#OTD 1943 Minesweeping Trawlers HMT EARL KITCHENER & LORD GREY (part of 170th Minesweeping Group) depart Colombo, Sri Lanka for Madras (Chennai) then Calcutta (Kolkata), which is assessed vulnerable to enemy mining. They are fitted with LL (magnetic) and SA (acoustic) sweeps & will arrive at their destination on the 28th. The pic shows a typical minesweeping trawler, with the SA sweep in the ‘stowed’ position above the bows. #Sweepers80 #RN #WW2 #SWW #NavalHistory #Histodons

#OTD 1943 due to reports that new variant mines have been swept in the Straits, a specialist from HMS VERNON is sent to Gibraltar to investigate. Exploitation of recovered mines remains a key element of mine countermeasures, allowing minesweepers & minehunters to adjust settings & tactics …. #RN #WW2 #SWW #NavalHistory @histodons @globalmaritimehistory

#OTD 1943 Three German mines are swept in the Straits of Gibraltar. In Home Waters, aside from influence mines being swept off Yarmouth (5) & Dover (4), local sweepers have inadvertently swept British mines from a defensive field (HS 1) in the Bristol Channel during a skim-sweep to confirm the mines are ‘watching’ at the correct depth #WW2 #SWW #RN #Histodons #NavalHistory

I was surprised by how tiny this doodle is in real life.
In a July 1845 letter to John Barrow, Fitzjames drew himself capsized. He had taken his trousers off in order to fit inside the small Inuit canoe, and paddled about until over he went. Magical water creatures came to his rescue.
#FranklinExpedition #NavalHistory

#OTD 1943 Naval authorities at Trinidad - the vessels’ latest staging post - are organising the onward passage of Motor Minesweepers 102, 103, 105, 106 & 107 - built in Nova Scotia boatyards - to Recife & then Freetown (W.Africa). All but MMS 107 will serve in the 120th MSF in the Med. Pic shows a vessel of the type, with the SA Acoustic sweep visible stowed over the bows #WW2 #SWW #RN #NavalHistory @histodons @globalmaritimehistory

On this day in 1943 fast minelayer HMS WELSHMAN (pic) is torpedoed & sunk in the Med with the loss of 152 crew. Due to the impact on future minelaying ops, Admiral (Andrew) Cunningham - commanding in the W. Med - requests Admiralty advice on the availability of minelaying destroyers as replacements. #WW2 #SWW #RN #NavalHistory #Histodons

#OTD 1943 duties off Dover now completed, the 9th MSF Bangors are now performing a similar sweeping task off Portsmouth, clearing a channel to allow destroyers & coastal forces to safely transit our minefields to intercept a high value cargo vessel expected soon off the coast of N. France. Op VALUABLE #Sweepers80 #WW2 #SWW #RN #NavalHistory #Histodons

#OTD 1943 Minesweeping trawler HMT CYPRESS is mined off Shoreham; she is beached to avoid sinking. Further North, a frustrated Senior Officer 16thMSF (HMS SHIPPIGAN) (pic © IWM A 19830) asks for more details of the sweeping task his flotilla have been given off Iona following the mining of SS OSTENDE #Sweepers80 #RN #SWW #WW2 #NavalHistory #Histodons

#OTD 1943 Belgian coaster OSTENDE reports being mined in the Sound of Iona. Pic shows her in an earlier incarnation. She is beached in an attempt to save her. ‘Bangors’ QUALICUM & SHIPPIGAN of the newly formed 16th MSF are sailed from Londonderry to start sweeping, supported by M/S Trawlers from Ardrossan #Sweepers80 #WW2 #SWW #NavalHistory @histodons @globalmaritimehistory

#OTD 1943 Minesweeping trawlers HMT SARPEDON, PLAYMATES & WILLING BOYS are bombed & machine-gunned by enemy aircraft whilst sweeping off Dungeness. No damage, no casualties, and all 3 trawlers will survive the war. #Sweepers80 #WW2 #SWW #NavalHistory #histodons

#OTD 1943 last night Fleet Air Arm Albacores & 4 Beauforts laid mines off Tunis to interdict Axis reinforcement of Tunisia. Fast minelayer HMS WELSHMAN (pic) is en route to lay mines on the Skerki Bank (Sicilian Channel) for the same purpose, whilst German E-Boats are preparing to lay mines off Bone (modern Annaba) to interrupt the Allies’ operations. #Sweepers80 #WW2 #SWW #NavalHistory

#OTD 1943 Two coal-burning ‘Smokey Joes’ of the 4th Minesweeping Flotilla are sailed from Swansea to Plymouth to commence sweeping ops in the Channel. The class were built during the latter stages of #WW1, entering service shortly after its conclusion. At #WW2 ‘s onset, many were in the Reserve Fleet. #Sweepers80 (Pic source © IWM FL 7290) #NavalHistory #Histodons

#OTD 1943 ‘Halcyons’ HMS HARRIER & SEAGULL have joined convoy JW51B as local escort for the final leg into Murmansk. The port is vulnerable to air attack (& mining) but ice conditions in the White Sea render Arkhangelsk inaccessible #Sweepers80 #SWW #WW2 #NavalHistory #Histodons @globalmaritimehistory @histodons

My thoughts on Matthew Betts' 'HMS Terror' book, which contains some questionable statements regarding Fitzjames and Admiralty orders:
https://jamesfitzjames.com/matthew-betts-hms-terror-2022/

#franklinexpedition #hmsterror #jamesfitzjames #navalhistory #AgeOfSteam #MaritimeHistory @histodons

My thoughts on Matthew Betts' 'HMS Terror' book, which contains some questionable statements regarding Fitzjames and Admiralty orders:
https://jamesfitzjames.com/matthew-betts-hms-terror-2022/

#franklinexpedition #hmsterror #jamesfitzjames #navalhistory #AgeOfSteam #MaritimeHistory

My thoughts on Matthew Betts' 'HMS Terror' book, which contains some questionable statements regarding Fitzjames and Admiralty orders:
https://jamesfitzjames.com/matthew-betts-hms-terror-2022/

#franklinexpedition #hmsterror #jamesfitzjames #navalhistory #AgeOfSteam @histodons

My thoughts on Matthew Betts' 'HMS Terror' book, which contains some questionable statements regarding Fitzjames and Admiralty orders:
https://jamesfitzjames.com/matthew-betts-hms-terror-2022/

#franklinexpedition #hmsterror #jamesfitzjames #navalhistory #histodons #AgeOfSteam

#OTD 1942 weather prevents today’s sweeping ops by 9th MSF off Dover. During yesterday’s efforts to clear ingress/egress routes for destroyers/coastal forces transiting our defensive fields, a number of drifting German mines had also been encountered & destroyed. Most often this would be achieved by puncturing the mine casings with rifle fire, although occasionally a horn would be struck; causing a massive explosion. #Sweepers80 #WW2 #SWW #NavalHistory #Histodons

#OTD 1942 USS WASMUTH - a former Clemson-class destroyer configured as a fast sweeper - is badly damaged off the Aleutians when a storm dislodges 2 of her depth charges, which explode & damage the stern of the ship. All on board are rescued by USS RAMAPO. WASMUTH sinks 2 days later. #USN #SWW #WW2 #NavalHistory #Histodons

#OTD 1942 small Regia Marina minesweeper RD 30 is reported sunk by Allied bombing of Bizerta Harbour. Pic shows a sister-ship. #SWW #WW2 #NavalHistory #Histodons @histodons @globalmaritimehistory