Topic: Ground Mines. (Read 6132 times)

tonyH · « **on:** September 26, 2016, 10:21:33 pm »

Has anyone a photo or details of the ground mines used in WW2. Many were dropped by MTBs and MLs and were about 6ft long and about 18" diameter. There was, apparently, just the Type A but withe dozens of Mk's depending on the type of fuse.

Thanks

Tony.

TailUK · « **Reply #1 on:** September 27, 2016, 08:43:22 am »

Have a look at http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WAMBR_Mines.php Very useful site!

Capt Podge · « **Reply #2 on:** September 27, 2016, 10:20:20 am »

Saved for reading later - a number of links on the bottom of the page look interesting too. Thank you for sharing this TailUK.

Regards,

Ray.

tonyH · « **Reply #3 on:** September 27, 2016, 04:08:14 pm »

Thanks both, this is the only pic I could find, courtesy of the RAN armaments depots. It's the Mtype Mk 5 which was from 1942.
If you can find any others, of course, it would be appreciated.

Cheers

Tony

Jerry C · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2016, 05:23:12 pm »

I haven't been able to find any pics for you but I do know there is a fantastic American Master Sargeant in the museum at the NATO Mine Warfare School in Ostende in Belgium. I did a two week course there many moons ago in my youth. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of all mines. He said most of the mines in his charge were inert but that a couple were most certainly ert!!! If you can find an email address and drop them a line I'm sure they'd help with a pic or two.
Jerry.

tonyH · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2016, 05:32:51 pm »

Thanks for that Jerry. All the American ones seem to be rather elegantly shaped while the RN derived ones of the period look like lengths of main drain pipe

That said, I'll be over in Belgium later this year and if I can remember any of my TA Sapper training I'll look in there

Cheers

Tony

Jerry C · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2016, 05:57:42 pm »

I dropped a 21" British ground mine (designed to be deployed from a submarine) off the side of a mine hunter. It was in the Firth of Forth. We had the Beeb on board to film how we relocated it and destroyed it. They are about the largest bangs around cos dey is big. We were 1000yds off when it went and I felt like my legs were shoved into my torso, which is what happens if you get too close.
Jerry.

tonyH · « **Reply #7 on:** September 27, 2016, 07:23:28 pm »

Nearest I (almost) came to that was in a Land Rover at 50mph on the A1 with about half a ton of plastic, shaped charges, detcord etc
in the back and a box of fulminate dets on my knees. I was a tad concerned but according to the WO2 driving, I wouldn't feel a thing

I'll try to miss the 'ert' ones!

Tony

John W E · « **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2016, 07:25:47 pm »

hi there, have you checked out the book by John Lambert & Al Ross - Allied Coastal Forces of WW2 - in there there are 2 drawings of I think the mines that you are after - I have been trying all afternoon to download pictures, but there is something wrong with my resizers - so I am off to find another freebie one on the net.
lohn

John W E · « **Reply #9 on:** September 27, 2016, 07:43:13 pm »

tonyH · « **Reply #10 on:** September 27, 2016, 10:35:14 pm »

Excellent and many thanks John.
I'd love to know why the angled end?
Does the Lambert book give any dimensions because the only ones I've found are for the Oz derivative? About 550mm x 1900mm.

Cheers

Tony

Jerry C · « **Reply #11 on:** September 27, 2016, 10:59:44 pm »

Don't know if this is of interest:-

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Ops-Minelaying.htm

Mentioned Abdiel. I was MGO in the new one. Laid quite a few mines myself. Mostly buoyant anchored but a few ground mines.
Jerry.

TailUK · « **Reply #12 on:** September 28, 2016, 08:57:06 am »

All the cylindrical mine series were designed to fit torpedo tubes or standard bomb release gear on aircraft. The angled end may have been a token attempt at aerodynamics.

TailUK · « **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2016, 09:09:55 am »

Also from the Lambert and Ross book is the scale drawing of the rails. Designed for any Type M mine. This could give a better idea about size. The size given in the text for a M Type Mk2 was 96" by 21" diameter. Apparently you could fit 2 in a torpedo tube.

tonyH · « **Reply #14 on:** October 01, 2016, 09:04:36 pm »

Many thanks again for all the data. It's certainly given me all I need for the Thornycroft MTB re-build.

Now, just as an added bonus question.....

While searching, I came across this little possible project for 2017 - I'm thinking ahead for a little steam vessel, so does anyone have any contacts in Norway?

An 1886 Minelayer with a 10.2" gun at the pointed end

raflaunches · « **Reply #15 on:** October 01, 2016, 09:44:52 pm »

Now that looks very interesting...

ballastanksian · « **Reply #16 on:** October 01, 2016, 10:19:29 pm »

That is a cutie Tony! It looks like a standard gunboat modified to lay mines. It looks like it is based on a Rendel style gunboat design?

tonyH · « **Reply #17 on:** October 01, 2016, 10:55:34 pm »

Nope, not modified as far as I can find out. I think it was 8 of them (details left down in shed!) with main guns ranging from 5.9" to 10.2"
Ideal build for steam at 1:36 giving a displacement of about 11lbs IF I can find some plans.

PS Could be one for your dad Nick!

raflaunches · « **Reply #18 on:** October 01, 2016, 11:02:08 pm »

He certainly likes his oddities

tonyH · « **Reply #19 on:** October 02, 2016, 10:18:34 am »

If I can get further on this one I'll start another thread, meanwhile, thanks all for the interest and the gen on the mines.

Tony

TailUK · « **Reply #20 on:** October 02, 2016, 03:34:15 pm »

There some info here, https://www.fortgilkicker.co.uk/gunboat.htm She's definately a Rendal Gunboat, so called "Flat-Iron" type. I haven't seen one modified like this before but looks good. I think either MMI or Model Boat did a free plan of the type called HMS Kite.
This could be a Norwegian Vale Class built to British plans and converted to minelaying before WW1

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #21 on:** October 02, 2016, 04:15:34 pm »

Paul Freshney, Editor of Model Boats published a plan for HMS Kite which is still available.

https://www.myhobbystore.co.uk/product/17777/hms-kite-plan-mm1497

Colin

tonyH · « **Reply #22 on:** October 02, 2016, 05:51:53 pm »

Cheers Tail & Colin,

Vale & Uller were the two earliest from 1874 & 1878 respectively and at 233 tons. After those, the displacements went up to a noted max of 281 tons with the Tyr.
Whether they're from 'standard' plans or not, I don't know. It's possible but the general layout differs in that the stack seems further aft. There is a contemporary book on the Vale which I'll try to get but even Abe don't have a copy.

I've opened another thread on 'Model Boating' asking for any further info from Norway and I've put further details of the conversion and capture, so if the moderators think it fit it might be best to amalgamate the two? Dunno miself but I think it will definitely have to be my next project after the current one.

John R Haynes · « **Reply #23 on:** October 03, 2016, 02:40:07 pm »

I supply German emc mines at 1/96, These look like the conventional mine layout with sinker attached with reel.

Jonty · « **Reply #24 on:** October 07, 2016, 11:22:11 pm »

Sort of related - does anyone know how smoke floats were secured on coastal craft and released overboard? Can't find any photos.

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Author Topic: Ground Mines. (Read 6132 times)