Sperrbrecher_11_x_Belgrano_a.jpg Mine clearance vessel SPERRBRECHER 11 in a North Sea port in 1943EsikatselukuvatThe Finnish steam trawler SYVÄRI in the port of Petsamo, photographed 1938Mine clearance vessel SPERRBRECHER 11 in a North Sea port in 1943EsikatselukuvatThe Finnish steam trawler SYVÄRI in the port of Petsamo, photographed 1938Mine clearance vessel SPERRBRECHER 11 in a North Sea port in 1943EsikatselukuvatThe Finnish steam trawler SYVÄRI in the port of Petsamo, photographed 1938
22 Aug 1936: launched by the Howaldtswerke A.G., Hamburg, yard number 751, 11 Oct 1936 delivered to the Hamburg-Südamerikanische Dampfschiff-Gesellschaft, Hamburg as BELGRANO.
Measured 6095 grt / 3548 nrt / 9627 tdw, powered by an 8-cyl. 2-stroke cycle MAN oil engine with 3350 H.P., service speed 13 kn.
26 Aug 1939: warned by German radio message about outbreak of hostilities on 1 Sept 1939, returned to Hamburg via Rotterdam.
21 March 1940: requisitioned by the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) for Unternehmen Weserübung, the occupation of Denmark and Norway on 9 April 1940.
15 April - 5 July 1940: made several runs between Danish ports and Oslo, supplying German army forces.
Aug 1940: redesignated A-6 by the Kriegsmarine for Unternehmen Seelöwe, the planned invasion of Great Britain.
12 Sept 1940: whilst in convoy off Hoek van Holland attacked by a British Bristol Blenheim bomber, no noteworthy damage inflicted, as well as on patrol boat Vp-1507 (354 grt / 1937).
Sept 1940 - Jan 1941: converted into a mine clearance vessel with special equipment to detonate mines of various kinds. Commissioned 17 Jan 1941 as SPERRBRECHER 11 into the 1st Sperrbrecher Flotilla. Armed with 2 x 10.5-cm guns, 4 x 3.7-cm guns and 10 x 20-mm AA-guns.
22 June 1941 - July 1942: cleared mines in the Baltic Sea off Liepaja (Libau) and Ventspils (Windau). A cross-dipole was installed on the stem (see photo) in spring 1942 to clear traverse lying mines.
19 July 1941: whilst off the Courland coast attacked by the Soviet submarine S-11 at 1635 h about 10 miles NW Palanga (Polangen). S-11 radioed vessel as sunk, in fact BELGRANO was missed by the torpedo, as well as the escorting minesweepers M-1801 and M-1802.
Aug 1942: clearing bottom mines off the Dutch coast, acted also as escort vessel for a minelaying operation N of Terschelling.
23 Oct 1942: at 0345 h severe minehit in position 53.31.30N 04.55E, near Ameland, vessel broke in two but stayed afloat on loaded buoyance material. Towed into Hamburg via Borkum for repairs at Blohm & Voss.
31 May 1943: repairs completed, new foreship installed. Resuming mine clearing service in the North Sea.
Nov 1944: transferred to Baltic Sea, allocated to the 3rd Sperrbrecher-Flotilla.
4 Jan 1945: again severe minehit, this time off Aarhus when running onto British air laid mine. Furthermore only used as a barrack vessel in the Flensburger Förde.
9 May 1945: in Kiel taken as prize by British troops.
1945 - 1947: base ship at Hamburg for the German Mine-Sweeping Administration (GM/SA).
20 Sept 1947: seized by Great Britain, due to severe mine damage no further use planned.
24 Sept 1947: towed from Hamburg to Hull, sold to T. W. Ward Ltd., Inverkeithing for breaking up.
1948: former SPRERRBRECHER 11 was scrapped at Inverkeithing.

Photo and Text: Sebastian Boreck, Berlin