Royal Navy-9 Large Merchant Minelayers

[Andy H]

During WW2, the RN had 9 large merchant ships converted into mine layers.

These ships carried some 550mines each, and were responsible for laying the Northern Barrage

Can anyone give me some details of these 9 Minelayers

Andy H

Added April 6th 2008
General overview (with a couple of maps) of the mining campaign carried out in the main by these converted merchant ship minelayers, and the threat that remains to this day.

http://www.lhg.is/starfsemi/adgerdasvid ... eit/Mines/

[Jack Nisley]

From Conway's Alll The World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946.

"Name/Gross tons/Built/Speed/Fuel(t)/Guns/Mines/Fate:

Agamemnon/7593/1929/15.5/1191(diesel)/2-4in Mk V/530/Amenities ship 1944
Bungaree(RAN)/3155/1937/11/573(coal)/2-4in Mk IV, 1-12pdr/467/Returned 1946
Hampton/2839/1934/16.5/130(coal)/1-12pdr/270/Transport 1940
Kung Wo/4636/1921/15/?/?/?/Sunk 14.2.42
Menestheus/7493/1929/15.5/1191(diesl)/2-4in Mk V/410/Amenities ship 1944
Port Napeir/9600/1940/?/?/2-4in Mk V/550/Sunk 27.11.40
Port Quebec/5936/16/?(diesel)/548/Repair ship Deer Sound 1944
Princess Victoria/2197/1939/19/?(diesel)/1-12pdr/244/Sunk 19.540
Shepperton?2839/1935/16.5/130(coal)/2-12pdr/270/Constructive loss 5.5.41
Southern Prince/10,917/1929/17/1874(diesel)2-4in Mk V/562/Accomodation ship 1945
Teviotbank/5087/1938/15/490(coal)/1-12pdr/272/Returned 1944

Taken up 1939-1940 except for Bungaree (which from her gun records was not armed until 1942) and Kung Wo (acquire in the Far East in 1942. The armament of the latter is not certain, but thought to have been 1-4in BL Mk IX or QF Mk IV. The 4in QF Mk IVs in Bungaree were replaced by 2-4in Mk V's in February 1944. These guns were in single HA mountings in all, as were the 12pdrs. Light AA in the 4in-gunned ships comprised 2-2pdr pompoms and 4 to 8 20mm, except that Southern Prince had 14-20mm only. They were intended to operate under cover of the main fleet and most employed in such operations as laying the Northern Barrage. Port Napier was destroyed by fire, Princess Victoria mined, and Shepperton and Kung Wo lost from bombing."

Hope this what you need.

Jack Nisley

[Andy H]

Your an absolute star Jack.

If every our paths should cross, the first drinks on me

Thanks again

Andy H

[Andy H]

The 498 feet long 9,600 tons Port Napier was under construction in June 1940 for the well established Port Line when she was requisitioned and taken over by the Ministry of War transport.

Her original design was modified to convert her to a minelayer. The area where her holds were situated was completely decked over and narrow gauge railways for transporting mine trolleys were laid internally connecting all her holds. These railways ended at her stern where 4 minelaying doorways were cut.

When deploying her cargo of 550 mines the whole trolley and mine on top were just pushed out these doors. The trolley acted as an anchor and the mine was attached by a cable of the right length to ensure that the mine was set at the correct depth from the surface.

On the night of 27 November 1940, not long after her completion and incorporation into the 1st Minelaying Squadron HMS Port Napier was tied up at the pier at Kyle of Lochalsh. She had just been loaded with her full complement of mines and ammunition when a fire broke out. At first frantic efforts were made to extinguish the flames but without success. The fire spread uncontrollably.

It was feared that the fire might detonate her deadly cargo of mines. If that happened the resulting explosion would flatten Kyle of Lochalsh. Accordingly she was taken in tow and towed across Loch Alsh towards Skye. Whilst under tow the fires continued to intensify and accordingly she was cut loose.

Shortly afterwards there was a loud explosion and a flash that lit up the night sky momentarily and pieces of the bridge were blown the 300 yards or so to Skye itself. None of the mines however had exploded. Port Napier heeled over onto her starboard side and sank in shallow water of 20 metres. Her beam was greater than this depth of water and accordingly her uppermost port side showed at most states of the tide. In 1955/6 the Royal Navy cut away her uppermost plating and rigged a lifting system and retreived most - but not all - of the mines. A few still remain today.

http://www.shipwrecksofscotland.com/hms_port_napier.htm

[Andy H]

HMS A G A M E M N O N
Blue Funnel Line cargo-passenger ship of 7,593grt, built in 1929 by Workman Clark at Belfast for use between ports in UK and the Far East. She was requisitioned for use as an Auxiliary Minelayer on 30th December 1939 when she returned from the Far East. After conversion for this specialised use she joined the 1st Minelaying Squadron at Kyle of Lochalsh. Her first operation was to take part in the initial minelay of the Northern Barrage, which had been delayed due to lack of escorts and completion of adequate support facilities at this new base. Her entire service as a minelayer was associated with this large minefield which was intended to trap enemy submarines on passage to attack Atlantic convoys. When the Squadron was disbanded in October 1943 this ships was selected with her sister ship HMS MENESTHEUS also part of the Squadron for conversion to an Amenities Ship intended for support of the British Pacific Fleet. The work was carried out at Vancouver but owing to the end of hostilities against Japan never completed. She was never adopted by a civil community in UK following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during 1941-42, possibly due to the nature of her use, details of which were secret

The above and further information (including details of the other converted merchant ships movements/operations) can be found at:-

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono ... memnon.htm

Regards

Andy H