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Panzerschiff ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE japanische ASHIGARA Kiel 1937

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Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor

A Sperrbrecher was usually a former cargo ship, converted to destroy mines and to clear waterways for following convoys. They had to break through mine barrages, consisting mainly of Allied air-laid magnetic mines, by creating a strong magnetic field. Furthermore, acoustic mines were detonated by a noise apparatus installed at the stem since 1942. Against usual contact mine hits these vessels were protected by filling up the holds with floating and buoyant material, like empty casks and cork. In all, 101 Sperrbrechers were commissioned by the Kriegsmarine between 1939 and 1944. The tonnage of these vessels ranged from small coasters up to 9000 ts ships.
The Sperrbrecher 21 was the former German fruit carrier Nestor (2446 grt / 1302 nrt), launched on Jan. 28th, 1939 by the Bremer Vulkan A.G., Bremen-Vegesack, yard number 760. M.V. Nestor was completed in Febr. 1939 for the Neptun Dampf-schiffahrts-Gesellschaft, Bremen and carried fruit from South America to Germany. She was powered by a 5-cyl. two stroke-cycle Vulkan oil engine with a service speed of 14 kn, maximum speed 15 kn. Furthermore there were accommodations for 12 passengers.
When World War II broke out on Sept. 1st, 1939 all merchant voyages were stopped and the Nestor remained in German waters. In Aug. 1940 the Nestor was requisitioned by the Germany Navy for the use as a war transport for Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of Britain. Redesignated H-35 (H = Le Havre). After Sea Lion was abandoned in early 1941 the motor vessel was converted to a Sperrbrecher and on July 5th, 1941 commissioned as Sp 21 within the 4th Sperrbrecher Flotilla. She was heavily armed and in 1943 her armament rose up to 2 x 10.5-cm guns, 4 x 3.7-cm guns, two quadruple 20-mm AA-guns and several machine guns. Sp 21 cleared mines and escorted coastal convoys in the Hoofden, the Dover Straits and the English Channel, often being attacked by British MTB's, MGB's and aircraft, but suffering no serious damages. Since Sp 21 was a relatively large vessel, she was often misidentified by the British as a camouflaged merchant raider or blockade runner.
On July 1st, 1942 the Sp 21 was assigned to the 2nd Sperrbrecher Flotilla, now performing duty off the French Atlantic coast, based at Bordeaux. Sp 21 usually escorted German and Italian U-Boats through the minefields far into the Bay of Biscay but also escorted German destroyers. During her wartime career the Sp 21 in all cleared 61 mines.
On June 14th, 1943 the Sperrbrecher 21 was lost when hitting a mine in the outer Gironde estuary after escorting the destroyer Z-37. In the vicinity of buoy No. 1 a mine struck off the bridge at 2010 h and Sp 21 quickly took water, capsizing and sinking after 9 minutes in position 45°38'54''N 1°22'W. 2 crew members were killed and the remainder of her crew was rescued by other escort vessels. The bulk of the survivors continued with the Sperrbrecher service, commissioning their new vessel Sperrbrecher 32 (ex MV Mur, 3290 grt) in Oct. 1943.

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  1. https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/media/sperrbrecher-21-nestor.426325/
  2. Groß Foto, Kriegsmarine, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor im Portrait, XT 55004 | eBay
  3. Foto, Kriegsmarine, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor in Royan, Frankreich 1940, XT 55004 | eBay
  4. Foto, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor, 2-cm-Flak-Vierling 38, Frankreich 1940, 3 XT 55004 | eBay
  5. Foto, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor, 2-cm-Flak-Vierling 38, Frankreich 1940, 6 XT 55004 | eBay
  6. Foto, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor, 2-cm-Flak-Vierling 38, Frankreich 1940, 6 XT 55004 | eBay
  7. Foto, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor, groÃer Flak Zwilling, Frankreich 1940 XT 55004 | eBay
  8. Groß Foto, Wk2, große Parade auf dem Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor, XT 55004 | eBay
  9. Foto, Wk2, Sperrbrecher in Camouflage nahe Royan Frankreich, XT 55004 | eBay
  10. Foto, Wk2, Matrose vom Sperrbrecher Nestor im Portrait, XT 55004 | eBay
  11. Foto Kriegsmarine, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor, Sonne an Bord, XT 55007 | eBay
  12. Foto Kriegsmarine, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor, Funker, Morsen, Funkraum, XT 55007 | eBay
  13. Foto Kriegsmarine, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor, Morsen, Funkraum, 01, XT 55007 | eBay
  14. Foto Kriegsmarine, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor, Funker, Funkraum, XT 55007 | eBay
  15. Foto Kriegsmarine, Sperrbrecher 21 Nestor, Bord Mörser Geschütz, XT 55007 | eBay
 
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