An M1940-class minesweeper underway off the coast of France, 1941.
The M-class minesweeper was a class of minesweepers built from 1937 to 1945, and used by the Kriegsmarine during World War II. Only three of these ships were destroyed. The M-class proved to be a seaworthy and versatile ship, and proved to be more than just minesweepers. In fact, it could take escort duty, anti-submarine duty, and both minelaying and minesweeping. Despite these advantages, they where very expensive and difficult to build.