SWEEPING MINES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 211, 5 August 1940, Page 4

SWEEPING MINES

. LITTLE SHIPS AT WORK. DANGEROUS TASK AT SEA. Through waters where there is nothing to show that nations are at war, little grey New Zealand ships are daily searching for enemy mines. In a very real sense since the .Niagara was lost they are charged with the grave responsibility of 'keeping tho Dominion s seas clear ior trade, transport and warship trafiic. They form the mine-sweeper flotilla of tho New Zealand Division of the Roval Navy, their captain is a Royal Naval Reserve officer, other officers and many of their ships’ companies are’ members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and some of the ships still have an atmosphere of fish about them, having until recently been trawlers. In spite of the very real difficulties it lias had to face, the minesweeper flotilla is completely up-to-date in its' knowledge of what has happened, and has thoroughly met the situation. Additions to the flotilla in the near future will give it an even wider efficiency, A search with one of the minesweepers shows not only how exacting is the lile of the officers and men, but also how cheerfully they bear it. They have to sweep the whole domain of the New Zealand coast as criss-crossed and approached by shipping routes. They go out in ali weathers, hope to find brief sanctuary at night in a lonely but snug bay, and go out again in the morning oil their monotonous but really dangerous task. They seek no publicity, but deserve much. Talk of the mines they have found is short. “They are dirty, filthy things,” is how officer and man would describe one. or “They are as evil as a shark.” When the sweep-wire chafes through the moorings of one, or when it is clipped more quickly by other means, the French float marking the end of the wire will bob madly, fall astern with the drag of the mine, and tlie.ii surge freely ahead. DESTRUCTION METHODS.' The mine, released from its weighted mooring, comes blackiy to the surface and. js there destroyed by lire from Lewis gun, rifle or lin gun, manned by ratings in their “battle bowlers,” or steel Pelmets. The mine shell is pierced by the bulfets,- the buoyancy space fills and the danger slides to the bottom. None so far lias been exploded, but more has been learned from them than would be thought possible. The flotilla leaves harbour in line ahead, with the captain of the flotilla’s flagship leading the way and the others at regular intervals astern of him. Sea and wind are calm, lor once, and together the little fleet oi email ships move out to the area which lias to be searched or, if known to be mined, cleared.

If they are to search, the ships are brought by the flagship into line abreast; if to clear, they swing into a staggered or overlapping formation, the front ship bearing all the risk and the others lined diagonally behind her, so that the bow of each is astern of. hut inside her next ahead’s float. Flags run up continually to the flotilla leader’s masthead. On her bridge the captain may say: “y\ illiam Monkey Apples,” and the others will port their helm GO degrees west. “Uncle. Robert” will cause them to veer their sweeps Each word names the flag, to be used, preventing any margin for error by the yeoman of sgnals, who runs the flags up or flashes the order by lamp to the other ships. IN THE MINEFIELD. Working as if they were still in their drill headquarters ashore, the R.N.V.R. ratings, leavened with long service men, spring to their task of getting Iho sweeping gear out. The French float, rather like a porpoise, runs out to a given distance, perhaps 250 cables, its position being marked by the red and white flag on it and by the broken water of its passage. The rest of the sweeping gear is streamed out with it, and the search I is on.

With tlieir wires out, the little ships shoulder through the seas until the look-out shouts that a mine lias been found or until it is certain that no

mines are there. Signals correcting course or changing formation continue to be made, showing cleariy how vitally tho success of the flotilla’s task depends upon the efficiency of their sig nalmen. FEEDING HUNGRY SAILORS At tlie same time, the normal lne of the ship goes on. Meals are prepared for the ever-liungry men. How hungry they are is shown by a recent event in their lives. A fishing smack came alongside and gave them a basket of fresh schnapper. The crew had a fish dinner and at 9.30 p.m. the goodnatured cook was giving them a fish supper. They had fish for breakfast, too. _ They are essentially cheerful. The R.N.V.R. ratings have taken to the life like ducks to water. All kinds ol cold and stormy weather have not lessened their keenness to protect shipping on the coast. They go out in rain and shine, they live close together, they face the constant furtive peril of explosives under the sea, and they come back home maybe a week later, slipping tranquilly up to welcome harbourage, and they see nothing but the bright lights ashore and the seeming deep peace ol city and coastal town.