Type 320 Lindau-class minehunters was a class of German coastal minehunters built as part of the first FRG naval program. The ships were made from non-metallic components and built by Burmester Bremen. None of these ships now remain in service with the German Navy. Several went into service with the Estonian and Lithuanian Navy, as well as the Latvian Naval Forces. Flensburg and Weilheim became museum pieces.
Starting in 1970, 11 vessels of this class were upgraded to Type 331 Fulda-class minehunters. Beginning 1979, the six remaining vessels of this class were upgraded to Type 351 Ulm class. They were replaced by the Type 352 Ensdorf-class minesweepers.
Six of the Type 351s were sold to the South African Navy in 2001. The remaining five ships were sold by the South African Navy to a private owner in 2009 for conversion into pleasure vessels.
Tubingen was sold in 1997 to Italian industrialist Gian Carlo Bussei and converted to a yacht flagged out of Malta. [1]
Ship list
| Pennantnumber | Name | Service | Upgrade | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1072 | Lindau | 1 February 1958–1975 | Type 331 | To Estonian Navy 2000. Renamed Sulev. |
| M1070 | Göttingen | 1 April 1957–1976 | Type 331 | To Latvian Navy 2000. Used as spares hulk. |
| M1071 | Koblenz | 6 May 1957–1975 | Type 331 | To Lithuanian Navy 1999. Renamed Sūduvis. Now a museum ship. |
| M1075 | Wetzlar | 24 June 1957–1976 | Type 331 | |
| M1074 | Tübingen | 12 August 1957–1975 | Type 331 | converted to private yacht,Gibraltar flag, retains most of original appearance including navy grey paint (except white top on funnel) |
| M1073 | Schleswig | 2 October 1957–1979 | Type 351 | To South African Navy 2001. Renamed SAS Tshwane |
| M1076 | Paderborn | 4 February 1957–1979 | Type 351 | To South African Navy 2001. Renamed SAS Mangaung |
| M1077 | Weilheim | 5 December 1958–1976 | Type 331 | On display at the Deutsches Marine Museum, Wilhelmshaven |
| M1078 | Cuxhaven | 11 March 1958–1976 | Type 331 | To Estonian Navy 2000. Renamed Wambola |
| M1079 | Düren | 12 June 1958–1979 | Type 351 | To South African Navy 2001. Renamed SAS Kapa |
| M1080 | Marburg | 4 August 1958–1976 | Type 331 | To Lithuanian Navy 2000. Renamed Kursis. |
| M1081 | Konstanz | 30 August 1958–1980 | Type 351 | To South African Navy 2001. Used as spares hulk. Expended as target by two Exocet MM40 missiles from SA Navy frigates Amatola and Isandlwana during Exercise Red Lion on 1 November 2007 about 90 km (56 mi) west of Saldanha Bay, South Africa. |
| M1082 | Wolfsburg | 10 December 1958–1979 | Type 351 | To South African Navy 2001. Renamed SAS Tekwini |
| M1083 | Ulm | 10 February 1959–1978 | Type 351 | To South African Navy 2001. Used as spares hulk. |
| M1084 | Flensburg | 7 April 1959–1970 | Type 331 | Museum ship |
| M1085 | Minden | 9 June 1959–1975 | Type 331 | To Coast Guard of Georgia 1998. Renamed Ayety (აეტი) |
| M1086 | Fulda | 19 August 1959– | Type 331 | |
| M1087 | Völkingen | 20 October 1959–1976 | Type 331 | To Latvian Navy 2000. Renamed LVNS Namejs |
See also
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lindau class minesweepers.- Lindau class — Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk