by E28 » Tue Dec 31, 2019 7:28 pm
Thomas Blackhorn - y no 340N
Thomas Buckley - y no 340P
were the first pair of 20 assorted RN trawlers which were chartered with waived survey by the US Navy to participate in clearing the North Sea Mine Barrage, a perilous task which extended Eastwards across the North Sea from the Orkney Islands to just off the Norwegian coast with the work conducted from Kirkwall.
Of the Castle class, 10 of which participated, they were rated at a charter of £250 per month with all ships companies and liabilities borne by the USA.
The pair were both attached 23 May 1919 with the bulk of the sweeping done by US Navy Bird class minesweepers as most of the mines were American Mk VI mines. Operations commenced 29 April and terminated 30 September 1919, the summer months being critical to the clearing operations conducted in 7 major separate operations.
Whilst in US service they were titled U.S.T. for trawler and were detached 1st and 3rd October respectively serving longer than any of the 20 of which 19 were returned, Richard Bulkeley being lost 12 July 1919.
Thats all folks. Sean.