MINESWEEPERS LOST

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21243, 14 October 1940, Page 10

MINESWEEPERS LOST

FEWER THAN IN LAST WAR Although the men of our minesweepers now have to face more dangerous hazards than in 1914-18 with the constant threat of air attack, the losses so far are fewer than in comparable periods of the last war, according to the Manchester Guardian Weekly. We have lost 39 mine-sweepers up to date compared with 254 in the whole of the last war, in spite of the fact that they now deal with the magnetic as well as the moored mine and with air attacks. The great majority of these 39 were trawlers and drafters, and part of the total was lost during the evacuation of Dunkirk, when the ships were carrying troops. The number lost in

actual mine-sweeping is under 30. The fact that Germany occupied most of the Continental western coastline has obviously increased the enemy’s opportunities for mipelaying, and the mine-sweepers are preparing for a strenuous winter campaign, when the long winter nights will aid the Germans. By means of aeroplanes and submarines the enemy can now lay mines off our western coast.

It is known that the Germans have used some of their big troop-carry-ing ’planes for laying mines. One of these machines could carry mines and lay them in the Clyde. Since the middle of July the enemy has been redoubling his efforts, and mines have been laid off some of the remote smaller ports, as well as outside the big centres. But the mine-sweepers are invariably quick on the job, and there has been no case of any of the large ports being closed for more than twenty-four hours before channels have been cleared again.