Weather still isn't cooperating for natural lighting, so took these photos before noon:
R310 r-boat
Bergen, Norway 1945
not to forget, the 'money shot'
A little history ...
R-boat, or Raumboot, was a class of light minesweepers designed to work in coastal and shallow waters. They were also employed in mine laying, escort, patrol and sea rescue. By war's end, 424 boats had been built, with about 140 surviving. These vessels were ordered in blocks, with some weight and size differences among them.
R310 was launched June 10th 1944, belonging to the R301 series. They were unique in having two 21" torpedo tubes, were the heaviest at 160 tons, and were referred to as Geleit-Räumbooten, or escort minesweepers. All twelve ships of this series formed the 21. Räumbootsflottille, and were based in Bergen Norway.
With cessation of hostilities, all surviving ships returned to Germany. On 21st June 1945, the German Mine Sweeping Administration (GMSA) was formed by the Allies. Their task was to clear some 600,000 naval mines that both sides had laid in the waters of the North Sea and Baltic. To spare the lives of Allied seamen, it was decided to use not only captured ships, but also former crewmen of the Kriegsmarine, (approx. 300 and 27,000 respectively). Until a proper new uniform became available, the crews continued to wear their former uniform, but without any eagles or swastikas, and also received a moderate pay.
The Soviets were very suspicious of this formation, thinking it was the beginnings of a new German navy. As a result of this pressure, it was disbanded in January 1948. It was replaced with a civilian organization "German mine sweeping formation Cuxhaven", but still used equipment and personnel from the previous organization. R310 did serve in these post war mine sweeping duties, but was taken, along with many other r-boats, as a war prize by the Soviets in November of 1945.
regards,
Jack