SWEEPING THE SEAS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 115, 11 November 1935, Page 5

SWEEPING THE SEAS

WAKAKURA IN ACTION

As part of the normal instruction given them- during the year, ten officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve took part on Saturday afternoon in a demonstration of minesweeping by H.M.S. Wakakura. The sweeping operations are usually held in Cook Strait, but on this occasion an area west of Somes Island was swept. The ship was in command of Commissioned-Gunner A. Garden, and the Reservjsts were instructed by SubLieutenant Malitte.

The method of sweeping is interesting to the mechanically minded. On this occasion the Wakakura employed the double or oropesa sweep. Two French floats mark the field of sweeping operations, one on each side of the vessel, and to these is attached a clout wire, which in turn is attached to an "otter board," so designed that it keeps the sweep wire at right-angles to the snip. The sweep wire is held by a snatch block fixed to a multiplane kite in a position as nearly behind the stern as possible, and at the same time fairly deep in the water, to ensure that all the minefield is thoroughly swept. The serrated sweep wire thus cuts through the moorings ot Ihe mines, which then float to the surface and are exploded by rifle fire Judging by the interest taken by the reservists in the operations, all the volunteers are exceptionally keen. • It would seem that citizens of Wellington need have no fear to travel on the 'sea—at least as far as' Somes Island.