NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Mallow	T59		Barclay Curle, Glasgow, UK	1915	13.7.1915	8/1915 // 7.1919	dismantled 7.1932

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	1200
Displacement full, t	1275
Length, m	76.2 pp 80.0 oa
Breadth, m	10.1
Draught, m	3.36
No of shafts	1
Machinery	1 VTE, 2 cylindrical boilers
Power, h. p.	1800
Max speed, kts	16.5
Fuel, t	coal 130
Endurance, nm(kts)	2000(15)
Armament	2 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II, 2 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 DCT, 1 DCR, mechanical minesweeping gear
Complement	90

Project history

Soon after the outbreak of war in August 1914 the Admiralty realised the need for additional vessels capable of minesweeping, for general service, towing and the transport of libertymen and stores. The DNC produced a design based on mercantile scantlings, simple and robust, and capable of being built by non-specialist yards. By standardising on fittings building rates were accelerated and several were built in 19-21 weeks. Being single-screw ships they had large turning circles, and they carried steadying sail to assist in keeping their head to wind. To protect the ammunition it was carried in a lightly armoured 'box' magazine far aft; on several occasions the entire magazine was blown into the air by a mine-explosion without detonating the contents. Later vessels were fitted with treble-thickness plating around the bows and reinforced bulkheads forward. The first 12 ships were ordered on 1 January 1915, followed by another 12 on the 12th. They were delivered between May and September 1915. They were almost exclusively used on minesweeping until 1917, when they proved ideal for convoy escort.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

No significant events.