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The Project 89 minesweeper, also known as the Kondor class, was a class of
minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...
s designed in the
German Democratic Republic East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...
which was given the
NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...
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


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. It is still in service.


Estonia

The Kondor I vessels ''Komet'' and ''Meteor'' were transferred to
Estonia Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...
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 Ċirkewwa () is a harbour and zone situated at the northernmost point of Malta, part of the locality of Mellieħa. It is the site of the Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal, from where regular car ferries operate to the port of Mġarr in Gozo. In the sum ...
in 2007, while P31 followed being sunk off
Comino Comino () is a small island of the Maltese archipelago between the islands of Malta (island), Malta and Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea, measuring in area. Named after the cumin seed, the island has a permanent population of only two residents a ...
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 ''Janes Fighting Ships'' is an annual reference book of each country's warship, navy and coast guard, along with their weapons and aircraft. Included are ship names, construction data, size, speed, range, complement, engineering, armament, a ...
for 1999-2000. 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


Further reading

* * ((East German Navy: German naval forces during the Cold War)), Volksmarine der DDR: Deutsche Seestreitkräfte im Kalten Krieg. 1999. by Friedrich Elchlepp, Walter Jablonsky, Fritz Minow, Manfred Röseberg. 360 pages. Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn, Hamburg-Berlin-Bonn. paperback, other. On page 231, "Verbleib der Schiffe und Boote nach Auflösung der VM" ((fate of ships after dissolution of the volksmarine)) ... Uruguay is listed as acquiring three Kondor-II class minesweepers. * ((Ships and Boats of the East German Navy)), Schiffe und Boote der Volksmarine der DDR, by Manfred Röseberg, , Ingo Koch Verlag Rostock, 2002 * ((The other German Navy)), Die andere deutsche Marine, by H.Mehl / K.Schäfer, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, * ((Military Tech series: Minesweepers and Ramming-ships)), Heft Minensuch- und Räumschiffe, Reihe Militärtechnische Hefte, by Bernd Oesterle, 1983, Militärverlag der DDR, Berlin


External links


Projekt 89.1 MSR - Kurz Kondor 1


parow-info.de
"Kondors" at Shipbucket.com
{{Indonesian Navy active ship classes Ships of the Volksmarine Naval ships of Cape Verde Naval ships of East Germany Naval ships of Estonia Naval ships of Germany Naval ships of Indonesia Naval ships of Latvia *Kondor class Ships of the Tunisian Navy Mine warfare vessels of the National Navy of Uruguay Mine warfare vessel classes Ship classes of the Volksmarine Ships built in Wolgast Cold War minesweepers of Germany