NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Eridge

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate	Modification
Ascot	T16	297	Ailsa, Troon	1915	26.1.1916	4/1916	sunk 10.11.1918	ordered 9.1915
Eridge	T60	320	Clyde SB, Glasgow	1915	23.2.1916	4.1916	sold 3.1922	ordered 9.1915
Chepstow	T19		Ayrshire, Irvine	1915	29.2.1916	6/1916	sold 11.1927	ordered 9.1915
Melton	T94	316	Hamilton, Glasgow	1915	16.3.1916	6-12/1916	sold 8.1927, 1939-1945 - Auxiliary AA vessel Queen of Thanet	ordered 9.1915
Plumpton	T32	465	McMillan, Dumbarton	1915	20.3.1916	6/1916	CTL 19.10.1918	ordered 9.1915
Atherstone	T09	298	Ailsa, Troon	1915	4.4.1916	6/1916	sold 8.1927, 1939 - 1945 - Auxiliary AA vessel Queen of Kent	ordered 9.1915
Croxton	T20	459	Ayrshire, Irvine	1915	7.4.1916	6/1916	sold 3.1922	ordered 9.1915
Gatwick	T10		Dundee SB	1915	18.4.1916	7/1916	sold 3.1922	ordered 9.1915
Lingfield	T24	435	Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley	1915	29.4.1916	6-12/1916	sold 5.1923	ordered 9.1915
Ludlow		192	Goole SB	1915	1.5.1916	9/1916	sunk 29.12.1916	ordered 9.1915
Pontefract	TC2	263	Murdoch & Murray, Glasgow	1915	2.5.1916	7.1916	sold 9.1922	ordered 9.1915
Epsom	T59	97	George Brown, Greenock	1915	4.5.1916	7.1916	sold 3.1922	ordered 9.1915
Kempton		222	Ferguson, Glasgow	1915	3.6.1916	7/1916	sunk 24.6.1917	ordered 9.1915
Chelmsford	T21	299	Ailsa, Troon	1915	14.6.1916	8/1916	sold 11.1927	ordered 9.1915
Doncaster	T56	460	Ayrshire, Irvine	1915	15.6.1916	8.1916	sold 3.1922	ordered 9.1915
Newbury	T26	313	Inglis, Glasgow	1915	3.7.1916	9.1916	sold 3.1922	ordered 9.1915
Eglinton	T02	443	Ayrshire, Irvine	1915	9.9.1916	10.1916	sold 7.1922	ordered 9.1915
Haldon	T62	293	Dunlop Bremner, Glasgow	1915	29.3.1916	6/1916	sold 12.1921	ordered 10.1915
Cheltenham	T54	276	Ardrossan SB	1915	12.4.1916	7.1916	sold 10.1927	ordered 10.1915
Hurst	T66	294	Dunlop Bremner, Glasgow	1915	6.5.1916	7.1916	sold 3.1922	ordered 10.1915
Goodwood	T22		Dundee SB	1915	15.6.1916	10.1916	sold 7.1922	ordered 10.1915
Totnes	T53	466	McMillan, Dumbarton	1915	17.5.1916	7.1916	sold 3.1922	ordered 1.1916
Sandown	T68	295	Dunlop Bremner, Glasgow	1915	6.7.1916	9.1916	sold 3.1922	ordered 1.1916
Redcar		444	Ayrshire, Irvine	1915	31.7.1916	12/1916	sunk 24.6.1917	ordered 1.1916

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	810
Displacement full, t
Length, m	74.9
Breadth, m	17.7 max 8.84 oa
Draught, m	2.13
No of shafts	2 paddle wheels
Machinery	1 DCE, 2 cylindrical boilers
Power, h. p.	1500
Max speed, kts	14.5
Fuel, t	coal 156
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	2 x 1 - 57/40 6pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, mechanical minesweeping gear Eridge, Melton: 2 x 1 - 57/40 6pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, mechanical minesweeping gear, aircraft flying-off platform
Complement	50

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

As a result of the success of hired paddlers as minesweepers the Admiralty ordered a design based on Ailsa SB's Glen Usk. They were named after race courses. The design included provision for two seaplanes, to help spot minefields from the air, but only Eridge and Melton had derricks and platforms fitted, and seaplanes were never used. They were completed between April and December 1916.

Modernizations

none.

Naval service

Ascot was torpedoed by German submarine UB67 off the Faeroes 10 November 1918. Kempton was mined on 24 June 1917 while rescuing survivors of Redcar (also mined on the same day) off Dover. Ludlow was mined off the Shipwash Shoal 29 December 1916. Plumpton was beached on the Belgian coast 19 October 1918 after being mined; she was subsequently BU where she lay. Atherstone and Melton both returned to RN service in 1939-45, as AA ships Queen of Kent and Queen of Thanet. During the war the paddle 'sweepers' served with the Auxiliary Patrol, Fishery flag pendants superior to Admiralty Nos 881-904. Post-war they served in the Mine Clearance Service, bearing 'T' pendant numbers.

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