Bangor-class minesweeper


The Bangor-class minesweepers were a class of warships operated by the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Imperial Japanese Navy, and Royal Indian Navy during the Second World War.
The class derives its name from the lead ship,, which was launched on 19 February 1940 and commissioned on 7 November of that year. Royal Navy ships were named after coastal towns of the United Kingdom.
Their lack of size gave vessels of the class poor sea handling abilities, reportedly worse even than the s. The diesel-engined versions were considered to have poorer handling characteristics than the slow-speed reciprocating-engined variants. Their shallow draught made them unstable and their short hulls tended to bury the bow when operating in a head sea.
The Bangor-class vessels were also considered overcrowded, cramming six officers and over 90 ratings into a vessel originally intended for a total of 40.

Design and development

The original intent of the Bangor-class minesweeper design was to provide a coastal equivalent of the ; however the realities brought to light by the start of the war caused a modification of the design before construction had started.
The need for quick construction coupled with the limitations of engineering resources resulted in several variations existing based on the availability of propulsion machinery. The ships all had twin screws, but the machinery was a mix of steam turbine, slow-speed steam reciprocating, high-speed steam reciprocating and diesel. The diesel powered examples were about shorter than the rest as they had no need for boiler rooms. Displacement varied with propulsion machinery from 590 to 672 tons. The reciprocating engine powered Bangors were also known as the Blyth class and the steam turbine powered versions as the Ardrossan class.
The class was considered cramped for the purposes it was built for, with not enough room provided for the acoustic and magnetic minesweeping gear carried.

Ships in class

Diesel-engined

ShipOriginal pennant numberBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedPaid offFate
J270Marine Industries Limited, Sorel9 December 194020 June 194119 September 194228 August 1945Transferred to the RCMP as the patrol vessel MacLeod in 1945. Transferred back to the RCN in 1951 and decommissioned in 1958. Sold to J.A.L. Steamships, Wallaceburg in 1961 and scrapped.
J267Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon20 March 19415 June 194226 July 194231 July 1945Transferred to the RCMP as the patrol vessel Perry in 1945. Transferred back to the RCN in 1953 and decommissioned in 1958.
J272Marine Industries Limited; Sorel, Quebec20 December 19408 August 194126 October 194216 April 1945Torpedoed and sunk on 16 April 1945 by off Chebucto Head at. 44 crew lost, 26 survived.
J264Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon17 December 19406 September 19412 May 194231 July 1945Recommissioned by the RCN in 1953 and decommissioned in 1966
J266Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon27 December 194014 June 194120 June 194231 July 1945Rebuilt as a rescue ship in 1945, transferred to the RCMP as the patrol vessel Starnes in 1950. Sold as the mercantile vessel Jack's Bay in 1952.
J263Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon17 December 19406 July 19414 December 194118 August 1945Transferred to the RCMP as the patrol vessel Cygnus in 1945. Scrapped in 1961.
J265Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon27 December 194013 June 194115 May 194228 August 1945Transferred to the RCMP as the patrol vessel Irvine in 1945. Sold in 1962 and became the yacht Miranda. Foundered in Montego Bay in 1972 and was scrapped.
J310Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon29 October 194114 Feb 194229 August 19421 April 1946Sold in 1947
J271Marine Industries Limited; Sorel, Quebec18 December 194026 April 194125 November 194231 July 1945Transferred to the RCMP as the patrol vessel French in 1945. Scrapped in 1961.
J269Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon9 December 194030 June 19418 December 194231 July 1945Transferred to the RCMP as the patrol vessel MacBrien in 1945. Scrapped in 1959.
J268Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon20 March 19415 June 194227 August 194231 July 1945Transferred to the RCMP as the patrol vessel Herchmer in 1945. Sold as the mercantile vessel Gulf Mariner; scrapped in 1964.

Turbine-engined

ShipOriginal pennant numberBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedPaid offFate
J182Blyth Shipbuilding, Blyth28 July 194111 May 194228 October 1942Formerly, She was transferred to the RIN before completion. She was sold to Pakistan in 1947. Scrapped on 22 Jan 1959.
J199William Hamilton and Company, Port Glasgow28 March 194129 July 194227 October 1942Formerly, She was transferred to the RIN before completion. Scrapped in 1949.
J155Blyth Shipbuilding, Blyth, Northumberland28 October 194114 July 194223 December 1942Formerly, she was transferred to RIN before completion. She was sold to Pakistan in 1947 as Chittagong. Scrapped in 1956.
J190William Hamilton and Company, Port Glasgow10 December 194017 February 194212 August 1942Formerly, she was transferred to the RIN before completion. Scrapped in 1949.
J164William Hamilton and Company, Port Glasgow12 December 19402 May 194230 November 1942Formerly, she was transferred to the RIN before completion. Scrapped in 1949.
J180William Hamilton and Company, Port Glasgow29 August 194129 October 19425 February 1943Formerly, she was transferred to the RIN before completion. Scrapped in 1961.

Reciprocating-engined

ShipBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedPaid offFate
North Vancouver Ship Repairs, North Vancouver30 December 194026 May 1941She was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy before completion to become
Blyth Shipbuilding, Blyth11 January 19402 September 194017 June 1941Sold on 25 May 1948 as the mercantile ship Radbourne; her conversion was never completed; she was scrapped
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew2 April 19404 September 194012 February 1941Sold to Egypt in 1946 as Nasr
North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia30 December 19402 June 1941She was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy upon completion to become
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew15 May 194120 November 1941She was transferred to the Royal Indian Navy before completion to become
North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia31 January 19412 June 1941She was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy upon completion to become. Sold in 1946 to Portugal as NRP Almirante Lacerda. Sold in 1975.
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew16 May 19407 October 19404 April 19419 November 1942She struck a mine and sank on 9 November 1942 off Marsa Matruh, Egypt at 31-26N, 27-16E
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew29 June 19405 November 194026 May 1941She was sold on 28 Sep 1948 and scrapped at Dunston in Oct 1948
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew8 August 194015 January 194111 July 194118 December 1943She struck a mine and sank on 18 Dec 1943 off Capo Ferro, Sardinia at 41-10N, 09-40E
Dufferin Shipbuilding, Toronto26 February 194124 August 194127 February 1942Sold to Portugal on 26 Sep 1950 as NRP Comandante Almeida Carvalho, in 1964 renamed NRP Cacheu
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew8 August 194012 May 194123 September 1941She was sold on 1 Jan 1948, scrapped at Thornaby on 3 Jan 1948.
North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia28 May 194121 July 1941Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy upon completion to become
North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia6 June 194130 July 19412 July 1945Transferred to Royal Canadian Navy upon completion to become. Returned to the Royal Navy on 2 Jul 1945. Sold on 1 Jan 1948.
Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock, Hong Kong22 Jul 1941Laid down as, renamed HMS Lantan in September 1941 while under construction. Captured on the stocks by the Japanese at the Fall of Hong Kong. Completed by the Japanese as the mercantile Gyosei Maru in 1942, renamed Shima Maru in 1943.
North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia17 June 194122 August 19412 July 1945Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy upon completion to become. Returned to the Royal Navy on 2 Jul 1945. Sold 1 Jan 1948.
Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock, Hong Kong22 July 1941Laid down as, renamed HMS Lyemun in September 1941 while under construction. Captured on the stocks by the Japanese at the Fall of Hong Kong. Completed by the Japanese as the Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Nanyo, sunk by American aircraft in the Formosa Strait 23 Dec 1943.
Lobnitz and Company21 June 194131 December 1941Transferred to Royal Indian Navy before completion to become
Dufferin Shipbuilding, Toronto19 March 194126 June 194127 May 1942Sold on 1 Jan 1948
Blyth Shipbuilding; Blyth, Northumberland15 February 194031 October 194011 September 1941Struck a mine off Normandy on 8 Jun 1944 during Operation Neptune. Declared a constructive total loss, salvaged and sold on 1 Jan 1948. Scrapped at Pembroke in May 1948.
Dufferin Shipbuilding, Toronto8 April 19413 September 194113 May 1942Sold on 9 Feb 1948
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew23 November 193921 June 19409 November 1940Sold on 28 Sep 1948. Scrapped at Gateshead in Oct 1948.
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew27 February 19403 August 194012 December 1940Sold on 18 Jan 1950. Scrapped at Granton in February 1950.
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew15 October 194016 June 194119 December 1941Transferred to Fishery Protection Service in 1946. Sold to Burma on 11 August 1947 as a pilot and survey vessel Chinthe. Sunk in 1948 by an uncharted Japanese mine.
Dufferin Shipbuilding, Toronto19 April 194112 August 194117 June 1942Sold on 1 Jan 1948
Henry Robb, Leith11 June 194015 March 19414 August 1941Sold on 18 Jan 1950. Scrapped at Charlestown, Fife.
Henry Robb, Leith17 July 194010 June 194117 November 1941Sold to Egypt on 11 Sep 1946 as Matruh.
Dufferin Shipbuilding, Toronto17 April 19412 August 194128 March 1942Sold on 18 Oct 1946 as a mercantile ship
Taikoo Dockyard, Hong Kong12 July 1941Laid down as, was renamed HMS Taitam in September 1941 while under construction. Captured on the stocks by the Japanese at the Fall of Hong Kong when 60% complete. Launched 20 February 1943. Completed and Commissioned by the Japanese as Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper No. 101 at Hong Kong 10 April 1944, sunk by American aircraft off Cape Padaran on 12 Jan 1945.
Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew15 August 194118 February 1942Transferred to the Royal Indian Navy before completion to become.
Taikoo Dockyard, Hong Kong12 July 1941Laid down as, was renamed HMS Waglan in September 1941 while under construction. Captured on the stocks by the Japanese at the Fall of Hong Kong when only 30% complete. Launched 20 March 1943. Completed and Commissioned by the Japanese as Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper No. 102 at Hong Kong 28 September 1944, damaged by American aircraft off Keelung on 3 Feb 1945. Used by Allied Minesweeping Service beginning 1 December 1945, Returned to Royal Navy 20 November 1947. Scrapped in Tokyo 31 March 1948.
Dufferin Shipbuilding, Toronto29 April 19412 August 194121 April 1942Sold on 11 Sep 1946 to Egypt as Sollum. Lost on 7 April 1953 in heavy weather off Alexandria.

ShipOriginal pennant numberBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedPaid offFate
J08North Vancouver Ship Repairs, North Vancouver, British Columbia30 December 194026 May 194126 February 194224 February 1945Formerly, transferred to the RCN upon completion. Scrapped in Jan 1948 at Gateshead.
J170Burrard Dry Dock, North Vancouver16 April 194120 October 194113 December 194123 October 1945Sold in 1946
J314Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company, Port Arthur, Ontario1 February 194214 May 194217 November 1942Decommissioned on 16 Oct 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J193. Sold to Turkey in 1958 as Beycoz in 1971.
J250Dufferin Shipbuilding, Toronto, Ontario4 July 194023 November 19416 September 194123 October 1945Sold in 1946
J21North Vancouver Ship Repairs, North Vancouver30 December 19409 June 19416 March 194224 September 1945Formerly, transferred to RCN upon completion. Sold in January 1948.
J38North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia31 January 19412 June 19412 April 194226 September 1945Formerly, transferred to the RCN upon completion. Sold in 1946 to Portugal as NRP Almirante Lacerda. Sold in 1975.
J168Burrard Dry Dock; North Vancouver, British Columbia24 January 194114 April 194127 September 194131 October 1943Sank after colliding with the cable vessel Lord Kelvin in the St. Lawrence River at 48-14N, 69-16W.
J160North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia9 November 194012 December 194031 October 19413 November 1945Scrapped in 1957
J174Prince Rupert Dry Dock and Shipyards, Prince Rupert, British Columbia20 June 19403 October 194022 August 194124 December 1944Torpedoed at off the approaches to Halifax while escorting convoy XB-139 by at 14:37 on 24 December 1944. Eight crew members died.
J262Prince Rupert Dry Dock and Shipyards; Prince Rupert, British Columbia28 January 19412 August 194121 March 19425 November 1945Scrapped on 3 Apr 1946
J146North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia24 April 19408 September 19407 April 194110 September 1945Sold in 1946 to Greece as Cowichan. Sold in 1956.
J146Canadian Vickers, Montreal, Quebec1 October 194021 May 194130 October 1941Decommissioned on 29 Oct 1945. Recommissioned 1949 with pennant J181.
J311Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company; Port Arthur, Ontario18 August 194130 December 194125 August 194223 October 1945Sold in 1957 to Turkey as Bodrum. Sold in 1971.
J259Dufferin Shipbuilding, Toronto15 January 194123 April 19418 November 1941Decommissioned on 13 Oct 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J184. Sold in February 1959.
J144Dufferin Shipbuilding, Toronto10 October 194028 January 194123 September 194123 October 1945Sold in February 1959
J260Dufferin Shipbuilding, Toronto15 January 194114 May 194123 November 1941Decommissioned on 6 Nov 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J198. Sold in February 1959.
J258Canadian Vickers, Montreal2 June 194121 August 194111 December 194123 October 1945Sold in 1947 as the mercantile Elda
J52North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia28 May 194121 July 194122 April 194217 March 1945Formerly, transferred to the RCN upon completion. Torpedoed at off the Bay of Biscay while escorting a convoy by at 18:50 on 17 Mar 1945. 51 crew members died.
J69North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia6 June 194130 July 19415 August 19422 July 1945Formerly, transferred to the RCN upon completion. Returned to the RN on 2 Jul 1945.
J261Prince Rupert Dry Dock and Shipyards; Prince Rupert, British Columbia27 December 194028 May 19415 February 194222 October 1945Sold in 1946 as the mercantile Condor. Resold in 1950 as the mercantile Hung Shin.
J281Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company; Port Arthur, Ontario18 August 194120 December 19416 August 1942Decommissioned on 6 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J191. Decommissioned in 1957 and sold to Turkey as Bandirma. Sold in 1972.
J312Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company; Port Arthur, Ontario15 December 194117 April 194210 October 1942Decommissioned on 28 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J182. Decommissioned in 1957 and sold to Turkey as Bartin. Sold in 1972.
J312North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia17 June 194122 August 194127 May 19422 July 1945Formerly, transferred to the RCN upon completion. Returned to the RN on 2 July 1945.
J159North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia23 February 194013 August 194014 November 194029 September 1941Decommissioned on 6 November 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J192. Decommissioned in 1958 and sold to Turkey as Beylerbeyi. Sold in 1972.
J148North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia24 April 19405 September 19408 April 1941Decommissioned on 9 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J186. Sold in February 1959.
J256Canadian Vickers; Montreal, Quebec1 January 194125 June 19414 December 1941Decommissioned on 6 November 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J197. Decommissioned in 1957 and sold to Turkey as Biga. Sold in 1963.
J317Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company; Port Arthur, Ontario18 August 194127 January 194218 September 1942Decommissioned on 18 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J194. Sold in February 1959.
J165Burrard Dry Dock; Vancouver, British Columbia18 October 194022 January 19412 August 1941Decommissioned on 6 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J189. Scrapped in August 1959.
J169Burrard Dry Dock; Vancouver, British Columbia3 November 19402 September 194126 November 194124 October 1945
J313Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company; Port Arthur, Ontario15 December 19412 May 19424 November 19426 July 1945Struck a mine in the English Channel off Le Havre on 8 October 1944 and badly damaged, not repaired. Scrapped in May 1947.
J154Dufferin Shipbuilding; Toronto, Ontario4 July 19401 October 19408 November 1941Decommissioned on 13 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J188. Decommissioned in 1957 and sold to Turkey as Bafra. Sold in 1972.
J161North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia15 October 194027 January 19414 December 194124 November 1945Sold into mercantile service in 1946
J280Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon9 September 194114 December 194130 July 1942Decommissioned 13 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J183. Sold in February 1959.
J152Prince Rupert Dry Dock and Shipyards; Prince Rupert, British Columbia20 June 19401 September 19413 November 194126 November 1945Sold in 1946 to China as Chen Hsin
J166Burrard Dry Dock; Vancouver, British Columbia14 December 19403 August 194130 August 194125 October 1946Scrapped in August 1947
J255Canadian Vickers; Montreal, Quebec1 January 19415 October 194124 November 1941Decommissioned on 30 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J196. Sold in February 1959.
J309Davie Shipbuilding; Lauzon, Quebec18 September 194121 January 194213 August 1942Decommissioned on 18 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J190. Decommissioned in 1957 and sold to Turkey as Buyukdere. Sold in 1972.
J310Davie Shipbuilding; Lauzon, Quebec29 October 194114 February 194229 August 19421 April 1946Sold in 1947.
J254Canadian Vickers; Montreal, Quebec1 October 194029 May 194111 November 194123 October 1945Decommissioned on 23 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J185. Decommissioned in 1957 and sold to Turkey as Bozcaada. Sold in 1972.
J156Canadian Vickers; Montreal, Quebec4 December 194019 March 194114 October 19414 October 1945
J149North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia24 April 19409 October 19409 May 19413 April 1946
J257Canadian Vickers; Montreal, Quebec2 June 19417 October 194110 December 19416 June 1945Scrapped in 1947
J162Burrard Dry Dock; Vancouver, British Columbia3 September 194023 January 194130 June 19416 October 1945Scrapped 3 April 1946
J318Davie Shipbuilding; Lauzon, Quebec28 October 194114 March 194215 September 1942Decommissioned on 13 October 1945. Recommissioned in 1949 with pennant J187. Decommissioned in 1957 and sold to Turkey as Bornova. Sold in 1972.

ShipOriginal pennant numberBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedPaid offFate
J247Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata7 June 19417 July 194227 February 1944Scrapped in 1949
J129Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata24 April 1944Sold in 1949 as the mercantile Kennery
J228Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew15 August 194118 February 194212 June 1942Formerly, transferred to the RIN before completion. Sold in 1949; scrapped in 1963.
J55Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata21 June 1944Transferred in 1948 to Pakistan as Peshawar. Sold on 22 Jan 1959.
J200Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew15 May 194120 November 194114 May 1942Formerly, transferred to the RIN before completion. Scrapped in 1949.
J245Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata3 March 1942Transferred in 1948 to Pakistan as Dacca. Sold on 22 Jan 1959.
J197Lobnitz and Company, Renfrew21 June 194131 December 194130 April 1942Formerly, transferred to the RIN before completion. Scrapped in 1961.