During the Second World War, particularly the early years, there were several threats to Britain’s vital mercantile traffic: enemy aircraft, ships and submarines. And in the coastal waters surrounding the country lurked another danger – mines.
During the First World War, Germany had deployed 25,000 mines in British waters, sinking 259 merchant vessels. To counter this threat the Royal Navy (RN) eventually amassed a force of 726 minesweepers in home waters. Yet on 3 September 1939, despite the last-minute requisitioning of trawlers for conversion to minesweeping duties and the re-emergence
