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HMS Spanker (J226)

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De Brouwer (M904)
History
United Kingdom
NameSpanker
NamesakeSpanker
Ordered15 November 1940
BuilderHarland & Wolff, Belfast
Laid down22 September 1942
Launched20 April 1943
Commissioned20 August 1943
DecommissionedDecember 1947
IdentificationPennant number: J226
FateSold to Belgium, 1953
Belgium
NameDe Brouwer
NamesakeDe Brouwer
Acquired1953
Commissioned25 February 1953
Decommissioned1966
Stricken1966
IdentificationPennant number: M904
FateScrapped, 1967
General characteristics
Class and typeAlgerine-class minesweeper
Displacement
  • 850 long tons (864 t) (standard)
  • 1,125 long tons (1,143 t) (deep)
Length225 ft (69 m) o/a
Beam35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Draught11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement85
Armament

HMS Spanker (J226) was a steam turbine-powered Algerine-class minesweeper during the Second World War. She survived the war and was sold to Belgium in 1953 as De Brouwer (M904).

Design and description

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The turbine-powered ships displaced 850 long tons (860 t) at standard load and 1,125 long tons (1,143 t) at deep load. The ships measured 225 feet (68.6 m) long overall with a beam of 35 feet 6 inches (10.8 m). The turbine group had a draught of 11 feet (3.4 m). The ships' complement consisted of 85 officers and ratings.[1]

The ships had two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,000 indicated horsepower (1,500 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). They carried a maximum of 660 long tons (671 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[1]

The Algerine class was armed with a QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V anti-aircraft gun[2] and four twin-gun mounts for Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The latter guns were in short supply when the first ships were being completed and they often got a proportion of single mounts. By 1944, single-barrel Bofors 40 mm mounts began replacing the twin 20 mm mounts on a one for one basis. All of the ships were fitted for four throwers and two rails for depth charges.[1]

Construction and career

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Service in the Royal Navy

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Spanker in the 1940s

The ship was ordered on 15 November 1940 at the Harland & Wolff at Belfast, Ireland. She was laid down on 22 September 1942 and launched on 20 April 1943. She was commissioned on 20 August 1943.[3] She joined the 19th Minesweeper Flotilla.[4]

Service in the Belgian Navy

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Spanker was renamed De Brouwer and was commissioned on 25 February 1953.

On 3 May 1961, she visited Brest and later on the 14th, she left for Portsmouth.[5]

De Brouwer was decommissioned in 1963 and the ship was sold for scrap to Firma Heyghen, Ghent in 1967. Only until 1968, she was towed to the scrap yard.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lenton, p. 261
  2. ^ Chesneau, p. 65
  3. ^ "HMS Spanker (J 226) of the Royal Navy - British Minesweeper of the Algerine class - Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  4. ^ "HMS Spanker, minesweeper". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Mouvements du M/F 904 De Brouwer". www.belgian-navy.be (in French). Retrieved 6 September 2021.

Bibliography

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