TON CLASS MINESWEEPER

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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

TON CLASS MINESWEEPER

Post by aukepalmhof » Thu Aug 04, 2016 9:44 pm

The stamp shows us a minesweeper of the British Ton class of which ten were serving in the South African Navy and purchased between 1955 – 1959.
The Ton class was built on different U.K. yards altogether there were 119 completed. Which is depict on the stamp is not clear.
Built with a mahogany wooden hull.
Displacement 447 ton, dim. 46 x 8.5 x 2.4m. (draught)
Powered, originally with Mirrlees diesels, later Napier Deltic diesels, 3,000 shp each, twin shafts, speed 15 knots. Range by a speed of 13 knots, 2,300 mile.
Armament: 1 Bofors 40mm, 1 Oerlikon 20mm cannon.
Crew 29.

The Ton class were coastal minesweepers built in the 1950s for the Royal Navy, but also used by other navies such as the South African Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. They were intended to meet the threat of seabed mines laid in shallow coastal waters, rivers, ports and harbours, a task for which the existing ocean-going minesweepers of the Algerine-class were not suited.
Description
The design of the class was led by the shipyard John I. Thornycroft & Company, and drew on lessons learnt in the Korean War, and numbered 119 vessels. They were diesel powered vessels of 440 tons displacement fully laden, constructed of wood and other non-ferromagnetic materials. Their small displacement and shallow draft gave them some protection against pressure and contact mines, and allowed them to navigate in shallow inshore waters. Primary armament was one Bofors 40 mm gun, although the South African variants also had an Oerlikon 20 mm cannon behind the funnel. RN vessels also had the same but they were gradually removed and an M2 Browning machine gun mounted midships. Sweeping equipment was provided for moored mines and magnetic mines.

So far I can find out all the Ton class serving in the South Africa Navy have been scrapped or the fate is unknown, only two are still around the HMS PACKINGTON which served in the South African Navy as SAS WALVISBAAI and which was converted in a charter yacht under Panama flag and registry based in Dubai, renamed in MOJO. See: http://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht/56 ... 7a06/mojo/

The DUNKERTON served in the SAS as PRETORIA and is now sailing under the South African flag and registry as the diving support ship MADIBA IMO NO 8954843. See: http://samilitaryhistory.org/4/04marnl.html
South Africa 1982 20c sg508, scott562. SG gives the SAS DURBAN is depict.
Source: Various internet sites and Wikipedia.
Attachments
-ton class3.jpg
Image (32).jpg

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