THE DANGEROUS TASK OF MINES WEEPING

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 30, 3 August 1940, Page 18

THE DANGEROUS TASK OF MINES WEEPING

THE . search for . mines is on. Daily, in all weathers, the tiny vessels of the tireless mosquito ; fleet sweep the seas and channels cthat lead to New Zealand's harbours. It is often monotonous, often dangerous, usually uncomfortable. But it.;-is done cheerfully by a brave little band of men—-most of them New Zealanders, with New Zealand officers.

When; war broke out the Dominion had \ the, nucleus of a mine-sweeping fleet. Stout fishing trawlers were requisitioned and converted and more are feieing, added. Their ships' companies were for the most part members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve,, .with, a leavening of seasoned sailors. Now," after a few months' training, they ■are highly efficient, handling their craft - arid gear like veterans. .

For these men there is little time ashore. Theirs is an all-time, all-weather job. A flat calm is the exception. But the highly technical task of sweeping must be carried out with the same pre-

r cision ■ when the sea stands on edge as when the gear cuts placidly through unruffled surfaces. It might be thought that naval men, crossing and crisscrossing the ■ sea lanes daily, would become so familiar with topography that they could carry out their job with their eyes shut. One needs only to see them in action to realise the deadly accuracy that is required.

In principle, mine-sweeping is simple. Its success depends on the gear used and the manner in which the work is carried out.

A mine is a nasty piece of work. It looks what, it is—a diabolical bit of mechanism. The crew of the minesweepers deal summarily with these black, horned monsters. From a safe distance rifles, Lewis guns, and a special lin cannon are brought into action and, pierced by bullets, the danger is sent to the bottom. So far none of those, located in New Zealand waters has been exploded.

Several formations are followed in sweeping operations. In searching a suspected stretch of water the ships travel in line abreast, each sweeping a path 400 yards wide. If a mine is

found there is an immediate change in formation. The ships are "staggered." so that their sweeps overlap, and then there is a relentless sweep made of the area until it is entirely cleared. Back to search formation^ and so it goes on unceasingly.

Signals are of major importance mi these operations. All movements must be carried out simultaneously with the greatest precision. The relative positions of the various units must not vary. The lines cut through the sea must be absolutely parallel, otherwise some areas might be missed or the sanie ground gone over unnecessarily. Lamps, semaphores, and flag signalling are used, and the yeoman must know his job.

At sea for long stretches, sweeping in all but the fiercest storms, when the gear would be .damaged, sheltering by night under the lee, of some lonely island, the young crews are a cheerful lot. Theirs is a task that,has received little publicity and little recognition. Until the ill-fated Niagara sank near Auckland . few peope krieV. of. the existence of the mine-sweepers or their personnel. Yet their task is of the first importance, and is carried out with skill and daring.