Forum Marinearchiv

Dear Forum Members

The Finnish photo archive sa-kuva.fi has several photos of a damaged German vessel under caption "Kuvia miinaan ajaneesta saksalaisesta miinalaivasta" also "Photos of a German mineship that ran into a mine" taken 20.09.1943. The negative numbers are 137797 to 137816. The digitized war diaries of Finnish Naval Headquarters include note that on Wednesday 15.9.1943 "At 09.20 M22 ran into a mine south from Tytärsaari. Towed to Helsinki for repairs. Position of West 59^o 41'1 - 27^o 30'2. Position of M22 59^o 47'4 - 27^o 10'5."

I have not found more information in the Chronik or HMA. The site http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/Bilderseiten/Minensucher/M22.htm states that "Am 5. November 1941 wurde das Boot im Bökfjord bei Kirkenes durch einen Minentreffer schwer beschädigt." Do You happen to know other sources that would describe the 1943 damages and how long it took to repair the ship? The photos show damaged bow and bent and cracked hull and deck at the bridge level.

Best
Jari

Hello Jari!

M 22 sustained damage to the hull and engine, see attachement 00024. Do you need any further details translated?

After repairs in Finland she went under own power to Reval and then to Königsberg (08.-12.10.1943) for further repairs.
On 20.03.1944 she was back in service and started sea trials. These ended on 01.04.1944 and from 03.04.1944 M 22 was detached to the 1. Minensuchflottille.

Hello, Thorsten

Thank you for the information, this is sufficient. So the ship was just patched up in Helsinki and repairs were done in Königsberg.

Best,
Jari