Ordered:
Builder: Stettiner Oderwerke AG, Stettin
Construction No:
Laid down:
Launched: 31 May 1941
Commissioned: 6 December 1941
Technical Data
Type: 1940 Type Minesweeper/Minensuchboot
Class: M 261 Class
Displacement: 543 tons standard 775 tons full load
Length: 62.3 m
Beam: 8.9 m
Draft: 2.82 m
Propulsion: 2 × vertical 3 cylinder triple expansion engines producing up to 2,150 shp
Propellers:
Speed: 17.2 knots
Range: 4,000 nautical miles at 10 knots
Crew: 65 men and officers
Armament:
1 × 10.5 cm L/45
carried 120 rounds
1 × 3.7 cm L/83 SK C/30
carried 2000 rounds
2 × 2 cm MG L/65 C/30
carried 4000 rounds
7 × 2 cm MG L/65 C/30 after 1941
carried 14000 rounds
30 mines
Armour 10 mm
Aircraft:
Electronics:
Operators: Kriegsmarine
Variants:
Other: Minesweepers
Articles:
History
The M 322 Minesweeper (Minensuchboot) was built in the 1940s by Stettiner Oderwerke AG shipyard located in Stettin, Germany as a minesweeper or escort vessel for the Kriegsmarine.
Construction was transverse frame of steel construction, which was partly welded, this vessel also had eleven watertight compartments and a double bottom with hard chine foreship and tug stern. The superstructure, Bridge etc was armored up to 10 mm in thickness. The propulsion system installed in these vessels was the two vertical three cylinder triple expansion engines. And when used as minesweepers the Kabel Fern Raum Gerat (KFRG) system was employed, which used generators producing 60 V, 20 kW to power the magnetic sweeping gear.
This vessel went on to serve in the 22. Minensuchflottille during World War II.
And after the surrender of Germany was employed in the German Mine Sweeping Administration (GMSA) which was controlled by the allies.
Career
6 December 1941
The Minesweeper M 322 is commissioned.
1941
The Minesweeper M 322 becomes operational with the 22. Minensuchflottille.
10 January 1945
The Minesweeper M 322 become stranded and suffers from fire damage at 1445 hrs, near Lepsøy.
1945
The Minesweeper M 322 is seized as a prize of war by the British.
1945
The Minesweeper M 322 serves with the German Mine Sweeping Administration (GMSA).
19 November 1947
The Minesweeper M 322 is transferred to Norway.
1953
The Minesweeper M 322 is transferred to Denmark and broken up and scrapped.
Formed on 01 Sep 1941 for minesweeping & escort duties in the Vistula, North Sea, Norwegian coast & the Baltic. After Germany's capitulation the Flotilla was used with the 3. Minenräumdivision for mine clearing in Danish waters until 1947.
Flottillenchef
Korvettenkapitän der Reserve Hermann Pfleger (01 Sep 1941-00 000 1947)
Subordinate Units & Vessels
M 301
M 302
M 303
M 321
M 322
M 361
M 368
M 381
M 382
M 436
At 10.1. Beaufighter attack of the "Strike Dallachy Wing" at dt Haram two minesweepers. The burning minesweeper M 322 is placed in front Lepsøy (just south of Bergen) and can be later recovered and repaired by the Germans,
25/10/1944 Nki 05 / "hawk" Hsb 1913 178 + damaged on mine 10.24.1944, shelled and sunk next day by M 322 70.46,4 N 29.52,0 Batsfjord near E 11 = 15
Location 05/09/1945
Naval Commander Trondheim
M 322 M 322 22nd Minensuchflottille fourth Coastal Defence Division Trondheim 3 90
At 10.1. Beaufighter attack of the "Strike Dallachy Wing" at dt Haram two minesweepers. The burning minesweeper M 322 is placed in front Lepsøy and can be later recovered and repaired by the Germans,
25/10/1944 Nki 05 / "hawk" Hsb 1913 178 + damaged on mine 10.24.1944, shelled and sunk next day by M 322 70.46,4 N 29.52,0 Batsfjord near E 11 = 15
Location 05/09/1945
Naval Commander Trondheim
M 322 M 322 22nd Minensuchflottille fourth Coastal Defence Division Trondheim 3 90
This is a picture of a similar minesweeper, location unknown.
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