Project 89 Kondor Minesweeper Informations

Project 89 Kondor Minesweeper, also known as the Kondor class, was a class of minesweepers designed in the German Democratic Republic which was given the NATO designation of "Condor". There were 3 versions, namely, the prototype unit, Project 89.0; the first version, Project 89.1 (NATO designation: Condor I); and the second version, Project 89.2 (NATO designation: Condor II).

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.

The Kondor I vessels Komet and Meteor were transferred to Estonia as Vambola and Sulev in 1994. Sulev was scrapped in 2000 while Vambola remains laid up awaiting to be scrapped.

Nine Kondor II vessels were transferred to Indonesia around 1994. They are still in active service.

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.

Two Kondor I vessels, Ueckermünde and Pasewalk, were sold to Malta in 1992, where they were given the pennant numbers P30 and P31. A third ship, Boltenhagen, was also sold in 1997 and it was given the pennant number P29. 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 in 2007, while P31 followed being sunk off Comino in 2009. As of 2013, P30 was laid up at Cassar Ship Repair Yard, Marsa.

Five Kondor I minesweepers were transferred to the Tunisian Navy as coastal patrol craft according to Janes Fighting Ships for 1999-2000. Today only one is still in service.

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. The other three are still in service.

Complete article available at this page.