MT-class minesweeper
The MT class were a group of coastal minesweepers built for the Soviet Navy in the 1943-1945. The Soviet designation was Project 253L.
Design
Two main versions were produced:
- MT-1 (June 1943) - full displacement 126.6 tons
- MT-2 (April 1944) - full displacement increased to 141.3 tons, smaller engines rated to 160 hp (120 kW) were used due engine reliability issues
The ships were routinely fitted with four mine-sweeping gears, comprising two mechanical trails, magnetic and acoustic towed trails.
Ships
A total of 92 ships were built, all to the Baltic fleet operation. Numbers were T-222 to T-249, T-351 to T-391, T-434 to T-441, T-459 to T-479.[1] Only T-387 was lost to enemy action been sunk by German submarine U-481 28 November 1944.
In 1946, the seven minesweepers (T-225, T-228, T-231, T-241, T-244, T-465, T-467) were transferred to the Polish Navy.
Upon retirement in 1956, the MT minesweepers were routinely converted into diving support ships.
See also
References
- ^ Mikhail Monakov, Jurgen Rohwer, "Stalin's Ocean-going Fleet: Soviet Naval Strategy and Shipbuilding Programs 1935-1953", p.138