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ROYAL NAVY - UNITED KINGDOM

MINE WARFARE SHIPS

BANGOR minesweepers, VTE-engined (1940 - 1945)

Rhyl 1943

Project history: Bangor class minesweepers were designed as alternative to Halcyon class ships which, according to Admiralty, because of relatively large dimensions did not suited for a mass building. Deciding about designing the smaller minesweeper have accepted in 1938. Designing was conducted quickly and already in the beginning of next year design in two variants has been approved: with diesels and with turbines. In the spring of 1939 order for first 10 ships was placed. With the beginning of hostilities mass building of Bangor class started. Many small private yards have been attracted in fulfilment of this program. Foreseeing difficulties which could be at the last in the absence of experience of building of ships with turbine or diesels, Admiralty have developed the design of Bangor with VTEs, and again in two variants: with compact high-speed (a rotational speed of shafts was almost same, as well as at diesel-engined ship) and with more bulky, but habitual, slow-speed VTE. Last variant also became the most mass: British, Canadian and Indian yards have built 67 units, 4 more sister ships, laid down in Hong Kong, were captured by Japanese and has completed for their Navy.

Except the ships with slow-speed VTE, 26 turbine-engined, 14 diesel-engined and only 2 minesweepers with high-speed VTE were built.

Conceived as the pure minesweepers carrying under the design only 4 DCs, Bangor at a completion phase have received the strengthened anti-submarine armament. Because of the overload which have arisen thus it was necessary to refuse from provided by the design 102mm gun, more light 76mm AA gun was installed instead. Nevertheless, stability of Bangors, especially diesel variant, was considered in Britain as insufficient.

From 50 VTE ships, built in Canada, 12 were ordered by RN, but half from them have transferred to Canadian fleet.

Modernizations: 1942-1943, earlier ships (some): + type 286PU radar

1943 - 1944, all early ships had 1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII and / or (1 - 3) x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV as close range AA.

1953, most RCN ships: - 1 x 1 - 76/40 or 1 x 1 - 76/45 or 1 x 1 - 102/40; + 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, type 144 sonar

Naval service: Were lost on mines: Cromer 9.11.1942 off Egyptian coast; Felixstowe 18.12.1943 off Sardinia. Mulgrave was badly damaged by a mine 8.10.1944 and never repaired.

Clayoquot was sunk 24.12.1944 by German submarine U806 near Halifax. Guysborough was sunk 17.3.1945 by German submarine U878 in Bay of Biscay. Chedabucto was lost 21.10.1943 at collision with s/s Lord Kelvin. Peterhead foundered 8.6.1944, salvaged, repaired and re-commissioned.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10