M 322

Minesweeper

Service Data

In Service: 6 December 1941 to 1953

Production Data

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 Lepsoey.

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.

Commanders

Gallery

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Sources

German Warships, 1815-1945: Major Surface Vessels.
ISBN-10: 0851775330

German Warships, 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels.
ISBN-10: 155750301X

German warships of the Second World War.
ISBN-10: 0668040378

For a complete list of sources