K-class sloops

The K 1, K 2 and K 3 were the first of a class of seven, very useful ships, suited for both shorebombardments, and escorting ships in a time when the submarineweapon of the larger nations was developing and increasing rapidly. When the war started in 1940, none of these ships were completed due to shortages of materials and skilled workers. The construction had advanced far enough for the Kriegsmarine to order the completion of these ships. An extra feature was the addition of minerails. They escorted convoys throughout the rest of the war, mostly in Kattegat Strait and Norwegian waters. The other 4 were ordered, but never laid down, and the orders were cancelled on May 14 1940.

K 3 as completed

Construction Details

Name K 1 K 2 K 3

Dockyard P. Smit Jr, Rotterdam Gusto N.V., Schiedam P. Smit Jr, Rotterdam

Laid down August 2 1939 1939 June 23 1939

Launched November 23 1940 June 28 1941 March 22 1941

Completed October 2 1941 * October 23 1942 ** February 2 1942 ***
July 18 1946 in RNN

Pennants K 1 K 2 K 3
N-5
F-805

* Marine Rundschau mentions commissioning as September 28 1941
** Date of commissioning is also listed as November 14 1942
*** Date of commissioning is also listed as February 1 1942

Specifications

Design Kriegsmarine

Displacement 1267 t 1200 t / 1420 t

Crew 99 161-184

Dimensions 77,90 x 10,30 x 3,40 m

Armament* 4 x 120 mm Bofors No. 8 (2 x 2)
4 x 40 mm Bofors (2x2)
4 x .50 MG 4 x 120 mm Bofors No. 8 (2 x 2)
4 x 37 mm
12 x 20 mm

Mines - ca. 80**

ASW 8 depthchargemortars

* These ships also carried sweepinggear against contact- and acoustic mines
** I have also found 200 mines

Armour

Kriegsmarine

Deck 20 - 35 mm

Belt 37 - 60 mm

Turrets 60 mm

conning tower and fire control position were also armoured

Propulsion details

Design Kriegsmarine

Machinery Burmeister & Wain diesels* 2 Klöckner - Humboldt 4-stroke diesels*

Performance 3500 hp 2770 hp (K 1 / K 2)
3500 hp (K 3)

Shafts 2 2

Range 6900 nm @ 12 knots

Bunkerage 157 tons

Max speed 19 knots 14,5 knots (K 1 / K 2)
18 knots (K 3)

* Built under license by P. Smit Jr. in Rotterdam
** K 1 and K 2 apparently had their original powerplant replaced by these submarine-engines in 1943 at Howaldtswerken, Kiel

Histories

K 1 Damaged in Flekkefjord by air attack. Sunk near Aarhus, Denmark by rockets from RAF Mosquitoes on May 5 1945

K 2 Hit in the stern by aerial torpedo October 9 1944 off Egersund, Norway while escorting convoy KS-328-T. Towed to Egersund by the minesweeper M-1, and found in Horten in 1945. Towed to Delfzijl, where it accidentally sank in November 1945. Raised July 26 1946 and towed to Den Helder for inspection. Not repairable and sold to Vlaardingen for scrap in October 1947.

K 3 Found in Horten in 1945. Repaired at the Rijkswerf in Amsterdam and commissioned in 1946 as Van Speyk. Rebuilt with Sulzer diesels from the submarine O 23 in 1953. Stricken June 14 1960 and sold to the firm W. Mantel in Amsterdam for scrap.

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Construction Details
Name	K 1	K 2	K 3
Dockyard	P. Smit Jr, Rotterdam	Gusto N.V., Schiedam	P. Smit Jr, Rotterdam
Laid down	August 2 1939	1939	June 23 1939
Launched	November 23 1940	June 28 1941	March 22 1941
Completed	October 2 1941 *	October 23 1942 **	February 2 1942 *** July 18 1946 in RNN
Pennants	K 1	K 2	K 3 N-5 F-805
* Marine Rundschau mentions commissioning as September 28 1941 Date of commissioning is also listed as November 14 1942 * Date of commissioning is also listed as February 1 1942

Specifications
	Design	Kriegsmarine
Displacement	1267 t	1200 t / 1420 t
Crew	99	161-184
Dimensions	77,90 x 10,30 x 3,40 m
Armament*	4 x 120 mm Bofors No. 8 (2 x 2) 4 x 40 mm Bofors (2x2) 4 x .50 MG	4 x 120 mm Bofors No. 8 (2 x 2) 4 x 37 mm 12 x 20 mm
Mines	-	ca. 80**
ASW		8 depthchargemortars
* These ships also carried sweepinggear against contact- and acoustic mines ** I have also found 200 mines

Armour
	Kriegsmarine
Deck	20 - 35 mm
Belt	37 - 60 mm
Turrets	60 mm
conning tower and fire control position were also armoured

Propulsion details
	Design	Kriegsmarine
Machinery	Burmeister & Wain diesels*	2 Klöckner - Humboldt 4-stroke diesels*
Performance	3500 hp	2770 hp (K 1 / K 2) 3500 hp (K 3)
Shafts	2	2
Range		6900 nm @ 12 knots
Bunkerage		157 tons
Max speed	19 knots	14,5 knots (K 1 / K 2) 18 knots (K 3)
* Built under license by P. Smit Jr. in Rotterdam ** K 1 and K 2 apparently had their original powerplant replaced by these submarine-engines in 1943 at Howaldtswerken, Kiel

Histories
K 1	Damaged in Flekkefjord by air attack. Sunk near Aarhus, Denmark by rockets from RAF Mosquitoes on May 5 1945
K 2	Hit in the stern by aerial torpedo October 9 1944 off Egersund, Norway while escorting convoy KS-328-T. Towed to Egersund by the minesweeper M-1, and found in Horten in 1945. Towed to Delfzijl, where it accidentally sank in November 1945. Raised July 26 1946 and towed to Den Helder for inspection. Not repairable and sold to Vlaardingen for scrap in October 1947.
K 3	Found in Horten in 1945. Repaired at the Rijkswerf in Amsterdam and commissioned in 1946 as Van Speyk. Rebuilt with Sulzer diesels from the submarine O 23 in 1953. Stricken June 14 1960 and sold to the firm W. Mantel in Amsterdam for scrap.