The Minesweepers’ Victory
@Sweepers3945
Offering a day-by-day account (80 years on) of the RN’s battle to defeat enemy mining in the Second World War. Mastodon back-up is @[email protected]
#OTD 1945 two Japanese vessels are lost to mines. Almost every night, groups of 25 - 30 B-29 Superfortresses are laying mines in Japanese waters, which the IJN has virtually no means of sweeping #Sweepers80

Isles class minesweeping trawler HMT Benbecula (T 379): Laid down 21.07.43.
#OTD 1945 7th MSF Algerines sail from Trincomalee for Op LIVERY: sweeping off Phuket Island. The flotilla is covered by HMS NELSON (pic) & HMS SUSSEX plus Escort Carriers AMEER & EMPRESS. 2 RIN Bathurts sweepers HMIS PUNJAB & DECCAN will act as danlayers #Sweepers80

#OTD 1945 Sweepers were (still) sweeping ….. #Sweepers80

#OTD 1945 Norwegian Minesweeping Whalers HMS LEVANTER & HINNOY (type pic) are amongst a number of requisitioned vessels leaving South and West African ports to return to the UK for release from service. These two had served in the Indian Ocean. #Sweepers80

Castle class minesweeping trawler HMNZT Rimu (T18/T402) Lt.Cdr. Alister Barclay Gilfillan, RNZNVR: Commissioned 15.07.42.
#OTD 1945 new Algerine class sweepers continue to sail from ports of build in Canada. HMS MARVEL, MICHAEL, MINSTREL & ROMOLA are nearing the Azores for refuelling prior to arriving in Britain. In the Pacific, sweeping in Area Juneau in the E. China Sea has cleared 152 mines

#OTD 1945 the Algerines of the 6th MSF complete Op COLLIE - a sweeping operation off the Nicobar Islands. 167 mines have been swept. In the course of these ops, HMS POSTILLION (class pic) rescued a downed Escort Carrier FAA pilot from close inshore whilst under heavy fire.


BYMS class minesweeper HMBYMS 2015 (J 815) T/Lt. Albert Victor Murphy, RNR: Commissioned 21.07.42.
#OTD 1945 Fast minelayer HMS ARIADNE (pic) departs Malta en route to join the British Pacific Fleet. Sister-ships MANXMAN & APOLLO are already in the Indian Ocean with the same destination, but none of these vessels will arrive in time to participate in operations against Japan.

#OTD 1945 the 6th MSF (Algerines) is placed on notice for Op ZIPPER; the planned assault on Port Swettenham (modern Port Klang) and Port Dickson - precursors to the capture of Singapore. Some details here: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20250613…

20 July 1944 // Destroyer HMS Isis exploded and sank off the coast of Normandy; it was presumed that she had struck a mine. Casualties were heavy: 152 of her crew lost their lives. (Image @I_W_M A 7297: HMS Isis in the foreground with HMS Duncan behind) #RoyalNavy #WW2
#OTD 1945 Catalinas of the Royal Australian Air Force lay mines off Sumatra overnight. Some details of the #RAAF Catalinas’ contribution to the war effort can be found here: awm.gov.au/articles/blog/…

18.7.1945 #80ww2 @CWGC Naval: HMS Formidable/FAA 1842sqn Corsair IV (1) Flak during a strike on Chosi & Katori airfields nr Tokyo, HMS Formidable/FAA 1845 sqn Corsair IV (1) Flak during strike on Nobara airfield nr Tokyo.
On 18th July 1945. Day 2146 #80WW2 - 137 Commonwealth Casualties, including 9 Navy, 10 Air Force, 112 Army, 3 Merch Navy and 3 Civilian Dead - Total 605055 #NeverForget #twitterstorians @CWGC
Bangor (Reciprocating engined) class minesweeper HMS Stornoway (J 31): Laid down 17.07.40.
17 July 1917 // Auxiliary minesweeper HMS Newmarket (formerly Great Eastern Rly steamer Newmarket, requisitioned 1914) was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UC.38 off the island of Nikaria in the Aegean. There were only three survivors from her crew of 73. #RoyalNavy #WW1
#OTD 1945 Tug HMS ATHLETE is mined & sunk off Livorno, Italy with the loss of 3 crew. Also in the Med, Liberty Ship JOHN H HAMMOND (type pic) is mined off Elba. She’ll be towed to port, but declared a total loss #Sweepers80

#OTD 1945 four auxiliary minesweepers are amongst a large number of Imperial Japanese Navy vessels sunk by airstrikes from the USN’s Task Force 38 #Sweepers80

#OTD 1945 Fast minelayers HMS MANXMAN (pic) & APOLLO arrive at Colombo, bound for the British Pacific Fleet. HMS ARIADNE will follow at the end of the month. 2 additional Flotillas of BYMS & 3 Flotillas of Algerines are earmarked for the Far East in the coming months #Sweepers80

Halcyon (3rd Group) class minesweeper HMS Bramble (J 11): Launched 12.07.38.