Rattlesnake 1943
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| RN, British-built | |||||||
| Bramble | J273, 1948- M11 | 1075 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 6/1944 | 26.1.1945 | 6.1945 | sold 8.1961 |
| Cockatrice | J229, 1948- M29 | 588 | Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley | 12/1941 | 27.10.1942 | 4.1943 | sold 8.1963 |
| Fierce | J453, 1948- M53 | 1077 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 11/1944 | 11.9.1945 | 11.1945 | sold 8.1959 |
| Fireball | J464 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 10.1944 | |
| Fly | J306 | 1045 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 10/1941 | 1.6.1942 | 10.1942 | to Persia 7.1949 (بلنق [Palang]) |
| Gabriel | J465 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 10.1944 | |
| Happy Return | J466 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 10.1944 | |
| Hound | J307, 1948- M307 | 1046 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 12/1941 | 29.7.1942 | 12.1942 | sold 9.1962 |
| Hydra | J275 | 1047 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 1.1942 | 29.9.1942 | 2/1943 | CTL 10.11.1944 |
| Larne | Simons, Renfrew | 1/1942 | --- | --- | cancelled 3.1942 | ||
| Larne | J274 | 1061 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 1/1943 | 20.9.1943 | 11.1943 | to Italy 1946 (Ammiraglio Magnaghi) |
| Lennox | 1062 | Simons, Renfrew | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 3.1942 | |
| Lennox | J276, 1948- M276 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 3/1943 | 15.10.1943 | 1.1944 | sold 6.1961 | |
| Niger (ex-Disdain) | J442 | 1076 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 11/1944 | 1.5.1945 | 9.1945 | sold 2.1966 |
| Orestes | J277, 1948- M277 | 1050 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 3/1942 | 25.11.1942 | 4.1943 | destroyed as target circa 1958, BU 3.1963 |
| Pelorus | J291 | 1053 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 10/1942 | 18.6.1943 | 10.1943 | to South Africa 1947 (Pietermaritzburg) |
| Rattlesnake | J297 | 1051 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 6/1942 | 23.2.1942 | 6.1943 | sold 10.1959 |
| Rowena | J384, 1948- M384 | 1072 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 10/1943 | 15.6.1944 | 9.1944 | sold 10.1958 |
| Stormcloud | J367, 1948- M367 | 1069 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 5/1943 | 28.12.1943 | 3.1944 | sold 8.1959 |
| Sylvia | J382, 1948- M382 | 1070 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 7/1943 | 28.2.1944 | 5.1944 | sold 9.1958 |
| Tanganyika | J383, 1948- M383 | 1071 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 9/1943 | 12.4.1944 | 7.1944 | sold 9.1963 |
| Waterwitch | J304, 1948- M304 | 1052 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 8/1942 | 22.4.1943 | 9.1943 | BU 9.1963 |
| Wave | J385, 1948- M385 | 1073 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 3/1944 | 18.8.1944 | 11.1944 | sold 4.1962 |
| Welcome | J386, 1948- M386 | 1074 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 5/1944 | 14.11.1944 | 1.1945 | sold 5.1962 |
| RN, Canadian-built | |||||||
| Antares (ex-USN) | J282 | 31 | Toronto SB, Canada | 1.1942 | 15.8.1942 | 8.1943 | to USA 1.1947 |
| Arcturus (ex-USN) | J283 | 32 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 2.1942 | 31.8.1942 | 10.1943 | to USA 1946, to Greece 1947 (Πυρπολητής [Pyrpolitis]) |
| Aries (ex-USN) | J284 | 33 | Toronto SB, Canada | 3.1942 | 19.9.1942 | 7.1943 | to USA 1946, to Greece 1947 (Αρματωλός [Armatolos]) |
| Clinton (ex-USN) | J286 | 34 | Toronto SB, Canada | 4.1942 | 5.10.1942 | 8.1943 | to USA 1.1947 |
| Coquette (ex-RCN Bowmanville) | J350, 1948- M350 | 52 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 8/1943 | 24.11.1943 | 7.1944 | sold 5.1958 |
| Courier (ex-RCN Arnprior) | J349, 1948- M49 | 53 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 9/1943 | 22.12.1943 | 9.1944 | sold 3.1959 |
| Felicity (ex-RCN Coppercliff) | J369 | 54 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 9/1943 | 19.1.1944 | 8.1944 | sold 1947 |
| Flying Fish (ex-RCN Tillsonburg) | J370 | 55 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 10.1943 | 16.2.1944 | 10/1944 | to Ceylon 10.1949 (විජය [Vijaya]) |
| Friendship (ex-USN) | J398 | 35 | Toronto SB, Canada | 4.1942 | 24.10.1942 | 9.1943 | to USA 1.1947 |
| Golden Fleece (ex-RCN Humberstone) | J376, 1948- M376 | 56 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 8/1943 | 29.2.1944 | 9.1944 | sold 8.1960 |
| Gozo (ex-USN) | J287 | 36 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 8.1942 | 27.1.1943 | 10.1943 | to USA 12.1946, to Greece 10.1948 (Πολεμιστής [Polemistis]) |
| Jaseur | J428, 1948- M428 | 59 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 12.1943 | 19.4.1944 | 10/1944 | sold 2.1956 |
| Laertes | J433, 1948- M433 | 60 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 1/1944 | 25.3.1944 | 3.1945 | sold 4.1959 |
| Lightfoot (ex-USN) | J288 | 37 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 8.1942 | 14.11.1942 | 10.1943 | to USA 12.1946, to Greece 2.1948 (Ναυμάχος [Navmachos]) |
| Lioness (ex-RCN Petrolia) | J377, 1948- M377 | 57 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 11/1943 | 15.3.1944 | 12.1944 | sold 11.1956 |
| Lysander (ex-RCN Hespeler) | J379 | 77 | Port Arthur, Canada | 6/1943 | 11.11.1943 | 11.1944 | sold 11.1957 |
| Maenad | J435, 1948- M435 | 61 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 3/1943 | 8.6.1944 | 11.1944 | sold 12.1957 |
| Magicienne | J436, 1948- M436 | 62 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 2.1944 | 24.6.1944 | 5.1945 | sold 3.1956 |
| Mameluke | J437 | 63 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 3.1944 | 19.7.1944 | 3/1945 | sold 4.1950 |
| Mandate | J438, 1948- M438 | 64 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 4/1944 | 9.8.1944 | 3.1945 | sold 12.1957 |
| Mariner (ex-RCN Kincardine) | J380, 1948- M380 | 79 | Port Arthur, Canada | 8/1943 | 9.5.1945 | 5.1945 | to Burma 4.1958 (Yan Myo Aung) |
| Marmion (ex-RCN Orangeville) | J381, 1948- M381 | 80 | Port Arthur, Canada | 8/1943 | 15.6.1944 | 6.1945 | sold 8.1959 |
| Marvel | J443, 1948- M443 | 65 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 4/1944 | 30.8.1944 | 4.1945 | sold 5.1958 |
| Mary Rose (ex-RCN Toronto) | J360, 1948- M360 | 46 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 2/1943 | 5.8.1943 | 4.1945 | sold 11.1957 |
| Melita (ex-USN) | J289, 1948- M289 | 38 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 7.1942 | 8.12.1942 | 12.1943 | sold 2.1959 |
| Michael | J444, 1948- M444 | 66 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 4/1944 | 20.9.1944 | 5.1945 | sold 11.1956 |
| Minstrel | J445 | 67 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 6/1944 | 5.10.1944 | 6.1945 | to Siam 4.1947 (ย้นหฟทะนื [Phosamton]) |
| Moon (ex-RCN Mimico) | J329, 1948- M329 | 47 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 3/1943 | 2.9.1943 | 7.1944 | sold 11.1957 |
| Myrmidon | J454, 1948- M454 | 68 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 7/1944 | 21.10.1944 | 7.1945 | sold 12.1958 |
| Mystic | J455, 1948- M455 | 69 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 8/1944 | 11.11.1944 | 8.1945 | sold 5.1958 |
| Nerissa | J456, 1948- M456 | 70 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 8/1944 | 25.11.1944 | 8.1945 | sold 8.1960 |
| Nicator | J457 | 71 | Toronto SB, Canada | 10/1944 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1944 |
| Niger | 72 | Toronto SB, Canada | 9/1944 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1944 | |
| Nonpareil | J459 | 73 | Toronto SB, Canada | 10/1944 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1944 |
| Nox | J459 | 74 | Toronto SB, Canada | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1944 |
| Octavia (ex-USN) | J290 | 39 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 9.1942 | 31.12.1942 | 2.1944 | sold 4.1950 |
| Odin | J460 | 75 | Toronto SB, Canada | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1944 |
| Orcadia | J462, 1948- M462 | 81 | Port Arthur, Canada | 11/1943 | 8.8.1944 | 8.1945 | sold 12.1958 |
| Ossory | J463, 1948- M463 | 82 | Port Arthur, Canada | 11.1943 | 3.10.1944 | 9/1945 | sold 3.1959 |
| Persian (ex-USN) | J347 | 40 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 10.1942 | 22.2.1943 | 11.1943 | to USA 12.1946 |
| Pluto | J446, 1948- M46 | 83 | Port Arthur, Canada | 1.1944 | 21.10.1944 | 10/1945 | auxiliary 1956, BU 9.1972 |
| Polaris | J447 | 84 | Port Arthur, Canada | 5.1944 | 13.12.1944 | 10/1945 | sold 9.1956 |
| Postillion (ex-USN) | J296 | 41 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 11.1942 | 18.3.1943 | 11.1943 | to USA 12.1946, to Greece 1947 (Μαχητής [Machitis]) |
| Prompt (ex-RCN Huntsville) | J478 | 58 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 11/1943 | 30.3.1944 | 9.1944 | CTL 9.5.1945 |
| Providence (ex-RCN Forrest Hill) | J325, 1948- M325 | 48 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 7/1943 | 27.10.1943 | 5.1944 | sold 5.1958 |
| Pyrrhus | J448, 1948- M448 | 85 | Port Arthur, Canada | 1/1944 | 19.5.1945 | 11.1945 | sold 9.1956 |
| Regulus (ex-RCN Longbranch) | J327 | 49 | Toronto SB, Canada | 4/1943 | 18.9.1943 | 5.1944 | sunk 12.1.1945 |
| Romola | J449, 1948- M449 | 129 | Port Arthur, Canada | 3/1944 | 21.11.1944 | 5.1945 | sold 11.1957 |
| Rosamund | J439 | 130 | Port Arthur, Canada | 4.1944 | 20.12.1944 | 7.1945 | to South Africa 9.1947 (Bloemfontein) |
| Seabear (ex-RCN St. Thomas) | J333, 1948- M333 | 50 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 7/1943 | 6.11.1943 | 6.1944 | sold 12.1958 |
| Serene (ex-RCN Leaside) | J354, 1948- M354 | 51 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 7/1943 | 18.10.1943 | 9.1944 | sold 3.1959 |
| Skipjack (ex-RCN Solebay, ex-USN) | J300, 1948- M17 | 42 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 11.1942 | 4.7.1943 | 4.1944 | sold 3.1959 |
| Styx | J440 | 129 | Port Arthur, Canada | 7/1944 | --- | --- | cancelled 11.1944 |
| Thisbe (ex-USN) | J302, 1948- M302 | 43 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 12.1942 | 12.4.1943 | 6.1944 | sold 12.1957 |
| Truelove (ex-USN) | J303, 1948- M303 | 44 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 7.1942 | 8.7.1943 | 4.1944 | sold 12.1957 |
| Welfare (ex-USN) | J356, 1948- M356 | 45 | Redfern, Toronto, Canada | 2.1943 | 15.7.1943 | 4.1944 | sold 11.1957 |
| RCN | |||||||
| Border Cities (RCN) | J344 | 71 | Port Arthur, Canada | 8.1942 | 3.5.1943 | 5.1944 | sold 1949 |
| Fort Francis (RCN) | J396, 1951- FSE168 | 76 | Port Arthur, Canada | 5.1943 | 30.10.1943 | 10.1944 | survey vessel 1958 |
| Kapuskasing (RCN) | J326, 1951- FSE169 | 74 | Port Arthur, Canada | 12.1942 | 22.7.1943 | 8.1944 | survey vessel 1959 |
| Middlesex (RCN) | J328 | 72 | Port Arthur, Canada | 9.1942 | 27.5.1943 | 6.1944 | rescue ship 1946 |
| New Liskeard (RCN) | J397, 1951- FSE170 | 78 | Port Arthur, Canada | 8.1943 | 31.1.1944 | 11.1944 | TS 1948, survey vessel 1959 |
| Oshawa (RCN) | J330, 1951- FSE171 | 73 | Port Arthur, Canada | 10.1942 | 6.10.1943 | 7.1944 | survey vessel 1958 |
| Portage (RCN) | J331, 1951- FSE172 | 69 | Port Arthur, Canada | 5.1942 | 21.11.1942 | 10.1943 | TS 1947, sold 1958 |
| Rockcliff (RCN) | J355, 1951- FSE173 | 75 | Port Arthur, Canada | 12.1942 | 19.8.1943 | 9.1944 | TS 1947, sold 1950 |
| St. Boniface (RCN) | J332 | 68 | Port Arthur, Canada | 5.1942 | 5.11.1942 | 10.1943 | sold 1946 |
| Sault Ste. Marie (ex-The Soo) (RCN) | J334, 1951- FSE174 | 66 | Port Arthur, Canada | 1.1942 | 5.8.1942 | 6.1943 | TS 1949, sold 1959 |
| Wallaceburg (RCN) | J336, 1951- FSE175 | 70 | Port Arthur, Canada | 7.1942 | 17.12.1942 | 11.1943 | TS 1950, to Belgium 1959 (Georges Lecointe) |
| Winnipeg (RCN) | J337, 1951- FSE176 | 67 | Port Arthur, Canada | 1.1942 | 19.9.1942 | 7.1943 | to Belgium 1959 (A. F. Dufour) |
|
Displacement standard, t |
950 - 1030 |
|
Displacement full, t |
1235 - 1325 |
|
Length, m |
68.6 |
|
Breadth, m |
10.8 |
|
Draught, m |
3.10 - 3.28 deep load (3.84 - 3.99 by screws) |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
2400 |
|
Max speed, kts |
16.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 230 - 239 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
6000(12) |
|
Armament |
1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV or 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV (more often), 4 DCT, 2 DCR (90 - 92 in ASW role), mechanical, magnetic, acoustic minesweeping gear Courier, Jaseur, Lioness, Serene, Wave, Welcome: 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 4 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (90 - 92 in ASW role), mechanical, magnetic, acoustic minesweeping gear RCN ships:1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV or 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV (more often), 4 DCT, 2 DCR (90 - 92) |
| Sensors |
completed 1942-1943: type 271 or type 272 radar, type 128 sonar completed 1943-1945: type 271 or type 272, type 291 (some) radars, type 128 sonar |
|
Complement |
85 - 138 |
Project history: After ordering of small minesweepers of Bangor class, Admiralty returned to the ship of the big sizes close to Halcyon class, but with smaller L/B ratio (6.4 against 7.3). On request of the Admiralty, new minesweepers should, besides the developed minesweeping equipment (sweeps for acoustic, magnetic and contact mines) to carry strong enough anti-submarine armaments. Actually, Algerine class could solve the same tasks, as Flower class corvette, and in days of war minesweepers of this class very often attracted for escort service performance. However such universality has been bought in literal sense by expensive price: the building of one Algerine class minesweeper managed more expensively, than two corvettes of Flower class. Nevertheless, in Canadian Navy they fulfilled a role of escort ships and did not carry the minesweeping equipment. On usual practice, the ships had machinery as with geared turbines (are known as Algerine type 1940), and with vertical triple expansion steam engine (Algerine type 1941).
In total 48 ships were built by British yards (29 with turbines and 19 with VTE). The order for 4 ships with turbines and on 5 with VTE have been cancelled. From 62 ships built by Canadian yards, 19 were ordered by RN, 15 intended for the USN on "reverse" lend-lease (in the end of 1943 of the USA, already satisfied the "minesweeping" hunger, cancelled an order on 6 of them, eventually "cancelled" and "ordered" have got to RN). From 28 ships intended for Canadian Navy under the agreement between the governments of UK and Canada 16 were transferred to Royal Navy in exchange for 4 corvettes of Flower class and 12 of Castle class. The order for 6 ships for Canadians was cancelled.
Modernizations: early 1950s, Orestes, Pluto: - 1 x 1 - 102/45, 4 x 2 - 20/70; + 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk 3 ASWRL, type 147B sonar
Naval service: Regulus was lost 12.1.1945 on a mine in Mediterranean Sea. Prompt 8.5.1945 and Hydra 10.11.1944 were damaged by mines, never repaired and stricken in 1945.
RCN ships were used as escorts only and reclassified to coastal escorts in 1953.
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
Rattlesnake 1952
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10