German minesweeper M 107
German minesweeper "M 107" was a mine-warfare vessel built for the Imperial German Navy during World War I, which served in the Reichsmarine and later the Kriegsmarine of World War II. Laid down in 1917 at the Joh. C. Tecklenborg shipyard in Geestemünde, "M 107" was launched on 3 July 1918 and commissioned on 30 July of the same year. After active service in 1918, the ship was retained by the Reichsmarine, which was renamed "Kriegsmarine" in 1935. On 15 April 1939, "M 107" was re-classified as a "Räumbootbegleitschiff" for the newly established 3 . "Räumbootflottille" and renamed Von der Groeben. During the Invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, "Von der Groeben" participated in the Battle of the Danzig Bay and supported the attacks on the Polish fortifications in the Battle of Westerplatte. In 1940, "Von der Groeben" was transferred to the 4. "Räumbootflottille" and participated in the Operation Weserübung, the occupation of Denmark and Norway, as part of "Kriegsschiffgruppe" 11. On 9 April 1940, "Von der Groeben" with the rest of 4. "Räumbootflottille" occupied Thyborøn on the coast of Jutland during the German invasion of Denmark. Later that year, "Von der Groeben" served as  escort on the Belgian coast until she hit a mine off Dunkirk on 18 August 1940. The seriously damaged ship was beached and later salvaged. After repairs were completed, she was re-commissioned as "M 507" on 1 October 1940. "M 507" was deployed to the English Channel coast until spring 1943, and took part of several action against British coastal forces, among them the action of 17-18 August 1942 off Gravelines, when "Von der Groeben," along with five other minesweepers, escorted the Italian blockade runner "Fidelitas" through the English Channel; two British MTBs were sunk. She eventually transferred  to the Mediterranean for service on inland waterways. On 15 June 1944, "M 507" was sunk in Boulogne-sur-Mer by Royal Air Force aircraft.