Halcyon Class Minesweepers HMS Niger
Minesweeping Reports Oct/Nov 1940
 
 

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Source: ADM 199 184 HMS NIGER Minesweeping Reports Oct 1940 (Extracts)

 HMS NIGER (4th M/S Flotilla)  Minesweeping Reports

11th, 12th and 13th October 1940 

Area searched:  QZS148 between Lats 51°53’N and 52°08’N 

Ships: NIGER, Speedwell, Salamander, Fitzroy, Elgin, Hussar 

Two mines detonated and one exploded in sweep. 

Sweeping ahead of FS and FN convoys, explosive cutter functioned.

 

 16th October 1940 

Area searched:  QZS148 in vicinity of 54A Buoy 

Ships:   (1) NIGER, Speedwell, Sutton, Dundalk, Fitzroy, Elgin, Hussar
            (2) Queen Empress, Lorna Doone 

Seven moored mines cut. Five detonated, one sank and one exploded. 

HMS Dundalk was lost during these operations (mined) - towed but sank near South Cutler Buoy.
 

17th October 1940

Fleet sweepers diverted to Gap X 

Ships: NIGER, Speedwell, Selkirk and Fitzroy 

Two drifting British mines were exploded – camouflaged, 5 horns above water, moderately old. 

Location 52° 11’N, 2° 14’ E and 52°  10’N, 2° 09’E

28th October 1940 

Area searched:  QZS148 between 51°58’N and 52°08’N. 1½ miles either side of centre line. 

Ships:   (1) NIGER, Speedwell, Salamander, Sutton, Fitzroy, Elgin, Selkirk
            (2) Queen Empress, Lorna Doone, Marmion 

One moored mine detonated and two were sunk. Explosive cutters gave a lot of trouble, making it necessary to do our two laps again.

5th November 1940 

Area searched:  QZS148 between Sunk and Barrow Deep 

Ships:   NIGER, Speedwell, Sutton,  Selkirk 

Sweeping ahead of FS and FZ Convoys, no mines found 

6th November 1940 

Area searched:  QZS148 between 7 QZF and Aldeburgh Float 

Ships:   NIGER, Speedwell, Selkirk, Lydd, Harrier, Sutton, Saltash, Elgin, Gossamer.

One mine in sweep. Elgin detonated mine, thought to be acoustic, ½ cable on the beam, sustaining minor damage. 

11th November 1940

Area searched:  QZS148 between ??? and Aldeburgh Float. 

Ships:   NIGER, Salamander, Selkirk, Lydd, Hussar, Saltash,  Gossamer. 

Two German moored mines swept, one detonated and one exploded.

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