A danlayer was a type of vessel assigned to minesweeping flotillas during and immediately after World War II. They were usually small trawlers, fitted for the purpose of laying dans. A dan is a marker buoy which consists of a long pole moored to the seabed and fitted to float vertically, usually with a coded flag at the top.
Dan laying was an important part of minesweeping, and boats were fitted specifically for this purpose. The task of a danlayer was to follow the minesweepers as they worked an area, and lay the dans which defined the area swept and made it obvious where the clear channels were. This would also help the minesweepers cover areas accurately without gaps and unnecessary overlaps.[1] A danlayer worked with a minesweeper flotilla when large areas of sea were to be clear-swept.
Since Germany had been an exponent of mine warfare since the 1920s, it was natural that the Kriegsmarine used a number of danlayers during World War II. Danlayers of the Kriegsmarine included the following vessels:
The 800-ton, 176-foot B 206 - This vessel was ceded to France in 1946 and outfitted as the surveying vessel Ingénieur Hydrographe Nicolas
The 120-ton, 82-foot B 253, B 254, B 261, B 262, B 264, B 273 and B 275 - These were ceded to France in 1946 and renamed Rachgoun, Treberon, Tourteau, Cassidaign, Les Madeleines, Habibas and Crabe, respectively. Tourteau and Crabe became surveying tenders, while the others were employed as small harbor transports for naval personnel.
The 600-ton, 180-foot B 281 (formerly the patrol trawler V 204, originally named Zieten) - This vessel was ceded to France in 1946 and renamed Astrolabe as a surveying tender.
The 500-ton, 137-foot B 282 and B 284 (formerly the whalers Treff. 6 and Traff. 2), respectively) - Both were ceded to France in 1946 and renamed Estafette and Sentinelle as surveying tenders.
United Kingdomedit
Danlayers employed by the Royal Navy during the extensive mine clearance operations following World War II included the following Isles-class trawlers.
In 1944, prior to the Allied invasion of Normandy, the Admiralty-type Motor Mine Sweepers Nos. 141, 142, 238, 239, 240, and 241 were converted to danlayers and redesignated as follows: HMS Burfin, HMS Cottel, HMS Fichot, HMS Jude, HMS Quirpon, HMS St. Barbe, respectively. All were twin-screw, wooden, 105-foot, coastal-minesweeping sloops that were financed by Steers Ltd. of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and built by Henry Stone in his shipyard at Monroe, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, Canada between 1941 and 1943.
^McDougall RJ, New Zealand Naval Vessels, p. 55. Wellington, NZ: Government Printing Office, 1989. ISBN978-0-477-01399-4
Referencesedit
Francis E. McMurtrie and Raymond V.B. Blackman (eds.), Jane's Fighting Ships 1949–50, pp. 63, 193, 194. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1949.
H.T. Lenton and J.J. Colledge, Warships of World War II, pp. 534 & 538, London, UK: Ian Allan Ltd., 1964.
January 01, 1970
danlayer, danlayer, type, vessel, assigned, minesweeping, flotillas, during, immediately, after, world, they, were, usually, small, trawlers, fitted, purpose, laying, dans, marker, buoy, which, consists, long, pole, moored, seabed, fitted, float, vertically, u. A danlayer was a type of vessel assigned to minesweeping flotillas during and immediately after World War II They were usually small trawlers fitted for the purpose of laying dans A dan is a marker buoy which consists of a long pole moored to the seabed and fitted to float vertically usually with a coded flag at the top HMS Sir Galahad a Round Table class trawler displacing 440 long tons was converted to a danlayer in 1944 and used to support the Normandy landings Dan laying was an important part of minesweeping and boats were fitted specifically for this purpose The task of a danlayer was to follow the minesweepers as they worked an area and lay the dans which defined the area swept and made it obvious where the clear channels were This would also help the minesweepers cover areas accurately without gaps and unnecessary overlaps 1 A danlayer worked with a minesweeper flotilla when large areas of sea were to be clear swept Contents 1 List of danlayers 1 1 Germany 1 2 United Kingdom 1 3 New Zealand 2 Notes 3 ReferencesList of danlayers editGermany edit Since Germany had been an exponent of mine warfare since the 1920s it was natural that the Kriegsmarine used a number of danlayers during World War II Danlayers of the Kriegsmarine included the following vessels The 800 ton 176 foot B 206 This vessel was ceded to France in 1946 and outfitted as the surveying vessel Ingenieur Hydrographe Nicolas The 120 ton 82 foot B 253 B 254 B 261 B 262 B 264 B 273 and B 275 These were ceded to France in 1946 and renamed Rachgoun Treberon Tourteau Cassidaign Les Madeleines Habibas and Crabe respectively Tourteau and Crabe became surveying tenders while the others were employed as small harbor transports for naval personnel The 600 ton 180 foot B 281 formerly the patrol trawler V 204 originally named Zieten This vessel was ceded to France in 1946 and renamed Astrolabe as a surveying tender The 500 ton 137 foot B 282 and B 284 formerly the whalers Treff 6 and Traff 2 respectively Both were ceded to France in 1946 and renamed Estafette and Sentinelle as surveying tenders United Kingdom edit Danlayers employed by the Royal Navy during the extensive mine clearance operations following World War II included the following Isles class trawlers Hellisay T391 Hermetray T392 Imersay J422 Orsay J450 Ronay J429 Sandray J424 Scaravay J425 Sheppey T292 Shillay J426 Sursay J427 Tahay J452 Tocogay J451 Trodday J431 Vaceasay J432 Vallay J434 Wiay J441 Two Round Table class trawlers Sir Lanceleot T228 and Sir Galahad T226 were converted from minesweepers to danlayers prior to the Normandy landings In 1944 prior to the Allied invasion of Normandy the Admiralty type Motor Mine Sweepers Nos 141 142 238 239 240 and 241 were converted to danlayers and redesignated as follows HMS Burfin HMS Cottel HMS Fichot HMS Jude HMS Quirpon HMS St Barbe respectively All were twin screw wooden 105 foot coastal minesweeping sloops that were financed by Steers Ltd of St John s Newfoundland and built by Henry Stone in his shipyard at Monroe Trinity Bay Newfoundland Canada between 1941 and 1943 New Zealand edit Danlayers employed by the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II HMNZS Coastguard T12 HMNZS Ikatere HMNZS Kaiwaka T14 HMNZS Nora Niven T23 HMNZS Phyllis T22Notes edit McDougall RJ New Zealand Naval Vessels p 55 Wellington NZ Government Printing Office 1989 ISBN 978 0 477 01399 4References editFrancis E McMurtrie and Raymond V B Blackman eds Jane s Fighting Ships 1949 50 pp 63 193 194 New York The McGraw Hill Book Company Inc 1949 H T Lenton and J J Colledge Warships of World War II pp 534 amp 538 London UK Ian Allan Ltd 1964 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Danlayer amp oldid 1215524944, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
