M-class minesweeper (Netherlands)

	HNLMS M 1
Class overview
Builders	Van der Kuyk & Ree; Fa. Koopman; J & A van der Schuyt;
Operators	Royal Netherlands Navy; Kriegsmarine;
Completed	4
Lost	1
General characteristics
Type	Minesweeper
Displacement	M1: 328 t (323 long tons); M2: 205 t (202 long tons); M3 & M4: 230 t (226 long tons);
Length	30 m (98 ft 5 in) (approx.)
Propulsion	M1 & M2: 500 hp (373 kW) engine; M3 & M4: 450 hp (336 kW) engine;
Speed	M1: 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph); M2, M3 & M4: 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph);
Complement	16
Armament	2 x 12.7 mm machine guns

The M class were the first minesweepers of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The need for minesweepers for the Dutch marine came during the First World War when sea mines were laid in great numbers.

The Navy converted four tugboats into minesweepers. These ships had been built by three different shipyards; Van der Kuyk & Ree in Rotterdam, Fa. Koopman in Dordrecht, and J & A van der Schuyt in Papendrecht.

All M class minesweepers were still in service during the Second World War, but none of them was able to escape to the United Kingdom; three of the four ships fell in German hands (M 3 was scuttled). After the war M 1 and M 4 were returned to the Netherlands, and re-entered service as tugboats.

Ships in class

HNLMS M 1 (1918 - 1949)
HNLMS M 2 (1918 - 1940)
HNLMS M 3 (1918 - 1940)
HNLMS M 4 (1918 - 1992)

References

Netherlandsnavy.nl :: M class minesweepers^{[permanent dead link]} (in English)
Mark, C. Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II Alkmaar: De Alk bv, 1997: 106-116