Kondor-class minesweeper

The 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 three 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).

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 WarnemündeTransferred to Tunisia as Ras Ipirkia S426 Anklam 1969-1976 Sport and training vessel, 1976 as Ernst ThälmannRebuilt in the UK, Denmark and Israel GS01 Ueckermünde 1969-19901992-2004 Transferred to Malta, 1992 as P30Laid 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 1969-19901992-2004 Transferred to Malta, 1992 as P31Scuttled 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 1970-19951998–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 1970-19961997-2004 Transferred to German Coast Guard as Boltenhagen (BG 31).Transferred to Malta, 1997 as P29Scuttled 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 1972-19901994-2000 Transferred to Estonia, 1994 as Vambola (M411)Laid up Meteor 1972-19901994-2000 Transferred to Estonia, 1994 as Sulev (M412)Scrapped 2000 Project 89.2 (Kondor II) V811 Wolgast 1971-19901994–2019 Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rote (721)Decommissioned 28 August 2019 S321 Kamenz 1971-19811992-2008 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 1971-19901992-2008 Transferred to Latvia, 1992 as Imanta (M02) 325 Pritzwalk 1971-19901994–present Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Romang (723)Decommissioned 6 February 2024 326 Rathenow 1972-1990 331 Dessau 1972-1990 332 Bitterfeld 1972-19911994–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 1972-19901994–present Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rondo (725), later renamed KRI Kelabang (826) V813 Rosslau 1972-1990 341 Oranienburg 1972-19901994–present Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rusa (726) 342 Jüterbog 1972-19901994–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 1973-19901991–present Transferred to Uruguay, 1991 as Temerario (ROU 31) 323 Wilhem-Pieck-Stadt Guben 1973-1990 311 Sömmerda 1973-19911994–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 1973-19811994–present Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Raas (722) 316 Altenburg 1973-1990 314 Schönebeck 1973-1990 336 Grimma 1973-19901994–present Transferred to Indonesia, 1994 as KRI Pulau Rempang (729)Decommissioned 15 October 2021 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.JFS 1999-2000 p.102 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. Six of the vessels are still in active service. KRI Kala Hitam (828) (ex-Sömmerda) and KRI Kelabang (826) (ex-Zerbst) were converted into patrol vessels due to minehunting equipment failures. KRI Pulau Rote (721) (ex-Wolgast) was decommissioned on 28 August 2019. KRI Pulau Rempang (729) (ex-Grimma) was decommissioned on 15 October 2021. KRI Pulau Romang (723) (ex-Pritzwalk) was decommissioned on 6 February 2024.

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 . A third ship, Boltenhagen, was also sold in 1997 and it was given the pennant number . 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, while P31 followed being sunk off Comino in 2009. As of 2013, P30 was laid up at Cassar Ship Repair Yard, Marsa.

Tunisia Five Kondor I minesweepers were transferred to the Tunisian Navy as coastal patrol craft according to Jane's Fighting Ships for 1999-2000.JFS 1999-2000 p.718 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. Fortuna was scrapped and the other two are still in service.

References

Kondor-class minesweeper

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