M-class minesweeper (Netherlands)

The M class were the first minesweepers of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The need for minesweepers for the Dutch marine came during the First World War when sea mines where laid in great numbers.

The Navy converted four tugboats into minesweepers. The ships were built by three different shipyards; Van der Kuyk & Ree in Rotterdam, Fa. Koopman in Dordrecht, and J & A van der Schuyt in Papendrecht.

The ships were still in service during the Second World War. None of the ships were able to escape to the United Kingdom, and three of the four ships fell in German hands (M 3 was scuttled). After the war M 1 and M 4 were returned to the Netherlands, and re-entered service as tugboats.

Ships in class

 * HNLMS M 1 (1918 - 1949)
 * HNLMS M 2 (1918 - 1940)
 * HNLMS M 3 (1918 - 1940)
 * HNLMS M 4 (1918 - 1992)

Source

 * Netherlandsnavy.nl :: M class minesweepers
 * Mark, C. Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II Alkmaar: De Alk bv, 1997: 106-116