Trawlers of the Royal Navy facts for kids
Naval trawlers were special ships used by the Royal Navy (RN), especially during World War I and World War II. These ships were either built specifically for the navy or were regular fishing trawlers that the navy took over. Ships built for the RN were called Admiralty trawlers. All trawlers used by the Royal Navy were usually known as HMT, which stood for "His Majesty's Trawler."
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Naval trawlers were small, tough ships. They were designed like fishing trawlers but were used for military jobs. Their main tasks included clearing sea mines, hunting submarines, and protecting bigger ships. They were very important for keeping the seas safe during wartime.
Trawlers in World War I
During World War I, the Royal Navy needed many ships quickly. Fishing trawlers were perfect because they were strong and could handle rough seas. They were easy to adapt for war tasks.
- Mersey class: These were purpose-built trawlers. They were about 438 tons and 148 feet long. They could go about 11 knots (about 13 miles per hour) and had two 3-inch guns.
- Castle class: Another group of purpose-built trawlers, these were around 360 tons.
- Strath class: These trawlers were about 311 tons.
One famous ship from this time is the trawler Viola. She was built in 1906 and taken over by the navy in 1914. The Viola is the oldest steam trawler still around today! She is currently in Grytviken in South Georgia, but there are plans to bring her back to Hull, England.
Trawlers in World War II
The need for naval trawlers grew even more during World War II. Many new classes of trawlers were built, and even more fishing boats were taken into service. They were vital for protecting convoys (groups of supply ships) from enemy submarines and for clearing dangerous minefields.
Here are some of the main types of trawlers used:
- Tree class: These were 164 feet long and weighed about 530 tons. They could reach 11.5 knots and carried a 12-pounder gun.
- Dance class: Similar to the Tree class, these were 161 feet long and 530 tons. They often had a 4-inch gun.
- Shakespearian class: These were slightly larger at 545 tons and 164 feet long. They were a bit faster, reaching 12 knots.
- Isles class: A very common type, 112 of these were built. They were 545 tons and 164 feet long, with a speed of 12 knots.
- Hills class: These were larger, at 750 tons and 181 feet long. They were armed with a 12-pounder gun.
- Military class: The biggest of the purpose-built trawlers, at 750 tons and 193 feet long. They had a 4-inch gun and other smaller weapons.
Requisitioned Trawlers: From Fishing to Fighting
Besides the trawlers built specifically for the navy, many regular fishing trawlers were "requisitioned." This means the navy took them over to use for the war. About 215 commercial trawlers were used this way during World War II. These ships were not all the same, as they came from many different builders. Sadly, 72 of these requisitioned trawlers were lost during the war. They played a huge part in defending the country's coastlines and shipping lanes.
See also
- Anti-submarine warfare
- Auxiliary Patrol
- List of mine countermeasure vessels of the Royal Navy
- Minesweepers of the Royal New Zealand Navy
- Royal Naval Patrol Service
- Vorpostenboot, the German equivalent to the trawlers of the Royal Navy
