NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Vegesack	M1250		CMN, Cherbourg, France		21.5.1959	10.9.1959	laid up 7.1963, stricken 12.1973, to Turkey (Kuşadası)
Hameln	M1251		CMN, Cherbourg, France		20.8.1959	4.12.1959	laid up 7.1963, stricken 12.1973, to Turkey (Kozlu)
Detmold	M1252		CMN, Cherbourg, France		17.11.1959	20.2.1960	laid up 9.1963, stricken 12.1973, to Turkey (Kerempe)
Wörms	M1253		CMN, Cherbourg, France		30.1.1960	30.4.1960	laid up 7.1963, stricken 12.1973, to Turkey (Karamürsel)
Siegen	M1254		CMN, Cherbourg, France		29.3.1960	9.7.1960	laid up 7.1963, stricken 12.1973, to Turkey (Kilimli)
Passau	M1255		CMN, Cherbourg, France		25.6.1960	15.10.1960	laid up 7.1963, stricken 12.1973, to Turkey (Kemer)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	366
Displacement full, t	383
Length, m	42.5 pp 44.6 oa
Breadth, m	8.41
Draught, m	2.55
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Mercedes-Benz MB820Db diesels
Power, h. p.	1320
Max speed, kts	14.5
Fuel, t	diesel oil 35
Endurance, nm(kts)	5000(12)
Armament	1 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, mechanical, acoustic and magnetic minesweeping gear
Electronic equipment	Decca 707 radar, Simrad sonar
Complement	40

Standard scale images

Project history

These Type 321 coastal minesweepers were built in France as members of the Mercure class. This was a French version of the NATO standard AMS/MSC type built to German order. The wooden-hulled boats were built during the first naval building programme and replaced the obsolete Type 319 coal-burners.

The boats had a remarkably short service career: after their decommissioning they were in the reserve fleet from 1963 to 1973 and were only put into service for mobilization exercises. After their deletion in December 1973 all units were handed over to the Turkish Navy as military aid during June-October 1975. It was planned to convert Passau to an oceanography vessel; when this plan was dropped she also went to Turkey in 1978.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

No significant events.