Initially developed to destroy naval mines, the paravane is strung out and streamed alongside the towing ship, often from the bow, but in many WWII applications aboard minesweepers, the paravane was towed from the stern. The wings of the paravane pull it away laterally from the towing ship, placing a tension on the tow cable. If the tow cable snags the cable anchoring a mine then the anchoring cable is cut by jaws on the paravane, allowing the mine to float to the surface, where it is destroyed by gunfire. If the anchor cable fails to part, the mine and the paravane are brought together and the mine explodes against the paravane. The cable can then be retrieved and a replacement paravane fitted.
A paravane being lowered into the sea from an Australian warship in 1940.
Burney developed explosive paravanes as an anti-submarine weapon, a "high speed sweep". It was a paravane, containing 80 pounds (36 kg) of TNT towed by an armoured electric cable. The warhead was fired automatically as soon as the submarine touched the paravane or towing cable, or manually from the ship's bridge. It could be quickly deployed into the water and towed up to 25 knots (46 km/h), and recovery was reasonably simple.
^Leasor, James (2001) [1957]. The Millionth Chance: The Story of the R.101. London: Stratus Books. p. 66. ISBN9780755100484.
References
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Paravane" . Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York: The Encyclopædia Britannica Company.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paravane (weapon).
January 20, 2023
paravane, weapon, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, addin. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Paravane weapon news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message It has been suggested that this article be merged into Paravane water kite Discuss Proposed since July 2022 The paravane ˈ p ae r e v eɪ n a form of towed underwater glider with a warhead that was used in anti submarine warfare was developed from 1914 16 by Commander C Vivian Usborne and Lieutenant C Dennistoun Burney funded by Sir George White founder of the Bristol Aeroplane Company 1 It was used against naval mines and submarines Paravane mine sweeping Lowering the Diverta Paravane from HMS Bentinck off Greenock Hull of the Gorgon class monitor HMS Glatton in dry dock showing the bulge and paravane chains at the bow Paravane aboard USS Texas at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site Texas Contents 1 Usage 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksUsage EditInitially developed to destroy naval mines the paravane is strung out and streamed alongside the towing ship often from the bow but in many WWII applications aboard minesweepers the paravane was towed from the stern The wings of the paravane pull it away laterally from the towing ship placing a tension on the tow cable If the tow cable snags the cable anchoring a mine then the anchoring cable is cut by jaws on the paravane allowing the mine to float to the surface where it is destroyed by gunfire If the anchor cable fails to part the mine and the paravane are brought together and the mine explodes against the paravane The cable can then be retrieved and a replacement paravane fitted A paravane being lowered into the sea from an Australian warship in 1940 Burney developed explosive paravanes as an anti submarine weapon a high speed sweep It was a paravane containing 80 pounds 36 kg of TNT towed by an armoured electric cable The warhead was fired automatically as soon as the submarine touched the paravane or towing cable or manually from the ship s bridge It could be quickly deployed into the water and towed up to 25 knots 46 km h and recovery was reasonably simple See also EditOropesa minesweeping Naval mine Mine sweeping Paravane water kite Notes Edit Leasor James 2001 1957 The Millionth Chance The Story of the R 101 London Stratus Books p 66 ISBN 9780755100484 References EditChisholm Hugh ed 1922 Paravane Encyclopaedia Britannica 12th ed London amp New York The Encyclopaedia Britannica Company External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paravane weapon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paravane weapon amp oldid 1115800290, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
