Category:Minelayer (UK)

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Large Minelayer Conversion

The British did not design any large minelayers from the keel up for the purpose, but modified existing vessels, mercantile and warship, to the purpose. Those selected had a high capacity and so not very many vessels were needed to sow and maintain large fields.

British Minelayers[1]
Ship # mines Speed
knots
Radius of Action
miles / knots
Trips per Month Station in Nov 1918
Princess Margaret 420 21 1500 at 21 4 Northern Barrage
Paris 80 21.5 490 at 21.5 6 South
Angora 300 16.5 1550 at 16.5 4 Northern Barrage
Wahine 160 19.5 580 at 19.5 4 South
Biarritz 125 22 1000 at 22 6 Mediterranean
Perdita "L" System
Old Colony 300 "Will possibly not be available at all"
Amphitrite 354 17 2243 at 17 Northern Barrage
Euryalus 336[2] 20.5 1700 at 18 fitting out in Hong Kong
London 240 15 2150 at 15 3 Northern Barrage
Kinfauns Castle 900/1000 fitting out
2 "special minelayers" 300 31 2000 at 20 contemplated
Anglesey and Sheppey fitting out at war's end

The last two vessels were being built by William Denny & Brothers at war's end, known by their builder's numbers, 1034 and 1035, respectively. They were cancelled on 6 December, 1918 but completed in 1920 for other use as Anglia and Hibernia.[3]

Footnotes

  1. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, Mining Appendix, 1917-18. pp. 11-13, Plate 7.
  2. Approximate. Not yet fitted.
  3. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 118.