B
TON Class Technical Data
Dimensions: Length 152 ft x Beam 28 Ft X Draft 8 ft
Gross Displacement: 360 tons
Carrying capacity: 65 tons
Propulsion: Original ships: 2 x Mirrlees 12–cylinder Diesel engines = 2500 HP
Later ships and retro-fitted: 2 x Deltic diesels, 12 banks of 3 pistons = 3,000 HP
Max Speed: 15 knots. 8 knots towing with all sweeps streamed
Range: 2300 nautical miles at 13 knots on one engine for fuel economy
Navigation Radar: Decca Type 1006 – 35 miles range
Mine hunting Sonar: Plessey Type 193. Echo sounder to 300 feet depth.
Gun Armament:
Sweepers and Hunters: 40 mm Bofors 40/60 on fo’cstle
Sweepers: Twin 20mm Oerlikon cannon abaft funnel, 2 x 7.63 GP Machine Guns for bridge wings
Rifles, submachine guns and pistols for boarding and landing parties
Complement:
Sweeper | 4 Officers | 25 Ratings |
Hunter | 5 Officers | 33 Ratings |
Patrol Craft | 5 Officers | 25 Ratings |
Senior Officer of Squadron: Commander
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander or Senior Lieutenant
First Lieutenant (later XO): Lieutenant
Watchkeepers (Gunnery and Navigation Officers): Sub Lieutenants , One or two Midshipmen under training.
Senior Engineer: Chief Petty Officer Artificer, assisted by 2 POMEs
Chief Bosun’s Mate: Leading Seaman
12 ft slow motor boat. Replaced in Fishery Protection vessels and Minhunters by Gemini RHIB
Mine Sweeping Equipment:
Oropesa Wire sweeps, MM11 Magnetic sweep, Acoustic Hammer, Acoustic Displacer
N.B. Acoustic Oscillator and Acoustic Explosive Sweeps Discontinued in early 1960’s
Mine hunters replaced magnetic and acoustic sweeps with Single Patient Divers Recompression Chamber and magazine for Mine Disposal Weapon re-loads