MELVILLE minesweepers (1941-1942)

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CANADA

MINE WARFARE SHIPS

Ships

Name	No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Brockville, 1945- MacLeod, 1951- Brockville	J270, 1953- FSE180	Marine Industries, Sorel	12.1940	20.6.1941	9.1942	RCMP 1945-1951, sold 1961
Digby, 1945- Perry, 1953- Digby	J267, 1953- FSE181	Davie SB, Lauzon	3.1941	5.6.1942	7.1942	RCMP 1945-1953, sold 1958
Esquimalt	J272	Marine Industries, Sorel	12.1940	8.8.1941	10.1942	sunk 16.4.1945
Granby, 1945- Colonel White, 1953- Granby	J264, 1953- FSE182	Davie SB, Lauzon	12.1940	6.9.1941	5.1942	RCMP 1945-1953, sold 1966
Lachine, 1950- Starnes	J266	Davie SB, Lauzon	12.1940	14.6.1941	6.1942	rescue vessel 1945, to RCMP 1950, sold 1952
Melville, 1945- Cygnus	J263	Davie SB, Lauzon	12.1940	6.7.1941	12.1941	to RCMP 1945, BU 1961
Noranda, 1945- Irvine	J265	Davie SB, Lauzon	12.1940	13.6.1941	5.1942	to RCMP 1945, sold 1962
Transcona, 1945- French	J271	Marine Industries, Sorel	12.1940	26.4.1941	11.1942	to RCMP 1945, sold 1961
Trois Rivieres, 1945- MacBrien	J269	Marine Industries, Sorel	12.1940	30.6.1941	12.1942	to RCMP 1945, BU 1959
Truro, 1945- Herchmer	J268	Davie SB, Lauzon	3.1941	5.7.1942	8.1942	to RCMP 1945, sold 1960

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	590
Displacement full, t	690
Length, m	49.4
Breadth, m	8.53
Draught, m	2.84 deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 diesels
Power, h. p.	2000
Max speed, kts	16.5
Fuel, t	diesel oil 65
Endurance, nm(kts)	5900(10)
Armament	1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (40 in ASW role), mechanical minesweeping gear Melville: 1 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk IV,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

Standard scale images

VTE-engined minesweeper <i>Rhyl</i> 1943

VTE-engined minesweeper 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

1943 - 1944, all: + (1 - 3) x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1953, most ships: - 1 x 1 - 76/40; + 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL

Naval service