in 1997 and it was given the pennant number P29. 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,[2] while P31 followed being sunk off Comino in 2009.[3] As of 2013, P30 was laid up at Cassar Ship Repair Yard, Marsa.[4]
Tunisia
Five Kondor I minesweepers were transferred to the Tunisian Navy as coastal patrol craft according to Jane's Fighting Ships for 1999-2000.[5] 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.[6] The other three are still in service.
References
- JFS 1999-2000 p.102
- "Another wreck off Cirkewwa". Times of Malta. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
- "Malta's newly scuttled wreck – The ex-Pasewalk P31 Patrol Boat". Oxygene Malta. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
- Dalli, Lawrence. "Filming Marine Units". Malta Ship Photos. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
- JFS 1999-2000 p.718
- "El bagayo del barreminas "Valiente"". El Muerto. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
Further reading
- Hans Mehl, Knut Schäfer (2004). Die Seestreitkräfte der NVA (in German). Stuttgart: Motorbuchverlag. ISBN 3-61302406-3.
- ((East German Navy: German naval forces during the Cold War)), Volksmarine der DDR: Deutsche Seestreitkräfte im Kalten Krieg. 1999. by Friedrich Elchlepp, Walter Jablonsky, Fritz Minow, Manfred Röseberg. 360 pages. Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn, Hamburg-Berlin-Bonn. ISBN 3-8132-0587-8 paperback, ISBN 3-8132-0715-3 other. On page 231, "Verbleib der Schiffe und Boote nach Auflösung der VM" ((fate of ships after dissolution of the volksmarine)) ... Uruguay is listed as acquiring three Kondor-II class minesweepers.
- ((Ships and Boats of the East German Navy)), Schiffe und Boote der Volksmarine der DDR, by Manfred Röseberg, ISBN 3-935319-82-7, Ingo Koch Verlag Rostock, 2002
- ((The other German Navy)), Die andere deutsche Marine, by H.Mehl / K.Schäfer, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, ISBN 3-613-01675-3
- ((Military Tech series: Minesweepers and Ramming-ships)), Heft Minensuch- und Räumschiffe, Reihe Militärtechnische Hefte, by Bernd Oesterle, 1983, Militärverlag der DDR, Berlin
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kondor class. |
- Projekt 89.1 MSR - Kurz Kondor 1 (in German)
- Minensuch- und Räumschiff Projekt 89.1 parow-info.de (in German)
- "Kondors" at Shipbucket.com