The class derives its name from the lead ship, HMSBangor, 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-classcorvettes. 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.
Design and development
The original intent of the Bangor-class minesweeper design was to provide a coastal equivalent of the Halcyon-class minesweeper; however the realities brought to light by the start of the war caused a modification of the design before construction had started.
The need for quick construction coupled with the limitations of engineering resources resulted in several variations existing based on the availability of propulsion machinery. The ships all had twin screws, but the machinery was a mix of steam turbine, slow-speed steam reciprocating, high-speed steam reciprocating and diesel. The diesel powered examples were about 20 feet (6.1m) shorter than the rest as they had no need for boiler rooms. Displacement varied with propulsion machinery from 590 to 672 tons. The reciprocating engine powered Bangors were also known as the Blyth class and the steam turbine powered versions as the Ardrossan class.
The class was considered cramped for the purposes it was built for, with not enough room provided for the acoustic and magnetic minesweeping gear carried.[1]
Transferred to the RCMP as the patrol vessel MacLeod in 1945. Transferred back to the RCN in 1951 and decommissioned in 1958. Sold to J.A.L. Steamships, Wallaceburg in 1961 and scrapped.
Transferred to the RCMP as the patrol vessel Irvine in 1945. Sold in 1962 and became the yacht Miranda. Foundered in Montego Bay in 1972 and was scrapped.
North Vancouver Ship Repairs; North Vancouver, British Columbia
31Jan 1941
2Jun 1941
She was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy upon completion to become Caraquet. Sold in 1946 to Portugal as NRP Almirante Lacerda (A525). Sold in 1975.
Laid down as Beaulieu, renamed HMS Lantau in September 1941 while under construction. Captured on the stocks by the Japanese at the Fall of Hong Kong. Completed by the Japanese as the mercantile Gyosei Maru in 1942, renamed Shima Maru in 1943.
Laid down as Looe, renamed HMS Lyemun in September 1941 while under construction. Captured on the stocks by the Japanese at the Fall of Hong Kong. Completed by the Japanese as the Imperial Japanese Navy gunboat Nanyo, sunk by American aircraft in the Formosa Strait 23Dec 1943.
Transferred to Fishery Protection Service in 1946. Sold to Burma on 11Aug 1947 as a pilot and survey vessel Chinthe. Sunk in 1948 by an uncharted Japanese mine.
Laid down as Portland, was renamed HMS Taitam in September 1941 while under construction. Captured on the stocks by the Japanese at the Fall of Hong Kong when 60% complete. Launched 20Feb 1943. Completed and Commissioned by the Japanese as Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper No. 101 at Hong Kong 10Apr 1944, sunk by American aircraft off Cape Padaran on 12Jan 1945.
Laid down as Seaford, was renamed HMS Waglan in September 1941 while under construction. Captured on the stocks by the Japanese at the Fall of Hong Kong when only 30% complete. Launched 20Mar 1943. Completed and Commissioned by the Japanese as Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper No. 102 at Hong Kong 28Sep 1944, damaged by American aircraft off Keelung on 3Feb 1945. Used by Allied Minesweeping Service beginning 1Dec 1945, Returned to Royal Navy 20Nov 1947. Scrapped in Tokyo 31Mar 1948.
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HMIS Kathiawar (J155) was a Bangor-class minesweeper built for the Royal Navy, but transferred to the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during the Second World War.
HMIS Baluchistan (J182) was a Bangor-class minesweeper built for the Royal Navy, but transferred to the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during the Second World War.
HMIS Rohilkhand (J180) was a Bangor-class minesweeper built for the Royal Navy, but transferred to the Royal Indian Navy during the Second World War.
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HMCS Ingonish was a Bangor-class minesweeper initially constructed for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942, the vessel served on both coasts of Canada as a convoy escort and patrol vessel. Following the war, the minesweeper was returned to the Royal Navy and laid up. Ingonish was discarded in 1948.
HMCS Lockeport was a Bangor-class minesweeper initially constructed for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942, the minesweeper saw service on both coasts of Canada as a patrol vessel and convoy escort. Returned to the Royal Navy in 1945, Lockeport was discarded in 1948.
HMCS Kelowna was a Bangor-class minesweeper constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Entering service in 1942, the minesweeper spent the entire war on the West Coast of Canada, mainly as a patrol vessel. Following the war, Kelowna was sold for mercantile conversion. Renamed Hung Hsin and Condor, the final disposition of the vessel is disputed.
HMCS Medicine Hat was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Entering service in 1941, the minesweeper was primarily used as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic and the Battle of the St. Lawrence. Following the war the vessel was laid up until reacquired during the Korean War. Never re-entering service with the Royal Canadian Navy, Medicine Hat was sold to the Turkish Navy in 1957. Renamed Biga, the minesweeper was discarded in 1963.
HMCS Swift Current was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Entering service in 1941, the warship used as a training ship and convoy escort and took part in the battles of the St. Lawrence and the Atlantic. Following the war the ship was laid up until reacquired during the Korean War. Never re-entering service with Canada, Swift Current was sold to the Turkish Navy in 1958. Renamed Bozcaada, the minesweeper was discarded in 1971.
HMCS Port Hope was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. The minesweeper entered service in 1942 and for the majority of the war, served as a patrol and escort ship along the coasts of Atlantic Canada and Newfoundland, participating in the Battle of the St. Lawrence. Following the war the vessel was laid up until reacquired by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Korean War. Port Hope never re-entered service and was sold for scrap and broken up in 1959.
HMCS Westmount was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Entering service in 1942, the minesweeper spent the entire war on the Atlantic Canada coast. Following the war, the ship was laid up in reserve until reacquired in 1952 during the Korean War. Never re-entering service with the Royal Canadian Navy, the vessel was sold to the Turkish Navy in 1958. Renamed Bornova, the minesweeper was discarded in 1972.
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