Description
The German Mine Sweeping Administration (GMSA) (German: Deutscher Minenräumdienst) was an organization formed by the Allies from former crews and vessels of the Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine for the purpose of mine sweeping after the Second World War, predominantly in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, which existed from June 1945 to January 1948.
Minesweeper R 133 was put into service in Lemwerder on January 15, 1944, after a delay of around two months. On May 8, 1944, the boat set out on its first clearing mission in the North Sea together with R 134, R 135 and R 136. On July 18, 1944, the boat left Cuxhaven with the flotilla and moved to Terschelling in the Netherlands. During the transfer, the boats were attacked by Allied aircraft. R 139 was sunk, R 132 and R 135 were badly damaged. R 133 was damaged by on-board weapons fire, two men were wounded. R 133 took over the wounded flotilla commander and several wounded soldiers and brought them to Norderney. She then remained in Wesermünde until August 23, repairing its battle damage and carrying out loop trips. On August 23rd/24th, the boat moved to Esbjerg and returned to Wesermünde on August 27th. Further trips to the Dutch area followed as anti-aircraft and S-boat protection for German evacuation transports from Holland to the Reich. On September 25th, 1944, R 133 was in the port of Den Helder as escort protection when the formation was attacked by 12-15 enemy fighter-bombers. The enemy attack was repelled. R 133 sustained minor damage from gunfire. The boat then served as convoy protection for convoys between the Reich and Holland. From November 5th to 10th, 1944, R 133 was in the shipyard in Emden to have the port VS propeller removed and replaced. From November 15th, R 133 was in the shipyard in Cuxhaven for a major overhaul. The boat survived the war and was assigned to the GM/SA – 2nd Mine Clearance Division in Cuxhaven on July 27, 1945. From July 1, 1951, it belonged to the Labor Service Unit “B” under the registration USN 133. On June 19, 1956, R 133 was taken into the newly founded German Navy and assigned to the 1st Minesweeping Squadron. On April 1, 1957, it was given the NATO registration M 1050. It was decommissioned on February 20, 1959 and briefly used as a training boat at the Technical Naval School II in Bremerhaven in 1972. It was sold to a private individual in 1974. The boat was finally destroyed in a fire in 1979.
Originally part of the 1st Division of the Deutscher Minenräumdienst (German Minesweeping administration), this manual was issued to former Kriegsmarine ships in-order to help with the clearing and removal of all Mines in the North and Baltic Seas. Printed on November 19, 1945, it is a total of approx. 48 pages, it features various diagrams, descriptions and instructions. Features some hand-written notations and official stamps on the inside cover and pages. ALL PAGES are 100% INTACT! Interesting to note is that this was in inventory with Räumboote R133 on July 10, 1946, before being transferred to another ship in 1947. I have shown images of R133 during the war, as well as while in Bundesmarine service in the last images. A FANTASTIC addition to any collection or display!
