 Former German minesweeper M 120 in Italian service, sister ship to the Galeb-class ships
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators | |
| Built | 1918–1919 |
| In commission | 1921–1955 |
| Completed | 6 |
| Lost | 5 |
| Scrapped | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Minelayer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in) |
| Draught | 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Endurance | 2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Complement | 40 |
| Armament |
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The Galeb class, also known as the Orao class, were minelayers originally built as minesweepers for the Imperial German Navy between 1918 and 1919.
In July 1921, the six unarmed vessels were purchased as "tugs" for the navy of the newly created Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (from 1929, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). Re-armed with two Škoda 90 mm (3.5 in) guns and two anti-aircraft machine guns, they could also carry 24 or 30 naval mines. Initially classified as mining tenders or mine carriers, they were mainly used for training and "show the flag" cruises along the Adriatic coast and islands, introducing the navy to the populace. In 1931 their guns were re-lined or replaced with 83.5 mm (3.29 in) caliber barrels. In 1935 three ships of the class visited the Greek island of Corfu as part of a "show the flag" cruise, and the following year all ships of the class were re-designated as minelayers. In the lead-up to the April 1941 Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, several ships of the class laid minefields off the Yugoslav coast, which probably resulted in the sinking of two Yugoslav merchant ships. All six were captured by Italy during the invasion.
They were then put into service by the Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) under new names as submarine chasers, operating as escorts between Italy and North Africa and along the North African coast. Subjected to attacks by Allied submarines and aircraft, five of the ships were lost or sunk during the war. The remaining vessel escaped being captured by the Germans during the Italian surrender in September 1943, and it was returned to the Royal Yugoslav Navy-in-exile at Malta in December. It was transferred from the Navy-in-exile to the new Yugoslav Navy after the war and immediately employed to help clear the thousands of mines laid in Yugoslav waters during the war. Its armament was replaced, and it was renamed twice before being disposed of in 1962.