Australian minesweepers at war : minewarfare operations by the Royal Australian Navy during the two world wars / Mike Turner and Hector Donohue.

Collection type	Library
Author	Turner, Mike, (Scientist), 1934-, author.; Donohue, H. J. (Hector John), 1939-, author.; Sea Power Centre Australia;
Call Number	359.83620994 T949a
Document type	Monograph
Year	2018. 018.
Pagination	xviii, 328 pages : illustrations, portraits, maps ; 25 cm.
Publisher	Sea Power Centre,
Note	Includes bibliographical references and index. "At the beginning of World War I the emergent RAN was ill-prepared and ill-equipped to counter a mining campaign in home waters. Following German mining in 1917, the RAN quickly requisitioned trawlers as auxiliary minesweepers manned by the RAN Brigade and the mines were ultimately swept. Both Germany and Japan laid offensive mines in Australian waters during World War II. This stretched the RAN minesweeping effort to the limit, however safe channels were quickly established and the movement of traffic, i ncluding vital troopship convoys, was not impeded. Little known but noteworthy operational minesweeping in China and in the Islands post World War II in arduous and difficult conditions was a major feat. Defensive minefields totalling some 9,000 Australia n made mines were laid in 1941-43 by HMAS Bungaree, mainly in the Great Barrier Reef, requiring a significant post war clearing operation which resulted in the sinking of one minesweeper after hitting a mine. This ground-breaking book outlines for the fir st time the significant effort of those involved, who although initially unfamiliar with this form of warfare, ensured that the sea lanes remained navigable throughout both wars. The Australian designed and built minesweepers proved their effectiveness i n the major sweeping operations during and after World War II."--Back cover.
Place made	Canberra BC, ACT :

Abstract

Acknowledgements -- Units and Terminology -- Abbreviations/acronyms -- Foreword -- Impact of Minewarfare in the Two world Wars -- Chapters: Development of a RAN Minesweeping Capability -- Minewarfare Operations in Australia in World War 1 -- Between the W ars -- Search sweeping by the RAN in World War II -- Implementation of the pre-war mining policy -- RAN mining operations -- German mining and subsequent RAN minesweeping -- Japanese mining and subsequent RAN minesweeping -- 21st and 22nd Flotillas sweepi ng in China -- Sweeping the islands 1945-1946 -- Sweeping RAN and RN moored mines -- Sinking of HMAS Warrnambool -- Rendering mines safe -- Final sweeping operations and post-war recognition -- Reflections -- Appendices: I. Moore mines laid in Australian waters -- II. Australian minesweeper (AMS) -- III. Auxiliary minesweeper commissioning -- IV. Auxiliary minesweeper groups -- VI. Minelaying by HMAS Bungaree -- VII. RNZN sweeping at New Zealand -- VIII.Disposal of German GY* mines -- IX. Japanese minefi elds near Darwin and Torres Strait -- X. German GS mine -- XI. Mining by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) -- XII. Mines swept at the Great Barrier Reef in 1947 -- XIII. Estimation of plots for Operation KILHOLME -- XIV. RAN BMD officers in the Pacific -- XV. Japanese mines rendered safe in Australian waters -- XVI. Post war operations: recommendations for honours and awards.