Minenraumschiff 26
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Minenraumschiff
26 was built at Moss Verft in Norway in 1943 together with
her sister ship MRS 25, both originally planned as
civilian freighters. However, the plans changed for both
ships, and she was assigned as a mother ship for the
German Kriegsmarines minesweepers instead. Because of
delays, she wasn't delivered and commissioned before July
1944. The Germans was at this point under heavy pressure
on all the fronts, and parts of Finnmark county in Norway
was already overrun by the Russians. MRS 26 was ordered as
a troop transport and was equipped with anti aircraft
guns. 26.October she was attacked by Russian airplanes in
the Smalfjord, and managed to shot down two of them
without taking any damage. The day after the Russians
again attacked her, this time in Hopseidet, and after they
had penetrated her defenses, they scored several hits on
her stern. Badly damaged, the captain decided to beach her
in shallow water in attempt to save her. The wreck was
abandoned and left alone til the 1950s when salvage works
began. Also demolition of live ammunition devastated the
already damaged wreck. The remains rest today on a depth
of approx 1 to 15 meters close to shore at Hopseidet, west
of Skjånes.
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 Pictures: MRS 26 Originally from skovheim.org Nils Vik, private collection Last updated: December 2020 |
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