NAVYPEDIA

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Rattlesnake 1952  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate	Modification
Bramble	J273, 1948- M11	1075	Lobnitz, Renfrew	6/1944	26.1.1945	6.1945	sold 8.1961	RN, British-built
Cockatrice	J229, 1948- M29	588	Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley	12/1941	27.10.1942	4.1943	sold 8.1963	RN, British-built
Fierce	J453, 1948- M53	1077	Lobnitz, Renfrew	11/1944	11.9.1945	11.1945	sold 8.1959	RN, British-built
Fireball	J464		Lobnitz, Renfrew	---	---	---	cancelled 10.1944	RN, British-built
Fly	J306	1045	Lobnitz, Renfrew	10/1941	1.6.1942	10.1942	to Persia 7.1949 (بلنق [Palang])	RN, British-built
Gabriel	J465		Lobnitz, Renfrew	---	---	---	cancelled 10.1944	RN, British-built
Happy Return	J466		Lobnitz, Renfrew	---	---	---	cancelled 10.1944	RN, British-built
Hound	J307, 1948- M307	1046	Lobnitz, Renfrew	12/1941	29.7.1942	12.1942	sold 9.1962	RN, British-built
Hydra	J275	1047	Lobnitz, Renfrew	1.1942	29.9.1942	2/1943	CTL 10.11.1944	RN, British-built
Larne			Simons, Renfrew	1/1942	---	---	cancelled 3.1942	RN, British-built
Larne	J274	1061	Lobnitz, Renfrew	1/1943	20.9.1943	11.1943	to Italy 1946 (Ammiraglio Magnaghi)	RN, British-built
Lennox		1062	Simons, Renfrew	---	---	---	cancelled 3.1942	RN, British-built
Lennox	J276, 1948- M276		Lobnitz, Renfrew	3/1943	15.10.1943	1.1944	sold 6.1961	RN, British-built
Niger (ex-Disdain)	J442	1076	Lobnitz, Renfrew	11/1944	1.5.1945	9.1945	sold 2.1966	RN, British-built
Orestes	J277, 1948- M277	1050	Lobnitz, Renfrew	3/1942	25.11.1942	4.1943	destroyed as target circa 1958, BU 3.1963	RN, British-built
Pelorus	J291	1053	Lobnitz, Renfrew	10/1942	18.6.1943	10.1943	to South Africa 1947 (Pietermaritzburg)	RN, British-built
Rattlesnake	J297	1051	Lobnitz, Renfrew	6/1942	23.2.1942	6.1943	sold 10.1959	RN, British-built
Rowena	J384, 1948- M384	1072	Lobnitz, Renfrew	10/1943	15.6.1944	9.1944	sold 10.1958	RN, British-built
Stormcloud	J367, 1948- M367	1069	Lobnitz, Renfrew	5/1943	28.12.1943	3.1944	sold 8.1959	RN, British-built
Sylvia	J382, 1948- M382	1070	Lobnitz, Renfrew	7/1943	28.2.1944	5.1944	sold 9.1958	RN, British-built
Tanganyika	J383, 1948- M383	1071	Lobnitz, Renfrew	9/1943	12.4.1944	7.1944	sold 9.1963	RN, British-built
Waterwitch	J304, 1948- M304	1052	Lobnitz, Renfrew	8/1942	22.4.1943	9.1943	BU 9.1963	RN, British-built
Wave	J385, 1948- M385	1073	Lobnitz, Renfrew	3/1944	18.8.1944	11.1944	sold 4.1962	RN, British-built
Welcome	J386, 1948- M386	1074	Lobnitz, Renfrew	5/1944	14.11.1944	1.1945	sold 5.1962	RN, British-built
Antares (ex-USN)	J282	31	Toronto SB, Canada	1.1942	15.8.1942	8.1943	to USA 1.1947	RN, Canadian-built
Arcturus (ex-USN)	J283	32	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	2.1942	31.8.1942	10.1943	to USA 1946, to Greece 1947 (Πυρπολητής [Pyrpolitis])	RN, Canadian-built
Aries (ex-USN)	J284	33	Toronto SB, Canada	3.1942	19.9.1942	7.1943	to USA 1946, to Greece 1947 (Αρματωλός [Armatolos])	RN, Canadian-built
Clinton (ex-USN)	J286	34	Toronto SB, Canada	4.1942	5.10.1942	8.1943	to USA 1.1947	RN, Canadian-built
Coquette (ex-RCN Bowmanville)	J350, 1948- M350	52	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	8/1943	24.11.1943	7.1944	sold 5.1958	RN, Canadian-built
Courier (ex-RCN Arnprior)	J349, 1948- M49	53	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	9/1943	22.12.1943	9.1944	sold 3.1959	RN, Canadian-built
Felicity (ex-RCN Coppercliff)	J369	54	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	9/1943	19.1.1944	8.1944	sold 1947	RN, Canadian-built
Flying Fish (ex-RCN Tillsonburg)	J370	55	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	10.1943	16.2.1944	10/1944	to Ceylon 10.1949 (විජය [Vijaya])	RN, Canadian-built
Friendship (ex-USN)	J398	35	Toronto SB, Canada	4.1942	24.10.1942	9.1943	to USA 1.1947	RN, Canadian-built
Golden Fleece (ex-RCN Humberstone)	J376, 1948- M376	56	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	8/1943	29.2.1944	9.1944	sold 8.1960	RN, Canadian-built
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])	RN, Canadian-built
Jaseur	J428, 1948- M428	59	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	12.1943	19.4.1944	10/1944	sold 2.1956	RN, Canadian-built
Laertes	J433, 1948- M433	60	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	1/1944	25.3.1944	3.1945	sold 4.1959	RN, Canadian-built
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])	RN, Canadian-built
Lioness (ex-RCN Petrolia)	J377, 1948- M377	57	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	11/1943	15.3.1944	12.1944	sold 11.1956	RN, Canadian-built
Lysander (ex-RCN Hespeler)	J379	77	Port Arthur, Canada	6/1943	11.11.1943	11.1944	sold 11.1957	RN, Canadian-built
Maenad	J435, 1948- M435	61	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	3/1943	8.6.1944	11.1944	sold 12.1957	RN, Canadian-built
Magicienne	J436, 1948- M436	62	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	2.1944	24.6.1944	5.1945	sold 3.1956	RN, Canadian-built
Mameluke	J437	63	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	3.1944	19.7.1944	3/1945	sold 4.1950	RN, Canadian-built
Mandate	J438, 1948- M438	64	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	4/1944	9.8.1944	3.1945	sold 12.1957	RN, Canadian-built
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)	RN, Canadian-built
Marmion (ex-RCN Orangeville)	J381, 1948- M381	80	Port Arthur, Canada	8/1943	15.6.1944	6.1945	sold 8.1959	RN, Canadian-built
Marvel	J443, 1948- M443	65	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	4/1944	30.8.1944	4.1945	sold 5.1958	RN, Canadian-built
Mary Rose (ex-RCN Toronto)	J360, 1948- M360	46	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	2/1943	5.8.1943	4.1945	sold 11.1957	RN, Canadian-built
Melita (ex-USN)	J289, 1948- M289	38	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	7.1942	8.12.1942	12.1943	sold 2.1959	RN, Canadian-built
Michael	J444, 1948- M444	66	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	4/1944	20.9.1944	5.1945	sold 11.1956	RN, Canadian-built
Minstrel	J445	67	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	6/1944	5.10.1944	6.1945	to Siam 4.1947 (ย้นหฟทะนื [Phosamton])	RN, Canadian-built
Moon (ex-RCN Mimico)	J329, 1948- M329	47	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	3/1943	2.9.1943	7.1944	sold 11.1957	RN, Canadian-built
Myrmidon	J454, 1948- M454	68	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	7/1944	21.10.1944	7.1945	sold 12.1958	RN, Canadian-built
Mystic	J455, 1948- M455	69	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	8/1944	11.11.1944	8.1945	sold 5.1958	RN, Canadian-built
Nerissa	J456, 1948- M456	70	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	8/1944	25.11.1944	8.1945	sold 8.1960	RN, Canadian-built
Nicator	J457	71	Toronto SB, Canada	10/1944	---	---	cancelled 11.1944	RN, Canadian-built
Niger		72	Toronto SB, Canada	9/1944	---	---	cancelled 11.1944	RN, Canadian-built
Nonpareil	J459	73	Toronto SB, Canada	10/1944	---	---	cancelled 11.1944	RN, Canadian-built
Nox	J459	74	Toronto SB, Canada	---	---	---	cancelled 11.1944	RN, Canadian-built
Octavia (ex-USN)	J290	39	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	9.1942	31.12.1942	2.1944	sold 4.1950	RN, Canadian-built
Odin	J460	75	Toronto SB, Canada	---	---	---	cancelled 11.1944	RN, Canadian-built
Orcadia	J462, 1948- M462	81	Port Arthur, Canada	11/1943	8.8.1944	8.1945	sold 12.1958	RN, Canadian-built
Ossory	J463, 1948- M463	82	Port Arthur, Canada	11.1943	3.10.1944	9/1945	sold 3.1959	RN, Canadian-built
Persian (ex-USN)	J347	40	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	10.1942	22.2.1943	11.1943	to USA 12.1946	RN, Canadian-built
Pluto	J446, 1948- M46	83	Port Arthur, Canada	1.1944	21.10.1944	10/1945	auxiliary 1956, BU 9.1972	RN, Canadian-built
Polaris	J447	84	Port Arthur, Canada	5.1944	13.12.1944	10/1945	sold 9.1956	RN, Canadian-built
Postillion (ex-USN)	J296	41	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	11.1942	18.3.1943	11.1943	to USA 12.1946, to Greece 1947 (Μαχητής [Machitis])	RN, Canadian-built
Prompt (ex-RCN Huntsville)	J478	58	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	11/1943	30.3.1944	9.1944	CTL 9.5.1945	RN, Canadian-built
Providence (ex-RCN Forrest Hill)	J325, 1948- M325	48	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	7/1943	27.10.1943	5.1944	sold 5.1958	RN, Canadian-built
Pyrrhus	J448, 1948- M448	85	Port Arthur, Canada	1/1944	19.5.1945	11.1945	sold 9.1956	RN, Canadian-built
Regulus (ex-RCN Longbranch)	J327	49	Toronto SB, Canada	4/1943	18.9.1943	5.1944	sunk 12.1.1945	RN, Canadian-built
Romola	J449, 1948- M449	129	Port Arthur, Canada	3/1944	21.11.1944	5.1945	sold 11.1957	RN, Canadian-built
Rosamund	J439	130	Port Arthur, Canada	4.1944	20.12.1944	7.1945	to South Africa 9.1947 (Bloemfontein)	RN, Canadian-built
Seabear (ex-RCN St. Thomas)	J333, 1948- M333	50	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	7/1943	6.11.1943	6.1944	sold 12.1958	RN, Canadian-built
Serene (ex-RCN Leaside)	J354, 1948- M354	51	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	7/1943	18.10.1943	9.1944	sold 3.1959	RN, Canadian-built
Skipjack (ex-RCN Solebay, ex-USN)	J300, 1948- M17	42	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	11.1942	4.7.1943	4.1944	sold 3.1959	RN, Canadian-built
Styx	J440	129	Port Arthur, Canada	7/1944	---	---	cancelled 11.1944	RN, Canadian-built
Thisbe (ex-USN)	J302, 1948- M302	43	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	12.1942	12.4.1943	6.1944	sold 12.1957	RN, Canadian-built
Truelove (ex-USN)	J303, 1948- M303	44	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	7.1942	8.7.1943	4.1944	sold 12.1957	RN, Canadian-built
Welfare (ex-USN)	J356, 1948- M356	45	Redfern, Toronto, Canada	2.1943	15.7.1943	4.1944	sold 11.1957	RN, Canadian-built
Border Cities (RCN)	J344	71	Port Arthur, Canada	8.1942	3.5.1943	5.1944	sold 1949	RCN
Fort Francis (RCN)	J396, 1951- FSE168	76	Port Arthur, Canada	5.1943	30.10.1943	10.1944	survey vessel 1958	RCN
Kapuskasing (RCN)	J326, 1951- FSE169	74	Port Arthur, Canada	12.1942	22.7.1943	8.1944	survey vessel 1959	RCN
Middlesex (RCN)	J328	72	Port Arthur, Canada	9.1942	27.5.1943	6.1944	rescue ship 1946	RCN
New Liskeard (RCN)	J397, 1951- FSE170	78	Port Arthur, Canada	8.1943	31.1.1944	11.1944	TS 1948, survey vessel 1959	RCN
Oshawa (RCN)	J330, 1951- FSE171	73	Port Arthur, Canada	10.1942	6.10.1943	7.1944	survey vessel 1958	RCN
Portage (RCN)	J331, 1951- FSE172	69	Port Arthur, Canada	5.1942	21.11.1942	10.1943	TS 1947, sold 1958	RCN
Rockcliff (RCN)	J355, 1951- FSE173	75	Port Arthur, Canada	12.1942	19.8.1943	9.1944	TS 1947, sold 1950	RCN
St. Boniface (RCN)	J332	68	Port Arthur, Canada	5.1942	5.11.1942	10.1943	sold 1946	RCN
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	RCN
Wallaceburg (RCN)	J336, 1951- FSE175	70	Port Arthur, Canada	7.1942	17.12.1942	11.1943	TS 1950, to Belgium 1959 (Georges Lecointe)	RCN
Winnipeg (RCN)	J337, 1951- FSE176	67	Port Arthur, Canada	1.1942	19.9.1942	7.1943	to Belgium 1959 (A. F. Dufour)	RCN

Technical data

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)
Electronic equipment	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

Standard scale images

Graphics

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.