Racecourse class minesweeper
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| Racecourse-class minesweeper |  |
|---|---|
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 810 tons |
| Length: | 235 feet |
| Beam: | 29 feet (58 feet at the paddles) |
| Draught: | 6.75 feet |
| Propulsion: | Designed hp 1400. Inclined compound. Cylindrical return tube. |
| Range: | 156 tons coal |
| Speed: | max 15 knots |
| Complement: | 50 men |
| Armament: | 2 x 12 pdr |
The Racecourse class minesweepers were 32 ships delivered to two related designs as paddlewheel coastal minesweeping sloops. All were built under the Emergency War Programme. The vessels were reasonable sea-boats, but lost speed badly in a seaway when the paddle boxes tended to become choked with water. The class is also widely referred to as the Ascot class and Improved Ascot class.
[edit] Initial design
The original design was by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company. The ships were completed between April and October 1916. Launch dates are shown below.
- HMS Ascot January 1916, Ailsa S.B. Co - first of class, also last ship to be lost in WWI
- HMS Atherstone Jan 1916, Ailsa S.B. Co
- HMS Chelmsford April 1916, Ailsa S.B. Co
- HMS Cheltenham June 1916, Ardrossan Co
- HMS Chepstow April 1916, Ayrshire D.Y. Co
- HMS Croxton April 1916, Ayrshire D.Y. Co
- HMS Doncaster June 1916 Ayrshire D.Y. Co
- HMS Eglinton Sept 1916, Ayrshire D.Y. Co
- HMS Epsom May 1916, G. Brown
- HMS Eridge Feb 1916, Clyde S.B. Co. Originally fitted to carry seaplanes
- HMS Gatwick April 1916, Dundee S.B. Co
- HMS Goodwood June 1916, Dundee S.B. Co
- HMS Haldon Mar 1916, Dunlop, Bremner
- HMS Hurst May 1916, Dunlop, Bremner
- HMS Kempton Ferguson Bros. - lost in WWI
- HMS Lingfield April 1916, Fleming & Ferguson
- HMS Ludlow Goole Co
- HMS Melton Mar 1916, Hamilton. Originally fitted to carry seaplanes
- HMS Newbury July 1916, A. & J. Inglis
- HMS Plumpton McMillan - lost in WWI
- HMS Pontefract June 1916, Murdoch & Murray
- HMS Redcar Ayrshire D.Y. Co - lost in WWI
- HMS Sandown July 1916, Dunlop, Bremner
- HMS Totnes May 1916, McMillan
On this type the foremast is stepped before the fore bridges and they have derricks abeam of the second funnel.
[edit] Improved Racecourse type
| Improved Racecourse-class minesweeper | |
|---|---|
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 820 tons |
| Length: | 235 feet |
| Beam: | 29.25 feet (58 feet at the paddles) |
| Draught: | 6.75 - 7 feet |
| Propulsion: | Designed hp 1400. Diagonal compound. Cylindrical return tube |
| Range: | 156 tons coal |
| Speed: | max 15 knots |
| Complement: | 50-52 men |
| Armament: | Guns: 1 x 12 pdr. (12 cwt), 1 x 3 inch AA |
These paddle minesweepers were designed by the Admiralty, adapted from the Ailsa Co. design for the first type. They were completed Jan - June 1918. All were built under the Emergency War Programme.
- HMS Banbury Dec 1917 Ailsa S.B. Co
- HMS Harpenden Feb 1918 Ailsa S.B. Co
- HMS Hexham Clyde S.B. Co Dec 1917
- HMS Lanark Dec 1917 Fleming & Ferguson
- HMS Lewes Mar 1918 Fleming & Ferguson
- HMS Shincliffe Dunlop, Bremner, Jan 1918
- HMS Shirley Dunlop, Bremner sold as a ferry boat, 1919
- HMS Wetherby Murdoch & Murray, Mar 1918
The foremast on this type is stepped through the chart house, there are two high ventilators abaft fore funnel and no derricks abeam of the second funnel.
