NAVYPEDIA

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  Whitehaven  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Ardrossan	J131		Blyth	9/1940	22.7.1941	5/1942	sold 1.1948
Baluchistan (ex-Greenock) (RIM)	J182		Blyth	7.1941	11.5.1942	10.1942	to Pakistan 1948 (بلوچستان [Baluchistan])
Beaumaris	J07	433	Ailsa, Troon	12/1939	31.10.1940	8/1941	sold 1.1948
Bootle	J143	438	Ailsa, Troon	8/1940	23.10.1941	4/1942	sold 1.1948
Boston	J14	434	Ailsa, Troon	11/1939	30.12.1940	1/1942	sold 1.1948
Brixham	J105		Blyth	11/1940	21.10.1941	8/1942	sold 7.1948
Carnatic (ex-Newhaven) (RIM)	J199	451	Hamilton, Glasgow	3.1941	29.7.1942	10.1942	sold 1949
Clacton	J151	439	Ailsa, Troon	11/1940	19.12.1941	6/1942	sunk 31.12.1943
Cromarty	J09		Blyth	6/1940	24.2.1941	12/1941	sunk 23.10.1943
Dornoch	J173	440	Ailsa, Troon	1/1941	4.2.1942	7/1942	sold 1.1948
Dunbar	J53		Blyth	6/1940	5.6.1941	3.1942	sold 1.1948
Hythe (ex-Banff)	J194	437	Ailsa, Troon	7/1940	4.9.1941	3.1942	sunk 11.10.1943
Ilfracombe	J95	444	Hamilton, Glasgow	10/1939	29.1.1941	8.1941	sold 1.1948
Kathiawar (ex-Hartlepool) (RIM)	J155		Blyth	10.1941	14.7.1942	12.1942	to Pakistan 1948 (چتتگونگ [Chittagong])
Khyber (ex-Harwich) (RIM)	J190	449	Hamilton, Glasgow	12.1940	17.2.1942	8.1942	sold 1949
Kumaon (ex-Middlesborough) (RIM)	J164	450	Hamilton, Glasgow	12.1940	2.5.1942	11.1942	sold 1949
Llandudno	J67	445	Hamilton, Glasgow	10.1939	8.11.1941	3.1942	sold 1947
Lyme Regis (ex-Sunderland)	J193	582	A. Stephens, Linthouse	9.1941	19.3.1942	6/1942	BU 8.1948
Polruan	J97	431	Ailsa, Troon	11/1939	18.7.1940	5.1941	BU 6.1950
Poole	J147	581	A. Stephens, Linthouse	7/1940	25.6.1941	11.1941	sold 1.1948
Rohilkhand (ex-Padstow) (RIM)	J180	452	Hamilton, Glasgow	8.1941	29.10.1942	2.1943	sold 1961
Rothesay	J19	442	Hamilton, Glasgow	9/1939	18.3.1941	7.1941	sold 4.1950
Rye	J76	432	Ailsa, Troon	11/1939	19.8.1940	11.1941	sold 8.1948
Tenby	J34	443	Hamilton, Glasgow	9/1939	10.9.1941	12.1941	sold 1.1948
Whitehaven	J121		Philip, Dartmouth	7/1940	29.5.1941	11.1941	sold 8.1948
Worthing	J72		Philip, Dartmouth	11.1940	22.8.1941	3/1942	sold 7.1948

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	605
Displacement full, t	780
Length, m	53.0
Breadth, m	8.69
Draught, m	2.95 deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	2000
Max speed, kts	16.5
Fuel, t	oil 150
Endurance, nm(kts)	4000(10)
Armament	1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII or 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (40 in ASW role), mechanical minesweeping gear Cromarty, RIM ships: 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V, 1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII or 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (40 in ASW role), mechanical minesweeping gear
Electronic equipment	type 286PU radar (some), type 128 sonar
Complement	60 - 87

Standard scale images

Graphics

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

1943 - 1944, all 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.

Naval service

Were lost on mines: Cromarty 23.10.1943 off Sardinia; Clacton 31.12.1943 off Corsica. Hythe was sunk 11.10.1943 by German submarine U371 at coast of Algeria.

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