Fish-class trawler

Summary

The Fish class of Admiralty trawlers was a small class of naval trawlers built for the British Royal Navy during the Second World War.

HMS Grayling
Class overview
NameFish class
BuildersCochrane & Sons, Selby
Operators Royal Navy
SubclassesCorncrake type minelayer
Built1940–1943
In commission1942–1945
Completed10
Lost2
General characteristics [1]
TypeNaval trawler
Displacement590 long tons (599 t)
Length161.6 ft (49.3 m)
Beam25.2 ft (7.7 m)
Draught13.3 ft (4.1 m)
PropulsionReciprocating engine, 1 shaft
Speed11.25 knots (20.84 km/h; 12.95 mph)
Complement35
Armament

The vessels were intended for use as minesweepers and for anti-submarine warfare, and the design was based on a commercial type, the 1929 Gulfoss by Cochrane & Sons, of Selby.[2] The purpose of the order was to make use of specialist mercantile shipyards to provide vessels for war use by adapting commercial designs to Admiralty specifications.

In 1940 the Royal Navy ordered ten such vessels from Cochrane. All saw active service, and two were lost in incidents.

Corncrake-type minelayer edit

Two vessels, Mackerel and Turbot, were converted for use as controlled minelayers while still under construction. Upon completion they were renamed Corncrake and Redshank, respectively.[1][3]

Ships edit

Name Hull number Built Fate Notes
Bonito T231 15 February 1942
Bream T306 30 March 1943
Corncrake (ex Mackerel) M82 7 December 1942 Foundered due to weather 25 January 1943 in the North Atlantic Corncrake-type minelayer[3]
Grayling T243 4 July 1942
HMS Grilse T368 29 June 1943
Herring T307 10 April 1943 Lost 22 April 1943 in North Sea collision Corncrake-type minelayer[3]
Mullet T311 14 November 1942
Pollock T347 20 July 1943
Redshank (ex Turbot) M31 10 January 1943
Whiting T232 9 March 1942

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Conway p67
  2. ^ Elliott p286
  3. ^ a b c Cocker p24

References edit

  • Cocker, M.P. (1993). Mine Warfare Vessels of the Royal Navy: 1908 to Date. Shrewsbury, England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-328-4.
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Elliott, Peter (1977). Allied Escort Ships of World War II: A complete survey. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-356-08401-9.

External links edit

  • Fish class trawlers at uboat.net