| Article number: | 10.11.030 |
The H.M.S. tug-minehunters M1 to M4, built around 1918, were a series of small, robust minehunters of the Royal Netherlands Navy, designed shortly after the First World War. These vessels combined the characteristics of tugs with the functionality of minehunters, hence the name ‘tug-minehunter’.
| Characteristics | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Type | Tugboat-minesweeper |
| Number | 4 units: M1, M2, M3, M4 |
| In service | 1918 |
| Shipyard | Various Dutch shipyards (including Rijkswerf Amsterdam / Vlissingen) |
| Original function | Clearance of sea mines after WWI, later also for service purposes |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Displacement | approx. 150–250 tonnes |
| Length | ± 30–35 metres |
| Width | ± 6 metres |
| Draught | ± 2.5 metres |
| Propulsion | Steam engine or diesel engine |
| Speed | ± 10–12 knots |
| Armament | Lightly armed, e.g. 1x 37 mm gun or machine gun |
| Crew | ± 15–20 men |
The M1–M4 were designed during or just after the First World War, when there was an urgent need for vessels to clear sea mines in the North Sea and Dutch coastal waters. Although the Netherlands was neutral in the First World War, Dutch coastal waters were littered with floating and moored mines.
Roles over the years:
1918–1920s: Primarily deployed as minesweepers
1930s: Also used as auxiliary vessels / harbour tugs
World War II: Some were requisitioned or lost during the German invasion
After the Second World War: What remained were quickly decommissioned or scrapped
Information on individual ships is scarce, but below is a summary of what is known:
| Number | Details |
|---|---|
| M1 | Possibly lost or scrapped during or after the Second World War |
| M2 | Deployed in Dutch coastal waters |
| M3 | Requisitioned or destroyed in May 1940 |
| M4 | Briefly in service, then auxiliary service or reserve |
Specifications:
|
Drawing number |
10.11.030 |
|
Author |
J.TH.M. Buter |
|
Description |
HrMs tugboats and minesweepers M1 to M4 (1918) |
|
Quality |
line drawings; side view; deck plan; details |
|
Scale |
1 : 100 |
|
Number of sheets A00 |
0 |
|
Number of A0 sheets |
0 |
|
Number of A1 sheets |
0 |
|
Number of A2 sheets |
0 |
|
Number of A3 sheets |
2 |
|
Number of A4 sheets |
0 |
|
Total number of drawing sheets |
2 |
|
Number of A4 text pages |
0 |
|
Weight in grams |
45 |
|
Details |
Overall length 30 cm |
|
Remarks |