HNoMS Otra (1939)

As the threat of war in Europe became ever more clear the decision was made to improve the Royal Norwegian Navy's mine warfare capabilities. At first a number of 2. class gunboats were rebuilt into minelayers and minesweepers, but with war looming it soon became clear that more capable vessels were required.Norwegian Defence Force official website: [http://www.mil.no/sjo/keskdr/minekrig/start/om_mv/mv_historie/#2 "Otra" and "Rauma"] no icon] Thus, two new purpose-built minesweepers were constructed at Nylands Verksted in Oslo; the "Otra" and the "Rauma". Both ships were completed and commissioned only a short time before the German invasion of Norway. The Otra class vessels used the Oropesa system of minesweeping.

Name

She was named after the Otra - the largest river in the Sørlandet region of Norway.

The invasion

Prelude

Shortly before the German invasion the UK announced that the Royal Navy had laid a number of minefields along the coast of Norway to interfere with the German import of Swedish iron ore through the North Norwegian port of Narvik. The British government claimed to have mined three areas; off Stad, Hustadvika, and Landegode north of Bodø. In response to this report, the Norwegian government ordered the minesweepers "Otra" and "Rauma" to sail north from their base in Horten and sweep the minefields on 9 April 1940.

"Otra" spots the invasion force

Before the order to go north could be carried out, however, the German invasion of Norway took place in the early hours of 9 April. As reports of intruding warships started coming in the "Otra" was sent out to investigate, and at 0410 hrs report that the intruders were Germans. The invasion flotilla blocked the "Otra"'s return to Horten.

Capture

While her sister ship, HNoMS "Rauma", was fighting the German naval forces in Horten "Otra" was cut off and isolated from the action. The next morning, 10 April, she was captured while at anchor in Filtvet.

German service as the "Togo"

After capture the "Otra" was renamed the "Togo" and put in service as a Vorpostenboot and minelayer for the rest of the war. First the "Togo" served in as part of Hafenschutzflotille Tromsø guarding that northern city's harbour. Later she was transferred to Hafenschutzflotille Oslo. In 1941 the "Togo" was part of 59 Vorpoostenflotille as V 5908, where she served until April 1944 when she transferred to Vorpoostenflotille 65 as V 6512. After the German surrender she was part of the German Mine Sweeping Administration (GM-SA).

Post-war service

On 18 January 1946 the "Togo" was returned to the Royal Norwegian Navy at Bogen and on 30 October 1946 was renamed the HNoMS "Otra". In April 1949 she was rebuilt as a minelayer training ship. 21 August 1959 saw her decommissioning and she was laid up at Horten until put out of service and sold in April 1963.

Footnotes

ource

* Abelsen, Frank: "Norwegian naval ships 1939-1945", Sem & Stenersen AS, Oslo 1986 ISBN 82-7046-050-8
* Berg, Ole F.: _no. "I skjærgården og på havet - Marinens krig 8. april 1940 - 8. mai 1945", Marinens Krigsveteranforening, Oslo 1997 ISBN 82-993545-2-8 77 no icon

ee also

* List of World War II ships of less than 1000 tons