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HMS PEARL
O.N. 163176. 426g 126n 154.6 x 25.6 x 13.9 feet
Built Beverley 1933 as Dervish.
9.10.1935: Sold to the Admiralty and converted to a "Gem" class anti-submarine trawler. Renamed HMS Pearl (P.No.T.22).
1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
23.5.1944:
Convoy escort duties in British waters and across the Channel in support of landings.
5.6.1944:
Sailed Solent as Force S (Assault Convoy S 10) escort. 6.6.1944: Arrived Sword beach.
3.7.1944 Operation Neptune ended.
(Note: 1946: Became Marr's Westella (H349). 1948: Sold to Pegasus Trawling Co Ltd, Fleetwood 1951: Sold to lago. 1952: Sold to Dinas and registered at Fleetwood (FD318). 30.5.1959 Transferred back to Marrs).
HMS RUBY
O.N. 163143. 421g 162n 152.1 x 25.6 x 13.6 feet Built Selby 1933 as Cape Bathurst.
1935: Sold to the Admiralty and converted to a "Gem" class anti submarine trawler.
1936: Rename HMS Ruby (P.No.T.24).
1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
23.5.1944:
Convoy escort duties in British waters and across the Channel in support of landings.
5.6.1944:
Sailed Solent as ForceS (Assault ConvoyS 10) escort.
6.6.1944: Arrived Sword beach.
3.7.1944:
Operation Neptune ended.
(Note: 1947: Became Marr's Carella (FD216).
1949: Transferred to Hull registration (H40).
Continued to fish out of Fleetwood. 1952: Sold to Dinas and registered at Fleetwood (FD319)).
Minesweepers and Minesweeping trawlers converted to Dan layers
The success of Operation NEPTUNE required a well planned and large scale minesweeping exercise ahead of the Assault Convoys to ensure a safe passage to the beach heads. The main threat was from moored mines and sweeping these was b\ two methods, the multi ship "A" sweep or the single ship "0" sweep. Both methods involved towing a serrated wire astern, the depth of which was regulated by kite-otters and in the case of the "0" sweep, supported by an oropesa float on the outboard end.
Some minesweepers were also fitted for sweeping acoustic mines and these ships were fitted with an "acoustic hammer" lowered into the water from a gantry over the bows. Minesweepers fitted for sweeping magnetic mines towed a electrical cable through which an electrical pulse, provided by a dedicated onboard generator, was passed.
Each Minesweeping Flotilla was accompanied by dan layers to clearly mark the swept channels with flagged and dimly lit dan buoys. The trawlers assigned to this task were requisitioned trawlers that had been converted for minesweeping duties early in the war and their crews were therefore very familiar with minesweeping procedures
for both acoustic, magnetic and moored mines.
As many crews had trawlermen in their complement, and with dan laying very much a part of trawling they were experienced in the accurate positioning of dan buoys, and this part of the exercise was well executed. Armament of both minesweepers and danlayers usually consisted of a forecastle mounted 12 pounder AA gun with 2x1- 0.5 inch AA and 2x1 MGs. After the initial sweep, the flotillas worked nine days on task with three days stood down in either Portland or the Solent for bunkering and storing, fitting in boiler cleaning on alternate stand down periods.
The area of swept channels was constantly checked and the safe area gradually extended although the estimate of mines destroyed varies, in the month of June it was in the region of 1000.
Magnetic Minesweepers
NORTHCOATES (H329)
Ad.No. 3697. O.N. 144573. 277g n 125.4 x 23.4 x12.8 feet
Built Falmouth 1919 as George Corten ("Castle" class)
8.1939: Requisitioned for war service and converted for minesweeping duties (magnetic (P.No.FY.548).
23.5.1944: Assigned as magnetic minesweeper to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
5.6.1944: Sailed for beachhead approaches with minesweeping flotillas.
29.6.1944:
Ordered to Plymouth following successful completion of operations in British sector. 3.7. Operatior Neptune ended in both sectors.
2.12.1944: Foundered in the English Channel while under tow. (Note: Owned by Marrs).
HMS SIR AGRAVAINE
O.N.I 82005. 274g 104n 126.2 x 23.6 x 12.8 feet Built Aberdeen 1942 ("Round Table" class)
23.5.1944: Assigned as magnetic minesweeper to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
5.6.1944: Sailed for beachhead approaches with minesweeping flotillas.
29.6.1944: Ordered to Plymouth following successful completion of operations in British sector.
3.7.1944: Operatior Neptune ended.
(Note: 1946: Sold to Great Western Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen (BDSF) and registered at Aberdeen (A276). 1952: Transferred to Fleetwood. 1954: Sold to Norway).
Danlayers
ARMANA (FD121)
O.N. 162064. 375g 145n 151.5 x 25.0 x 13.4 feet
Built Selby 1930.
6.1940: Requisitioned for war service and converted for auxiliary patrol service and later for minesweeping duties (P.No FY.1809).
1944: Converted for dan laying and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Attached to the 16th Minesweeping Flotilla as a dan layer.
5.6.1944: Sailed Plymouth for Utah beach approaches.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
11.1945: Returned after restoration and survey at Birkenhead. (Note: Built for Marr's as Armana (FD121).
1946: Sold to Hull)
DOROTHY LAMBERT (FD122)
O.N. 145723. 299g 114n 130.3 x 24.0 x 12.9 feet
Built South-Bank-Tees 1923 as Oyama.
2.1940: Requisitioned for war service and converted for minesweeping duties (P.No. FY.558).
1944: Converted for dan laying and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Attached to the 15th Minesweeping Flotilla as a dan layer.
5.6.1944: Sailing from Dover with Assault Convoy S2 for Sword beach approaches delayed due to boiler defect (leaky tubes).
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
2.1946: Returned after restoration and survey at Fleetwood (Note: From 1930: Owned by Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd).
FAIRWAY (H130)
Ad.No.3836. O.N. 145062. 312g 130n 138.5 x 23.7 x 12.8 feet Built Selby 1918 as Richard Jewell ("Mersey" class).
5.1940: Requisitioned for war service and converted for auxiliary patrol (P.No. 4.23) and later for minesweeping duties (P.No.FY.1551).
1944: Converted for dan laying and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Attached to the 6th Minesweeping Flotilla as a dan layer.
5.6.1944: Sailed Solent with Assault Convoy G1 for Gold beach approaches.
22.6.1944: Damaged by mine.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended. 3.1946: Restored and surveyed at Londonderry.
4.1946: Returned.
(Note: from 1942: Owned by Hendersons Trawling Co Ltd, Hull (Marrs).
1949: Fishing from Fleetwood.
1953: Transferred to Marrs and registered at Fleetwood (FD140)).
JAMES LAY (L0339) Ad.No.4222. O.N. 143834. 278g 121n 125.0 x 23.5 x 12.7 feet
Built Limehouse 1918 as James Lay ("Castle" class).
9.1939: Requisitioned for war service and converted for minesweeping duties (P.No.FY.667).
1944:
Converted for dan laying and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
23.5.1944:
Attached to the 15th Minesweeping Flotilla as a dan layer.
5.6.1944: Sailed Dover with Assault Convoy S2 for Sword beach approaches.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
10.1944:
Returned.
(Note: 1930: Transferred Fleetwood with lago.
1942: Sold to Marrs.
1946: Sold Dinas and
registered at Fleetwood (FD189).
1955: To Milford Haven).
NEIL SMITH (M??)
Ad.No.3524. O.N. 143878. 275g 107n 125.5 x 23.4 x 12.8 feet
Built South Bank-on-Tees 1917 ("Castle" class)
8.1939: Requisitioned for war service and converted for minesweeping duties (P.No.FY.529).
1944:
Converted for dan laying and assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
23.5.1944:
Attached to the 4th Minesweeping Flotilla as a dan layer.
5.6.1944: Sailed Portland for Omaha beach approaches.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended.
6.1945: Returned after survey and restoration at Liverpool. (Note: 1945: Sold to Wyre Steam Trawling Co Ltd and registered at Fleetwood (FD107).
1948:
Renamed Wyre Citizen (FD107). 1954: Transferred to Wyre Trawlers.)
NIBLICK (M??)
Ad.No. 3669. O.N. 144279. 276g 105n 125.7 x 23.4 x 12.8 feet
Built Paisley 1917 as William Cummins ("Castle" class)
6.1940: Requisitioned for war service and converted for auxiliary patrol, water carrier and minesweeping duties.
1944: Converted for dan laying and assigned to Operation Neptune -Normandy landings.
23.5.1944: Attached to the 15th Minesweeping Flotilla as a dan layer.
5.6.1944:
Sailed Dover with Assault Convoy S2 for Sword beach approaches.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune
ended.
8.1945: Returned after survey and restoration at Liverpool.
(Note: 1945: Sold to Wyre Steam Trawling Co Ltd and registered at Fleetwood (FD77).
1948:
Renamed Wyre Colonel (FD77).
1954: Transferred to Wyre Trawlers).
Boom Working Trawlers
A number of trawlers had been requisitioned early in the war and following basic conversion were allocated for boom working duties. To make anchorages safe from submarine attack a net boom, comprising interlocking steel wire grommets, was placed across the entrance and access controlled by a gate.
Armament was similar to the minesweepers and usually consisted of a forecastle mounted 12 pounder AA gun with 2x1- 0.5 inch AA and 2x1 MGs. The role of the boom working trawlers at Normandy was in support of the netlayers (carrying ground tackle and buoys) and RN boom defence vessels laying moorings for the Mulberry and merchant ship anchorages; they worked a similar operational pattern to the minesweepers and danlayers. All the Fleetwood associated trawlers operated with Mooring Force A in the Eastern Task Force area.
ALIDA (FD192)
O.N. 139208. 270g 105n 128.9 x 23.0 x 12.7 feet
Built Dundee 1915.
1940: Requisitioned for war service and converted for boom working duties (P.No. Z.152).
23.5.1944: Assigned to Operation Neptune - Normandy landings.
6.6.1944: Replaced Netherlands trawler Uiver as boom working vessel in Mooring Force B. Sailed Solent with Convoy EWC1 B for Eastern Task Force area.
3.7.1944: Operation Neptune ended. 1945: Returned. (Note: Built for Lancashire Steam Fishing Co Ltd).
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