HMS Algerine (MS-1941)
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From Wiki: By 1940 the Royal Navy had realized that the
Bangor-class minesweepers were too small to carry the equipment
needed to handle magnetic mines. A bigger ship was designed, ironically about
the same size as the older
Halcyon
class that the Royal Navy had rejected earlier as too large and expensive
for mass production. The size of the new ship made them suitable for use as
ocean-going escort ships and many were used in that role to fill a critical
shortage of escorts. In fact most of the ships built by Southern Africa were
solely employed as such and were fitted with more dedicated anti-submarine
weapons than the RN ships. To maximise production, alternate designs were made
to use either steam turbines or reciprocating steam engines.
The
Algerine class was armed with a QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V anti-aircraft gun
and four twin-gun mounts for Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The latter guns were in
short supply when the first ships were being completed and they often got a
proportion of single mounts. By 1944, single-barrel Bofors 40 mm mounts began
replacing the twin 20 mm mounts on a one for one basis. All of the ships were
fitted for four throwers and two rails for depth charges. Many ships omitted
their sweeping gear in exchange for a 24-barrel Hedgehog spigot mortar and a
stowage capacity for 90+ depth charges.
124 were built, 90 in the United Kingdom and 34 in Southern Africa.
After the war, a number continued in service as patrol boats,
survey ships,
and training ships.
Some were sold to other navies or into merchant service. At least one - HMS
Pickle
(commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Hallifax and, later, Lt. Cmdr, Collins) - was still
engaged in minesweeping duties in British waters as late as 1955. At least one
Algerine
is still in service with the Royal Thai Navy:
HTMS
Phosampton
(ex-HMS Minstrel).
| Displacement | 950 tons std, 1360 tons full load. |
| Length | 226 ft |
| Breadth | 35.5 ft |
| Draught | 12 ft |
| Machinery | 2 shaft, 2,000-2,400 shp, turbine or reciprocating |
| Speed | 16-17 knots |
| Range | 5000 miles at 10 knots |
| Armament | As Completed 1 x 4" (1x1) LA 4-8 x 20mm (4x1 or 2x1 2x2, or 4x2) replaced by 4 x 1 - 40mm from 1943 |
| Complement | 85-96 |
| Notes | First of class completed Jan/1941 |
Note the single 40mm have replaced the twin 20mm .