Offering a day-by-day account (80 years on) of the RN’s battle to defeat enemy mining in the Second World War. Mastodon back-up is @Sweepers3945@toot.community
Locks Heath, Hampshire, UK
Joined March 2018
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The Minesweepers’ Victory retweeted
BREAKING: During his speech today, Donald Trump recounted helping save Titanic victims: “I saved more people than anybody, many people, the best people. I said, ‘Turn left, Captain. Very simple. Very easy.’ He didn’t listen. I know icebergs. Nobody knows icebergs better than me.”
The Minesweepers’ Victory retweeted
Whoever made this needs a medal
So utterly sad but true
Football fans across the country getting mugged of by the clubs
Not so much Arsenal as we are all happy but things havent been this glorious for 20+ years
The Minesweepers’ Victory retweeted
Just got in from (unpaid) work to discover that Len Deighton has passed away.
If you read just one book on RAF Bomber Command, I recommend his 'Bomber'. It may be fictional but it covers the 'night war over Germany' better than any factual book I've read.
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cerv…
The Minesweepers’ Victory retweeted
He shaped how we see the Age of Fighting Sail—yet few know the heroic struggle behind Thomas Luny’s (1759–1837) art. Crippled but undaunted, he painted greatness. Click: bit.ly/4frzISs #NavalHistory #Napoleonic #MaritimeArt
The Minesweepers’ Victory retweeted
thanks for all the posts and bringing this poorly understood aspect of the Second World War to life.
The Minesweepers’ Victory retweeted
Saluting @Sweepers3945 for an incredible job done since 2019.
#OTD 1945 Japan’s surrender brought WW2 to an end. It has been my great honour & privilege to cover, since August 2019, the day-by-day efforts of the minesweepers and their crews in this conflict. Often overlooked, their efforts were vital to the Allies’ success. ENDEX. 5 Bells
#OTD 1945 Japan’s surrender brought WW2 to an end. It has been my great honour & privilege to cover, since August 2019, the day-by-day efforts of the minesweepers and their crews in this conflict. Often overlooked, their efforts were vital to the Allies’ success. ENDEX. 5 Bells
The Minesweepers’ Victory retweeted
The Merchant Navy Memorial at Tower Green has a depressing large number of memorial plates for the trawlers and sweepers.
Mine Destructor Ships - colliers witted with massive electro-magnetic coils - were our only means of countering magnetic mines in the first year of hostilities. 3 were lost before German mine advances rendered them obsolete.
A number of minesweeping Motor Launches were also lost in WW2. They became increasingly important to the sweeping effort, invariably conducting a shallow skim-sweep ahead of the deeper-draught Fleet Sweepers when entering mined waters.
The heaviest losses were incurred by trawlers requisitioned for sweeping duties. Out of ca 1000 requisitioned, over 200 were sunk: a 20% loss rate. Most losses were off Britain’s East & South Coasts where, in addition to the mine threat, they were vulnerable to air attack.
Also wooden hulled, and also manned by the RNPS, British Yard Minesweepers (BYMS) were designed & built in the USA. They were bargain-basement jacks-of-all-trades and the RN operated 150 of them. As with the MMS they were excellent for shallow water sweeping. 6 were lost.
Massive help for the Fleet sweepers arrived in the form of wooden-hulled Motor Minesweepers (MMS). Manned by the RNPS, almost 400 were built in small British & Canadian yards. They performed magnetic & acoustic sweeping in inshore waters, but lost 34 of their number.
The bulk of the RN’s sweepers in WW2 were auxiliaries, and these bore the heaviest losses. Paddle Steamers were formed into several flotillas when war commenced; their large deck space was ideal for sweep gear. 10 were lost & most finished the was as AA platforms.
The Minesweepers’ Victory retweeted
Bathurst class minesweeper HMAS Cowra (J 351): Laid down 12.08.42.
The Catherine class were built in America to an American design. Two flotillas were formed and 4 of the class were lost; nearly all from unconventional underwater attacks off the Normandy beaches. Their design influenced that of the RN’s post-war ‘Ton’ class.
The Algerine class were introduced later in the war; their design reflected lessons learned in the first years of the struggle. Outstandingly effective, they served in all theatres and HMS VESTAL of the 7th MSF was the last major warship lost (kamikaze) in WW2. 9 were lost in all
The ‘Bangor’ class entered service early in the war. Designed for coastal ops, they were used as Fleet sweepers despite limitations in size, speed & capability. 6 of the class were lost in the war; chiefly in the Med. Pic shows HMS ROMNEY: upon which my Father-in-Law served #RIP
