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Algerine-class minesweeper

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Class overview
NameAlgerine class
Builders
  • United Kingdom (50)
  • Canada (60)
Operators
Preceded byBangor class
Succeeded byTon class
In service1942
Completed110
Active0
Lost6
Retired104
Preserved
General characteristics
TypeMinesweeper
Displacement
  • 850–1,030 long tons (864–1,047 t) (standard)
  • 1,125–1,325 long tons (1,143–1,346 t) (deep)
Length225 ft (69 m) o/a
Beam35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Draught11 ft (3.4 m)–12 ft 3 in (3.73 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement85
Armament

The Algerine-class minesweeper was a large group of minesweepers built for the Royal Navy (RN) and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during the Second World War. 110 ships of the class were launched between 1942 and 1944.

Design and description

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By 1940 the Royal Navy had realized that the Bangor-class minesweepers were too small to carry the equipment needed to handle magnetic mines.[citation needed] A bigger ship was designed, ironically about the same size as the older Halcyon class that the Royal Navy had rejected earlier as too large and expensive for mass production. The size of the new ship made them suitable for use as ocean-going escort ships and many were used to supplement specialist escorts. Most of the ships built for the RCN were solely employed as such and were fitted with more anti-submarine weapons than the RN ships. To maximise production, alternate designs were made to use either steam turbines or reciprocating steam engines.[1] This enabled ships to be built at yards more used to merchant ship design and as with other mass-produced escort vessels (such as the Flower-class corvettes or the River-class frigates, could use merchant-style reciprocating vertical triple expansion (VTE) engines.

Both groups of ships had the same dimensions, although the VTE powered ships had a greater displacement and a deeper draught. The hull measured 225 feet (68.6 m) long overall with a beam of 35 feet 6 inches (10.8 m). The turbine group had a draught of 11 feet (3.4 m) while the reciprocating engined ships sat 1 foot 3 inches (0.4 m) deeper in the water. The turbine-powered ships displaced 850 long tons (860 t) at standard load and 1,125 long tons (1,143 t) at deep load while the reciprocating engined group displaced 1,010–1,030 long tons (1,030–1,050 t) at standard load and 1,305–1,325 long tons (1,326–1,346 t) at deep load. The ships' complement consisted of 85 officers and ratings.[1]

The turbine-powered ships had two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,000 shaft horsepower (1,500 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). The reciprocating engined ships had two vertical triple-expansion steam engines totalling 2,400 indicated horsepower (1,800 kW) and reached the same speed. They carried a maximum of 660 long tons (671 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[1]

The Algerine class was armed with a QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V anti-aircraft gun and four twin-gun mounts for Oerlikon 20 mm cannon.[2] The latter guns were in short supply when the first ships were being completed and they often got a proportion of single mounts. By 1944, single-barrel Bofors 40 mm mounts began replacing the twin 20 mm mounts on a one for one basis. All of the ships were fitted for four throwers and two rails for depth charges. Many Canadian ships omitted their sweeping gear in exchange for a 24-bomb Hedgehog spigot mortar and a stowage capacity for 90+ depth charges.[1]

The construction contracts were awarded to shipbuilders in both the United Kingdom and Canada.

Construction

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A total of 94 Algerine class vessels served with the Royal Navy; of these 45 were built in the UK and another 49 in Canada. A further 12 vessels served with the Royal Canadian Navy; all these were built in Canada.

The ships were built in the UK were ordered under the 1940 to 1943 war emergency building programmes. The companies involved were Harland & Wolff (22), Lobnitz (18), Blyth (2), Fleming & Ferguson (1) and William Simons (2). Another 15 were ordered in 1943 but cancelled, to free yard space for building Loch-class frigates. The ships were built in two types; 26 powered by steam turbine and 22 by reciprocating or vertical triple expansion (VTE) steam engines. The turbine powered ships were all built by Harland & Wolff, save two, built at Blyth; the VTE powered ships were built at Lobnitz, Simons and Fleming & Ferguson.[3]

Of the ships built in Canada, the companies involved were Toronto Shipbuilding (later Redfern), Port Arthur and Collingwood. All the Canadian-built ships were VTE powered. Only 12 of these ships served with the RCN; a further 17 were built for the RCN but transferred to the Royal Navy in exchange for an equal number of Castle-class corvettes, as the RCN was in need of escort vessels. Fourteen ships were built for the United States Navy, but again were transferred to the RN on completion under Lend-Lease. Nineteen ships were ordered directly by the RN under the 1943 programme; a further six ships were ordered, but cancelled.[4]

Service history

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The Algerine class vessels in service with the Royal Navy were employed mainly as minesweepers, though they were equipped as anti-submarine warfare vessels also, and could serve as escort ships as needed. Their ASDIC and depth-charge equipment was equal to that of the Flower-class corvettes or even River-class frigates, though they were not equipped with forward-firing weapons like Hedgehog. Five Algerines were sunk in action, and four others were declared constructive total losses after sustaining damage.[5] The Algerines of the Royal Canadian Navy by contrast were employed as escorts. They were not fitted with mine-sweeping gear, though they were optimized for service in the Arctic. The Algerines served principally as senior ships in Canadian escort groups of the Western Local Escort Force and the Halifax Force. No RCN vessels of the class were lost.[6]

Post-war service

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After the war, a number of Algerines continued in service as patrol boats, survey ships, and training ships. On 11 March 1959, HMS Acute and HMS Jewel, training ships at Dartmouth, rescued the burning German coaster Vorman Rass, off Start Point, Devon.[7] At least one, HMS Pickle, was still engaged in minesweeping duties in British waters as late as 1955. All Algerines in RN and RCN service were disposed of by the late 1950s or early 1960s.[8]

Some were sold to other navies or into merchant service. The fourteen ships under Lend-Lease were returned to the USN in 1946; five of these later transferred to the Greek Navy. Of the RN ships, five were transferred to the Belgian Navy, two to South Africa and two to Ceylon; another five, one apiece, were acquired by Burma, Nigeria, Italy, Iran, and Thailand. Two RCN ships were transferred to Belgium in 1959 as replacements for two ex-RN ships that were due for disposal. One, HTMS Phosampton (ex-HMS Minstrel), was in service until 2012 with the Royal Thai Navy.

Ships

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Algerine-class ships of the Royal Canadian Navy
Name[8] Builder Powerplant Fate
Border Cities (J344) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1948 sold for demolition
Fort Frances (J396) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1948 transferred to Department of Mines and Technical Surveys
1974 broken up
Kapuskasing (J326) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1949-1972 loaned to Department of Mines and Technical Surveys
1978 sunk as a target
Middlesex (J328) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 2 December 1946 aground near Halifax and became a total loss
New Liskeard (J397) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1969 broken up
Oshawa (J330) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1958 sold as civilian survey vessel
1966 broken up
Portage (J331) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1961 broken up
Rockcliffe (J335) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1960 broken up
Sault Ste. Marie (J334) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1960 broken up
St. Boniface (J332) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1948 sold mercantile as Bess Barry M.
Wallaceburg (J336) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1959 sold to Belgian Navy as Georges Lecointe
1970 broken up
Winnipeg (J337) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1959 sold to Belgian Navy as A.F. Dufour
1966 broken up
Algerine-class ships of the Royal Navy
Name[8] Builder Powerplant Fate
Acute (J106) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1964 destroyed as a target
Alarm (J140) Harland & Wolff Turbine 2 January 1943 badly damaged by mine near Bône
December 1943 sold for demolition
Albacore (J101) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1963 broken up
Algerine (J213) Harland & Wolff Turbine 15 November 1942 sunk by Italian submarine off Bougie
Antares (J282) Toronto Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1947 returned to USA after lend-lease
Arcturus (J283) Redfern Construction[9] Reciprocating 1946 returned to USA after lend-lease
1946 sold to Hellenic Navy as Pyrpolitis
1984 sunk as a target
Aries (J284) Toronto Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1946 returned to USA after lend-lease
1947 sold to Hellenic Navy as Armatolos
1977 sunk as a target
Bramble Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1961 broken up
Brave (J305) Blyth Dry Docks Turbine 1951 RNVR drillship Satellite
1958 broken up
Cadmus (J230) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1950 sold to Belgian Navy as Georges Lecointe
1960 broken up
Chameleon (J387) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1966 broken up
Cheerful (J388) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1963 broken up
Circe (J214) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1967 broken up
Clinton (J286) Toronto Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1947 returned to USA after lend-lease
Cockatrice (J229) Fleming & Ferguson Reciprocating 1963 broken up
Coquette (J350) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1958 broken up
Courier (J349) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1959 broken up
Espiegle (J216) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1967 broken up
Fancy (J308) Blyth Dry Docks Turbine 1950 sold to Belgian Navy as A. F. Dufour
1959 renamed Nzadi
1960 broken up
Fantome (J224) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1947 broken up
Felicity (J369) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1947 sold mercantile as Fairfree
1957 broken up
Fierce (J453) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1959 broken up
Fly (J306) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1949 sold to Imperial Iranian Navy as Palang
1972 broken up
Flying Fish (J370) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1949 gifted to Royal Ceylon Navy as HMCyS Vijaya
1972 Sri Lanka Navy
1975 broken up
Friendship (J398) Toronto Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1947 returned to USA after lend-lease
Golden Fleece (J376) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1960 broken up
Gozo (J287) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1946 returned to USA after lend-lease
1947 sold to Hellenic Navy as Polemistis
1977 deleted
Hare (J389) Harland & Wolff Turbine 21 July 1959 sold to Nigerian Navy as HMNS Nigeria
1962 broken up
Hound (J307) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1962 broken up
Hydra (J275) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 10 November 1944 damaged by mine and not repaired
1947 broken up
Jaseur (J428) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1956 broken up
Jewel (J390) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1967 broken up
Laertes (J433) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1959 broken up
Larne (J274) Lobnitz & Co
(transferred from William Simons)
Reciprocating 1947 sold to Italian Navy as Eritrea
Lennox (J276) Lobnitz & Co
(transferred from William Simons)
Reciprocating 1961 broken up
Liberty (J391) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1949 sold to Belgian Navy as Adrien de Gerlache
1969 sold for demolition
Lightfoot (J288) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1946 returned to USA after lend-lease
1947 sold to Hellenic Navy as Navmachos
1976 withdrawn
Lioness (J377) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1956 broken up
Loyalty
ex-Rattler(1943)
Harland & Wolff Turbine 22 August 1944 sunk by German submarine in the English Channel
Lysander
HMS Cornflower 1950-1951
Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1957 broken up
Maenad (J335) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1957 broken up
Magicienne (J436) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1956 broken up
Mameluke (J437) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1950 broken up
Mandate (J438) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1957 broken up
Mariner (J380) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1958 sold to Burmese Navy as Yan Myo Aung
1982 withdrawn and laid up
Marmion (J381) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1959 broken up
Marvel (J443) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1958 broken up
Mary Rose (J360) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1957 broken up
Melita (J289) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1959 broken up
Michael (J444) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1956 broken up
Minstrel (J445) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1947 sold to Royal Thai Navy as Phosampton
2012 withdrawn from service
Moon (J329) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1957 broken up
Mutine (J227) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1967 broken up
Myrmidon (J454) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1958 broken up
Mystic (J455) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1958 broken up
Nerissa (J456) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1960 broken up
Niger (J442) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1966 broken up
Octavia (J290) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1950 broken up
Onyx (J221) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1967 broken up
Orcadia (J462) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1958 broken up
Orestes (J277) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1963 broken up
Ossory (J463) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1959 broken up
Pelorus (J291) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1947 sold to South African Navy as HMSAS Pietermaritzburg)[10]
1976 stricken
19 November 1994 scuttled in Smitswinkel Bay, South Africa
Persian (J347) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1946 returned to USA after lend-lease
1948 transferred to State Department
Pickle (J293) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1959 sold to Royal Ceylon Navy as HMCyS Parakrama
1964 broken up
Pincher (J294) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1962 broken up
Plucky (J295) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1962 broken up
Pluto (J446) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1973 broken up
Polaris (J447) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1956 broken up
Postillion (J296) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1946 returned to USA after lend-lease
1947 sold to Hellenic Navy as Machitis
1976 withdrawn
Prompt (J378) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 8 May 1945 damaged by mine (CTL)
1947 broken up
Providence (J325) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1958 broken up
Pyrrhus (J448) Port Arthur Shipbuilding Reciprocating 1956 broken up
Rattler
see Loyalty
Harland & Wolff Turbine 22 August 1944 sunk by submarine in the English Channel
Rattlesnake (J297) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1959 broken up
Ready (J223) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1951 sold to Belgian Navy as Jan van Haverbeke
1961 broken up
Recruit (J298) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1965 broken up
Regulus (J327) Toronto Shipbuilding Reciprocating 12 January 1945 sunk by mine in Corfu Channel
Rifleman (J299) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1972 broken up
Rinaldo (J225) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1961 broken up
Romola (J449) Collingwood Shipbuilding
(transferred from Port Arthur Shipbuilding)
Reciprocating 1957 broken up
Rosamund (J439) Collingwood Shipbuilding
(transferred from Port Arthur Shipbuilding)
Reciprocating 1947 sold to South African Navy as HMSAS Bloemfontein[10]
5 June 1967 sunk as a target off Simonstown
Rosario (J219) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1951 sold to Belgian Navy as De Moor
1969 broken up
Rowena (J384) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1958 broken up
Seabear (J333) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1958 broken up
Serene (J354) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1959 broken up
Skipjack (J300) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1959 broken up
Spanker (J226) Harland & Wolff Turbine 1953 sold to Belgian Navy as De Brouwer
1963 broken up
Squirrel (J301) Harland & Wolff Turbine 24 July 1945 scuttled off Phuket, Thailand after mine damage
Stormcloud (J367) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1959 broken up
Sylvia (J382) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1958 broken up
Tanganyika (J383) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1963 broken up
Thisbe (J302) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1957 broken up
Truelove (J303) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1957 broken up
Vestal (J215) Harland & Wolff Turbine 26 July 1945 sunk by Japanese aircraft off Phuket, Thailand
Waterwitch (J304) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1963 broken up
Wave (J385) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1962 broken up
Welcome (J386) Lobnitz & Co Reciprocating 1962 broken up
Welfare (J356) Redfern Construction Reciprocating 1957 broken up
Cancelled Algerine-class ships
Name[8] Builder Powerplant Fate
Fireball (J464) Lobnitz & Co ?Reciprocating Cancelled October 1944
Gabriel (J465) Lobnitz & Co ?Reciprocating Cancelled October 1944
Happy Return (J466) Lobnitz & Co ?Reciprocating Cancelled October 1944
Larne William Simons ?Reciprocating Cancelled March 1942
Lennox William Simons ?Reciprocating Cancelled March 1942
Lysander Harland & Wolff ?Turbine Cancelled May 1943
Mariner Harland & Wolff ?Turbine Cancelled May 1943
Marmion Harland & Wolff ?Turbine Cancelled May 1943
Mary Rose Harland & Wolff ?Turbine Cancelled May 1943
Moon Harland & Wolff ?Turbine Cancelled May 1943
Nicator (J457) Toronto Shipbuilding ?Reciprocating
Niger Toronto Shipbuilding ?Reciprocating
Nonpareil (J459) Toronto Shipbuilding ?Reciprocating
Nox (J459) Toronto Shipbuilding ?Reciprocating
Odin (J460) Toronto Shipbuilding ?Reciprocating
Providence Harland & Wolff ?Turbine Cancelled May 1943
Regulus Harland & Wolff ?Turbine Cancelled May 1943
Rowena Harland & Wolff ?Turbine Cancelled May 1943
Seabriar Harland & Wolff ?Turbine Cancelled May 1943
Serene Harland & Wolff ?Turbine Cancelled May 1943
Styx (J440) Collingwood Shipbuilding
(transferred from Port Arthur Shipbuilding)
?Reciprocating

Post-war operators

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Algerine-class ships of the Belgian Navy (post-war)
Name Ex- Powerplant Acquired Stricken
M900 Adrien de Gerlache HMS Liberty Turbine 1949 1969
M901 Georges Lecointe (i) HMS Cadmus Turbine 1950 1959
M901 Georges Lecointe (ii) HMCS Wallaceburg VTE 1959 1969
M902 Jan Van Haverbeke HMS Ready Turbine 1951 1960
M903 A. F. Dufour (i) HMS Fancy Turbine 1951 1959
M903 A. F. Dufour (ii) HMCS Winnipeg VTE 1959 1966
M904 De Brouwer HMS Spanker Turbine 1953 1966
M905 De Moor HMS Rosario Turbine 1953 1966
Algerine-class ships of the Royal Ceylon Navy (post-war)
Name Ex- Powerplant Acquired Stricken
HMCyS Vijaya HMS Flying Fish VTE 1949 1975
HMCyS Parakrama HMS Pickle Turbine 1959 1964
Algerine-class ships of the South African Navy (post-war)
Name Ex- Powerplant Acquired Stricken
HMSAS Pietermaritzburg HMS Pelorus VTE 1947 1976
HMSAS Bloemfontein HMS Rosamund VTE 1947 1967
Algerine-class ships in post-war service in other navies
Name Ex- Powerplant Navy Acquired Stricken
Yan Myo Aung HMS Mariner VTE Burmese Navy 1958 1982
HMNS Nigeria HMS Hare Turbine Nigerian Navy 1959 1962
Eritrea
(renamed Alabarda)
HMS Larne VTE Italian Navy 1947 1981
Palang HMS Fly VTE Imperial Iranian Navy 1949 1972
Phosampton HMS Minstrel VTE Royal Thai Navy 1947 2012

Algerines sunk in action

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Five Algerines were sunk in action and four others were written off after sustaining damage.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Lenton, pp. 260–261
  2. ^ Chesneau, p. 65
  3. ^ Elliott, pp. 307–308
  4. ^ Elliott, p. 352
  5. ^ a b Elliott, p. 314
  6. ^ Elliott, p. 355
  7. ^ "Navy aids burning German ship". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d Conway, p. 65
  9. ^ Conway, p.65; Elliott p.312 says Toronto Shipbuilding Co.
  10. ^ a b "History of the SA Navy". South African Navy. Archived from the original on 23 February 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2008.

Bibliography

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