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Re: British not keep tally of swept mines?

Posted by: Rob Hoole ()

Date: December 12, 2009 06:14PM

Hello Dave,

To illustrate the scale of the problem, the British laid over 185,000 mines for protective purposes in all theatres of war during World War II and over 76,000 mines in enemy waters. The Germans laid over 120,000 mines and 30,000 minesweeping obstructors in north-western Europe alone plus many more in the Mediterranean. As others have pointed out, it was impossible to keep track of them, especially moored mines that failed to separate from their sinkers or broke adrift and were moved by winds and currents.

That said, British minesweepers did keep a tally of the number of influence (magnetic and/or acoustic) ground mines they swept immediately after specific aerial minelays because they knew how many mines each type of aircraft carried in a 'stick'. They also had the reports of 'minewatchers' on clifftops to help them.

Best wishes,

Rob Hoole
[www.mcdoa.org.uk]

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Subject	Written By	Posted
British not keep tally of swept mines?	Dave McQueen	12/06/2009 11:03PM
Re: British not keep tally of swept mines?	Rainer	12/07/2009 11:01PM
Re: British not keep tally of swept mines?	Rod	12/08/2009 01:25AM
Re: British not keep tally of swept mines?	phil gollin	12/08/2009 09:41AM
Re: British not keep tally of swept mines?	Dave McQueen	12/08/2009 10:38AM
Re: British not keep tally of swept mines?	Rob Hoole	12/12/2009 06:14PM
Re: British not keep tally of swept mines?	Clio	12/19/2009 01:06PM
Re: British not keep tally of swept mines?	Rob Hoole	12/20/2009 09:45AM
Re: British not keep tally of swept mines?	Clio	12/20/2009 12:40PM
Re: British not keep tally of swept mines?	Clio	12/20/2009 12:37PM

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Rob Hoole Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello Dave,
> 
> To illustrate the scale of the problem, the
> British laid over 185,000 mines for protective
> purposes in all theatres of war during World War
> II and over 76,000 mines in enemy waters.  The
> Germans laid over 120,000 mines and 30,000
> minesweeping obstructors in north-western Europe
> alone plus many more in the Mediterranean.  As
> others have pointed out, it was impossible to keep
> track of them, especially moored mines that failed
> to separate from their sinkers or broke adrift and
> were moved by winds and currents.
> 
> That said, British minesweepers did keep a tally
> of the number of influence (magnetic and/or
> acoustic) ground mines they swept immediately
> after specific aerial minelays because they knew
> how many mines each type of aircraft carried in a
> 'stick'.  They also had the reports of
> 'minewatchers' on clifftops to help them.
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> Rob Hoole
> http://www.mcdoa.org.uk