These ships had twin screws and had forced-draught coal burning boilers; that is they burned pulverised coal in an artificially augmented airstream. One consequence of this was that they produced a lot of smoke, so much so that they were more usually referred to as Smokey Joes. Another was that if they were fed anything other than the Welsh Steam Coal they were designed for then the fuel consumption was enormous—one ship was bunkered with soft brown Natal coal and burnt 20 tons in a single day.
They had a shallow draught (81NaN1). Armament was one QF 4inches gun forward and a QF 12 pounder aft, plus two twin 0.303 inch machine guns. Their counter-mine equipment consisted of Oropesa floats to cut the cables of moored mines.
Six ships were completed as survey vessels, and the majority of the Aberdare group arrived too late to see service during the First World War. Thirty-five were cancelled after the armistice. Interwar, eight were sold out of service, one was sold to Siam, one was converted to an RNVR drillship and 52 were scrapped. The majority of the remainder spent the period from 1919 to 1939 in reserve around the world, with Malta and Singapore having most of them, so that on the outbreak of World War II there were still 27 available for service, to which a further two were added by requisition from mercantile service.
The 5th Minesweeping Flotilla, comprising Pangourne, Ross, Lydd, Kellet and Albury as well as the newer Halcyon-class Gossamer and Leda sailed from North Shields for Harwich late on 26 May 1940, reaching Harwich nearly 24 hours later. After coaling, the flotilla sailed for Dunkirk in the afternoon of 28 May, and was off the beach by about 21:30 hours the same day. At least two ships from the Flotilla (Ross and Lydd) were detailed to collect troops from the harbour mole. Ross alone took on board 353 men and one dog on this first night. The ships of the flotilla made a further three trips to Dunkirk in the following days, working at battle-stations virtually round the clock and returning to Margate for the last time from Dunkirk on Saturday, 1 June 1940. Sutton was also present at Dunkirk.
Five ships were lost during the war, and a further vessel, Widnes was beached in Suda Bay, Crete in May 1941 after being bombed by German aircraft. The Germans recovered and repaired the hull, pressing her into service as 12.V4. In October 1943, now known as Uj.2109, she was sunk by the destroyers, and the .
The first group of twenty ships were ordered in 1916 and were part of the Belvoir group. One hundred and twenty-nine further ships were ordered to this Admiralty design between 1916 and November 1918 as the Aberdare group. Six of this group were completed as survey ships, while thirty-four of them were cancelled at the end of World War I. Among the cancelled ships, Battle and Bloxham had already been launched. Two more were projected to be ordered from Fleming & Ferguson, but these two were never actually ordered.
Many ships were originally assigned different names which were changed while building to avoid use of coastal locations as ship names.
Name | Pennant | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Disposed | Status | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belvoir group (20 ships ordered in 1916) | |||||||||
Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Ardrossan Dry Dock, Ardrossan | Sunk by a mine off Montrose, Angus | ||||||||
Clyde Shipbuilding Company, Port Glasgow | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Bow, McLachlan and Company, Paisley | |||||||||
Bow, McLachlan and Company, Paisley | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Clyde Shipbuilding Company, Port Glasgow | |||||||||
Dunlop Bremner & Company, Port Glasgow | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Dunlop Bremner & Company, Port Glasgow | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley | |||||||||
D. & W. Henderson and Company, Glasgow | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
D. & W. Henderson and Company, Glasgow | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Napier and Miller, Old Kilpatrick | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Napier and Miller, Old Kilpatrick | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Became a diving tender in August 1923; Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Murdoch and Murray, Port Glasgow | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Aberdare group (129 ships ordered between 1916 and 1918) | |||||||||
Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon | Sold for mercantile use | [1] | |||||||
J23 / N23 | Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon | Beached after bombing; broken up | |||||||
J41 | Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon | Sold for mercantile use | [2] | ||||||
J06 / N06 | Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon | Sold for scrap | |||||||
Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon | Sold for civilian use as Kamlawti | ||||||||
Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding, Ardrossan | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
J57 / N57 | Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding, Ardrossan | Converted to depot ship Medway II; sold 1947 | |||||||
Ayrshire Shipbuilding Company, Irvine | Sold | ||||||||
Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding, Ardrossan | Sold for mercantile use as Lady Cynthia | ||||||||
Dundee Shipbuilding Company, Dundee | Not taken up | Sold incomplete | |||||||
(ex-Burnham) | Bow, McLachlan and Company, Paisley | Sold | |||||||
(ex-Brixham) | Ayrshire Shipbuilding Company, Irvine | Not taken up | Sold incomplete | ||||||
(ex-Buckie) | Bow, McLachlan and Company, Paisley | Sold for scrap | |||||||
Ayrshire Shipbuilding Company, Irvine | Sold for use as Champavati | ||||||||
(ex-Blakeney) | Ayrshire Shipbuilding Company, Irvine | Sold | |||||||
Joseph R. Eltringham, South Shields | Sold | ||||||||
Bow, McLachlan and Company, Paisley | Sold | ||||||||
Bow, McLachlan and Company, Paisley | Sold | ||||||||
(ex-Cawsand, Dryad) | Bow, McLachlan and Company, Paisley | Sold | |||||||
Bow, McLachlan and Company, Paisley | Sold | ||||||||
Joseph R. Eltringham, South Shields | Sold | ||||||||
(ex-Stranraer) | William Simons and Company | Sold | |||||||
Clyde Shipbuilding | Sold | ||||||||
(ex-Rosslare) | A. McMillan & Son, Dumbarton | Sunk by mine | [3] | ||||||
(ex-Dawlish) | J90 / N90 | Clyde Shipbuilding | Sold for scrap | ||||||
Broken up | |||||||||
J60 | Clyde Shipbuilding | Foundered under tow after mined | |||||||
J52 | Clyde Shipbuilding | Sunk by mine | |||||||
J39 | William Simons & Company, Renfrew | Sold for scrap | |||||||
Clyde Shipbuilding | Sold for civilian use in Brazil | ||||||||
J89 / N89 | Dunlop Bremner & Company, Port Glasgow | Sold for scrap | |||||||
J40 / N40 | Dundee Shipbuilding Company | Damaged beyond repair by air attack; broken up | |||||||
Dunlop Bremner & Company, Port Glasgow | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
(ex-Fleetwood) | Dunlop Bremner & Company, Port Glasgow | Sold and renamed Forde | |||||||
Dundee Shipbuilding | Sold | ||||||||
(ex-Fowey) | Clyde Shipbuilding | Sold | |||||||
Sold | |||||||||
(ex-Gorleston) | Joseph R. Eltringham, South Shields | Sold | |||||||
(ex-Bridlington) | Ayrshire Shipbuilding Company, Irvine | Broken up | |||||||
Joseph R. Eltringham, South Shields | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Joseph R. Eltringham, South Shields | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Joseph R. Eltringham, South Shields | Sold to Royal Thai Navy as Chao Phraya | ||||||||
(ex-Helmsdale) | Joseph R. Eltringham, South Shields | Sunk by German aircraft off Mersa Matruh | |||||||
(ex-Ilfracombe) | Joseph R. Eltringham, South Shields | Inter-war | |||||||
Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan | Inter-war | ||||||||
Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan | Inter-war | ||||||||
Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan | Sunk by mine | [4] | |||||||
(ex-Aldborough) | Ardrossan Dry Dock, Ardrossan | Sold for scrap | |||||||
(ex-Minehead) | John Harkness and Sons, Middlesbrough | Inter-war | |||||||
(ex-Lydney) | Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan | Sold for scrap | |||||||
Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley | Inter-war | ||||||||
Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley | Inter-war | ||||||||
Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley | Sold in Hong Kong | ||||||||
Harkness | Inter-war | ||||||||
(ex-Maryport) | Harkness | Inter-war | |||||||
(ex-Mullion) | Harkness | Inter-war | |||||||
(ex-Macduff) | Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley | Inter-war | |||||||
A and J Inglis, Pointhouse | Inter-war | ||||||||
(ex-Newlyn) | Inglis | Inter-war | |||||||
Joseph R. Eltringham, South Shields | Inter-war | ||||||||
(ex-Padstow) | Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew | Sold for scrap | |||||||
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew | Lost | ||||||||
(ex-Portmadoc) | T8 / T21 | Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew | Wrecked | ||||||
(ex-Polperro) | Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew | Inter-war | |||||||
(ex-Porlock) | Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew | Inter-war | |||||||
(ex-Wicklow) | Inglis | Inter-war | |||||||
(ex-Ramsey) | J45 | Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew | Sold for scrap | ||||||
(ex-Filey) | Dunlop Bremner & Company, Port Glasgow | Sold | |||||||
(ex-Shoreham) | Murdoch and Murray, Port Glasgow | ||||||||
Murdoch and Murray, Port Glasgow | Sold for scrap | ||||||||
Murdoch and Murray, Port Glasgow | Sold for scrap and wrecked | ||||||||
J18 | Murdoch and Murray, Port Glasgow | Sold for scrap | |||||||
(ex-Tarbert) | William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Inter-war | |||||||
Napier and Miller | Inter-war | ||||||||
Napier and Miller | Inter-war | ||||||||
(ex-Staithes) | Charles Rennoldson, South Shields | Inter-war | |||||||
(ex-Southwold) | Charles Rennoldson, South Shields | Sunk by German aircraft off Tobruk | |||||||
(ex-Salcombe) | Archibald McMillan and Son, Dumbarton | Sold | |||||||
Ardrossan Dry Dock, Ardrossan | Sold for civilian use as Lady Cecille | ||||||||
William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Inter-war | ||||||||
William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Sold | ||||||||
William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Sold | ||||||||
(ex-Teignmouth) | William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Inter-war | |||||||
William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Sold | ||||||||
(ex-Walmer) | William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Sold for civilian use as Deshalpur | |||||||
Wexford | William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Sold for mercatile use as Doomba | |||||||
Inglis | Inter-war | ||||||||
(ex-Withernsea) | Napier and Miller | Bombed by German aircraft in Suda Bay, beached, captured as Uj.2109 | |||||||
Napier and Miller | Inter-war | ||||||||
Aberdare group completed as survey ships | |||||||||
(ex-Ambleside) | Inter-war | ||||||||
(ex-Amersham) | Ailsa Shipbuilding Company | Inter-war | |||||||
(ex-Verwood, ex-Ventnor) | William Simons and Company, Renfrew | Transferred to South Africa as HMSAS Protea | |||||||
(ex-Pinner, ex-Portreath) | Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew | Sunk by mine off Great Yarmouth | |||||||
(ex-Radley) | Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew | Converted to accommodation ship 1940; Sold for scrap | |||||||
(ex-Uppingham) | Sold for scrap |
Several examples passed on from Royal Navy service for use by other civil and military operators.
Name | Previous name | Operator | In service | Disposed | Status | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Champavati | ex- | ||||||
Chao Phraya | ex- | Royal Thai Navy | |||||
Deshalpur | ex- | The Cutch SN Company | Scrapped | ||||
ex-Wexford | Royal Australian Navy | Converted to an oil lighter; scuttled | |||||
Doomba | ex-Wexford | Doomba Shipping Company | Requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy | ||||
Forde | ex- | Townsend Brothers | Scrapped | ||||
Kamlawti | ex- | Civilian | |||||
Lady Cecile | ex- | Union Steamship Company, British Columbia | Scrapped | ||||
Lady Cynthia | ex- | Merchant | |||||
Lieutenant Captain Remigio Verdia | ex-Queen of the Bay | Spanish Republican Navy | Grounded, captured by Spanish Nationalist forces as | ||||
Medway II | ex- | Depot ship | Sold | ||||
ex-Crozier | Royal Navy | Sold for merchant service as Queen of the Bay | |||||
ex-Crozier | South African Naval Service | Returned to Royal Navy as HMS Protea | |||||
ex-Protea | Blackpool Steam Navigation Company | Sold to Spanish Republican Navy as Lieutenant Captain Remigio Verdia | |||||
Uj.2109 | ex- | Kriegsmarine | Sunk by destroyers | ||||
Virgen de la Caridad | ex-Lieutenant Captain Remigio Verdia | Spanish Nationalist forces |