Racecourse-class minesweeper#Improved Racecourse type
{{Short description|Class of British minesweepers}}
{{redirect|Racecourse-class|another class of ships sometimes known as Racehorse class|24-class sloop}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2022}}
| {{Infobox ship begin|sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= HMS Plumpton IWM SP 1266.jpg |Ship caption=HMS Plumpton }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Racecourse class |Builders= |Operators={{navy|United Kingdom}} |Class before= |Class after= {{sclass|Halcyon|minesweeper|4}} |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range=1916 & 1918 |In service range= |In commission range= |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed=*24 Racecourse class
|Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active= |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship type= |Ship displacement=* Racecourse class: {{convert|810|LT|t|0|lk=in}}
|Ship length= {{convert|235|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam=*Racecourse class: {{convert|29|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height= |Ship draught= {{convert|6.75 |
| 7|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth= |Ship propulsion= Inclined compound. Cylindrical return tube. {{convert|1,400|hp|lk=in|abbr=on}}. |Ship speed= {{convert|15|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}} |Ship range= 156 tons coal |Ship endurance= |Ship boats= |Ship complement=50-52 men |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=* Racecourse class:
|Ship armour= |Ship notes= }} |
The Racecourse-class minesweepers were 32 ships delivered to the Royal Navy during the First World War. They were built to two related designs as paddlewheel coastal minesweeping sloops 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.
Initial design
At the start of the First World War, it soon became clear that a large number of minesweepers would be required to keep coastal shipping routes free from naval mines that were laid at night by fast German minelayers. Initially, requisitioned trawlers were used for the task, but they had too deep a draught to operate in some areas, and could be too slow to sever the mooring cables of the mines. Late in 1914, the Admiralty hired a number of paddle steamers which were built to carry tourists to seaside resorts or on pleasure cruises. They were significantly faster than the trawlers and had a shallower draught. Although unable to operate in rough seas, they were judged to be the best solution to the problem and a requirement was issued for a purpose-built class based on the {{PS|Glen Usk}}, a Bristol pleasure steamer. Because of their size and simplicity, they could be built in small shipyards without affecting the production of larger warships.{{cite book |last=Crossley |first=Jim |date= 5 October 2011|title=The Hidden Threat: Mines and Minesweeping Reserve in WWI |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kh7JDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT63 |location=Barnsley |publisher=Pen & Sword Maritime |chapter=3. German minelaying and the British response |isbn=978-1848842724 }}
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|1916|6}}: January 1916, Ailsa S.B. Co—first of class, also last ship to be lost in World War I.
- {{HMS|Atherstone|1916|6}}: January 1916, Ailsa S.B. Co. Converted for passenger use in 1929 as PS Queen of Kent. Converted back to minesweeper in 1939.{{ cite book | title=Paddle Steamers At War 1939–1945 | last=Plummer | first=Russell | publisher=GMS Enterprises | date=1995 | page=12 | isbn=1-870384-39-3 }}
- {{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|1916|6}}: September 1916, Ayrshire D.Y. Co
- {{HMS|Epsom}}: May 1916, G. Brown
- {{HMS|Eridge|1916|6}}: February 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|1916|6}}: March 1916, Dunlop, Bremner
- {{HMS|Hurst}}: May 1916, Dunlop, Bremner
- {{HMS|Kempton}}: Ferguson Bros. Lost in World War I.
- {{HMS|Lingfield}}: April 1916, Fleming & Ferguson
- {{HMS|Ludlow|1916|6}}: Goole Co.—lost in World War I.
- {{HMS|Melton}}: March 1916, Hamilton. Originally fitted to carry seaplanes. Converted for passenger use in 1929 as PS Queen of Thanet. Converted back to minesweeper in 1940; served at Dunkirk evacuation and Normandy landings.
- {{HMS|Newbury|1916|6}}: July 1916, A. & J. Inglis
- {{HMS|Plumpton}}: McMillan—lost in World War I.
- {{HMS|Pontefract}}: June 1916, Murdoch & Murray
- {{HMS|Redcar}}: Ayrshire D.Y. Co.—lost in World War I.
- {{HMS|Sandown|1916|6}}: July 1916, Dunlop, Bremner
- {{HMS|Totnes}}: May 1916, McMillan
On this type the foremast is stepped before the fore bridges and have derricks abeam of the second funnel.
==Improved Racecourse type==
These paddle minesweepers were designed by the Admiralty, adapted from the Ailsa Company design for the first type. They were completed between January and June 1918. All were built under the Emergency War Programme.
- {{HMS|Banbury}}: December 1917, Ailsa S.B. Co.
- {{HMS|Harpenden}}: February 1918, Ailsa S.B. Co.
- {{HMS|Hexham}}: December 1917, Clyde S.B. Co.
- {{HMS|Lanark}}: December 1917, Fleming & Ferguson
- {{HMS|Lewes|1918|6}}: March 1918, Fleming & Ferguson
- {{HMS|Shincliffe}}: January 1918, Dunlop, Bremner
- {{HMS|Shirley}}: Dunlop, Bremner. Sold as a ferry boat, 1919.
- {{HMS|Wetherby}}: March 1918, Murdoch & Murray.
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.
Notes and references
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.newburyhistory.co.uk/hms-newbury The history of HMS Newbury]
{{Commons category|Racecourse class minesweeper}}
{{WWI British ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Racecourse Class Minesweeper}}