Mine Warfare

[Guest Len Shurtleff]

Question: When and where did the RN initiate mine warfare in 1914?

Did Germany lay the first mines? If so where? Or, was the Royal Navy first out of the box?

LGS

[joseph]

Len,

The Germans where on the move pretty sharp

German official history;

Germany began the mining-war immediately after an apparent German naval understanding of Britain’s declaration of war on the afternoon of August 4th with an intended daylight operation by HILFSTREUMINENDAMPFER B. Lately she had been Hamburg-Amerika’s coastal excursion steamer KOENIGEN LUISE. Her target, the King’s Channel, was jointly naval and civilian. Apart from her own demise off Aldeburgh, at the hands of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla on the 5th, her mines sank the light-cruiser AMPHION on the 6th and far later in the month, two Danish merchantmen.

Regards Charles

[Michael Lowrey]

Len,

The Germans were out of the box quicker and more fully learned the lessions of mine warfare from the Russo-Japanese War.

The two Danish ships Charles referenced were the MARYLAND of 5136 grt and the CHR. BROBERG of 1225 grt. They sank on August 21 and 22, 1914 respectively.

There were several other minelaying raids by German warships along the British coast in 1914 by German cruisers (either the purpose-built minelaying cruiser ALBATROSS or NAUTILUS or conventional light cruisers, which were designed to also be able to carry mines).

By the end of 1915, over 90 ships had been sunk or damaged on laid mines German surface ships in the North Sea.

The first British minefields off Belgium were laid from October 2, 1914 on (they claimed their first victim — a British steamer — the next day). The British didn't lay mines in the Helgoland Bight until January 1915.

Best wishes,

Michael

[joseph]

Len,

A précis on the build up to the war.

Offensive mining was first proposed to the Admiralty as late as September 1912 by Captain George Ballard Director of Operations he advocated a plan for the commercial blockade and to impede the German Fleet’s freedom in the North Sea. His argument was that mines were the only way to maintain an effective cordon off the German coast whilst leaving British ships free. His proposal was accepted by the Admiralty and Orders issued to the Fleet in November 1912 and contained specific directives to the Minelayers to prosecute a mine campaign of the enemy coast this under the escort of armoured cruisers. This was the first time that mine warfare appeared as a strategic plan with full support of the Admiralty.

In the next summary of the Navy Estimates the mine issue was legitamised and increased the expenditure on the mining services, expanding the Trawler Reserve, improving the ability of the fleet minelayers and the proposal to fit out several active service Destroyers as minelayers. Funding was also agreed to develop and provide a new type of mine. Captain Ballard continued to propose offensive plans and submitted a paper dealing with mine warfare against Germany, the proposal was eventually approved and the orders delivered to the Senior Officer of the Mine laying Squadron Captain Bonham in January 1914.

The order was to lay two lines of mines in short order after the outbreak of hostilities. In theory this was to prevent shipping entering German ports and to limit the operations of the German fleet. The Admiralty committed 2400 mines to this plan which was a third of the mines available in the British Arsenal. HMS Vernon (Mine warfare establishment) in its last pre war report stated these measures adequate. It was not until after several months of loss and the return of Admiral Fisher to the Admiralty that offensive mine operations began.

Regards Charles

[TonyE]

Slightly off topic, but connected with mine warfare.

In August 1914 when the British seized the two Chilean battleships building in the UK they also seized the Chilean Model 1912 Mauser rifles that were part of the ship's fit.

Because of the serious shortage of weapons these were pressed into service and used to arm DAMS and minesweeping trawlers.

Attached is a picture of a packet of British (Eley) manufactured ammo for the Mausers with an additional label marked "For mine sinking only". I also have a picture of civilian crewmen armed with a mixture of Chilean Mausers and Ross rifles but it is too large to post.

Regards

TonyE

[Guest Len Shurtleff]

Many thanks to all who responded.

LGShurtleff