Kondor II-class
Summary
| Origin country | 🇩🇪 Ex-East Germany |
| Category | Mine warfare |
| Subtype | Minesweeper |
| Manufacturer | Peene-Werft |
| Year commissioned | 1967 |
| Units | Indonesian Navy: 8 in active service;Latvian Naval Forces: 2 delivered in 1994 plus an additional parts ship; |
Operators
Description
The Project 89.2 minesweeper, designated Kondor II by NATO, was designed in the German Democratic Republic. Developed at the Peenewerft shipyard in Wolgast, the class followed the Project 89.0 prototype and the Project 89.1 series. Production occurred between 1971 and 1973, resulting in 30 completed vessels and two modified units.
The design utilizes MD 40 diesel engines for propulsion and requires a complement of 29 personnel. While primarily configured for mine countermeasures, the ships were also equipped to carry depth charges. Specialized variants of the base design were produced for roles including torpedo trials, reconnaissance, and use as a state yacht.
The class entered service with the East German Volksmarine in 1971. Following German reunification in 1990, several vessels were transferred to the German Navy before being sold to foreign militaries or decommissioned.
Indonesia acquired nine Kondor II vessels around 1994. KRI Kala Hitam and KRI Kelabang were subsequently converted into patrol vessels following the failure of their minehunting equipment. Indonesian service saw the decommissioning of KRI Pulau Rote in 2019, KRI Pulau Rempang in 2021, and KRI Pulau Romang in 2024. Six vessels remained in active service as of 2024.
Uruguay commissioned four vessels in October 1991. One unit, the Valiente, was lost in August 2000 following a collision with a merchant freighter. The Fortuna was scrapped, and two other units remained in service. Latvia operated two vessels, the Viesturs and Imanta, as minehunters from 1992 until their decommissioning in 2008. These were later succeeded by Tripartite class vessels. One Kondor II vessel, the Genthin, was retired in 1988, and another, the Rosslau, was retired in 1990.
Technical specifications
| Displacement | 339 tons |
| Range | 1900 km |
| Crew | 24 members |
| Width | 7.12 m (23.4 ft) |
| Length | 51.98 m (170.5 ft) |
| Propulsion | MD 40 diesel engines |
| Armament |
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| Maximum speed | 20 knots |
Further Reading
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