Bangor-class minesweeper

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HMS Blackpool, a Bangor-class minesweeper
Class overview
Builders	Multiple builders
Operators	Royal Navy  Royal Canadian Navy  Royal Indian Navy  Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded by	Halcyon class
Succeeded by	Algerine class
In commission	7 November 1940 –
Completed	Bangor 14 Blyth 19 Ardrossan 26
General characteristics Bangor (Diesel)
Displacement	605 tons (RN) 592 tons (RCN)
Length	162 ft (49.4 m)
Beam	28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught	8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
Propulsion	2 shafts, 9-cylinder diesel, 2,000 bhp (1,500 kW)
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h)
Complement	60
Armament	(RN specs): 1 × QF 12-pounder 3 in (76.2 mm) gun 1 × quadruple 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Vickers machine gun Mark III (RCN specs): 1 × QF 4 in (101.6 mm) gun 1 × 2-pounder Mark VIII 2 × twin 0.303 in (8 mm) machine guns
General characteristics Blyth (Reciprocating)
Displacement	673 tons
Length	171 ft 6 in (52.3 m)
Beam	28 ft 6 in (8.7 m)
Draught	8 ft 3 in (2.5 m)
Propulsion	2 Admiralty 3-drum water tube boilers, 2 shafts, vertical triple-expansion reciprocating engines, 2,400 ihp (1,790 kW)
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h)
Complement	60 (RN) 70 (RCN) 87 (RIN)
Armament	(RN specs): 1 × QF 12-pounder 3 in (76.2 mm) gun 1 × quadruple 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Vickers machine gun / single QF 2-pounder Mark VIII (RCN specs): 1 × QF 4 in (101.6 mm) gun 1 × QF 2-pounder Mark VIII 2 × twin 0.303 in (7.70 mm) machine guns (RIN specs): 1 × QF 12-pounder 3 in (76.2 mm) gun 3 × single Oerlikon 20 mm guns
General characteristics Ardrossan (Turbine)
Displacement	656 tons
Length	174 ft (53.0 m)
Beam	28 ft 6 in (8.7 m)
Draught	8 ft 3 in (2.5 m)
Propulsion	2 Admiralty 3-drum water tube boilers, 2 shafts coupled to steam turbines, 2,000 shp (1,500 kW)
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h)
Complement	60 (RN) 87 (RIN)
Armament	(RN specs): 1 × QF 12-pounder 3 in (76.2 mm) gun 1 × quadruple 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Vickers machine gun / single QF 2-pounder Mark VIII (RIN specs): 1 × QF 12-pounder 3 in (76.2 mm) gun 3 × single Oerlikon 20 mm guns

The Bangor-class minesweepers were a class of warships operated by the Royal Navy (RN), Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), and Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during the Second World War.

The class derives its name from the lead ship, HMS Bangor, which was launched on 19 February 1940 and commissioned on 7 November of that year. Royal Navy ships were named after coastal towns of the United Kingdom.

Their lack of size gave vessels of the class poor sea handling abilities, reportedly worse even than the Flower-class corvettes. The diesel-engined versions were considered to have poorer handling characteristics than the slow-speed reciprocating-engined variants. Their shallow draught made them unstable and their short hulls tended to bury the bow when operating in a head sea.

The Bangor-class vessels were also considered overcrowded, cramming six officers and over 90 ratings into a vessel originally intended for a total of 40.