Mine Sweeper Duty
Mines were of several types such as contact, acoustical, magnetic and pressure.
Contact mines took direct contact for explosion. Acousticals was triggered by sound from above ships such as prop or engine sounds. Magnetic were triggered by magnetic field caused by the metal hulls of ships. Pressure mines were triggered by force of water caused by ship passing overhead. Triggering device could be set so that explosion did not occur until it was triggered several times. This allowed many ships to pass into the center of a mine field before first explosion occurred.
The USS Plover was the old type and was all wooden hulled.
Crew consisted of 25 men and 3 officers
Rolls or lists of 90 degrees have been recorded in rough seas and rolls of 50 to 60 degrees were common. Sort of like a cork in the water. If you have ever seen a sailor walking with his legs and arms swung out wide, he has what is called sea legs and that was caused from being at sea on smaller ships that toss from side to side in rough water.
Armorment consisted of one 40 mm gun on the bow and two 20 mm guns , one on port and one on the starboard side. Occasionally depth charges were carried. |
