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-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 (6.1 m) 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
31 Jan 1941
2 Jun 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 23 Dec 1943.
Transferred to Fishery Protection Service in 1946. Sold to Burma on 11 Aug 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 20 Feb 1943. Completed and Commissioned by the Japanese as Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper No. 101 at Hong Kong 10 Apr 1944, sunk by American aircraft off Cape Padaran on 12 Jan 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 20 Mar 1943. Completed and Commissioned by the Japanese as Imperial Japanese Navy minesweeper No. 102 at Hong Kong 28 Sep 1944, damaged by American aircraft off Keelung on 3 Feb 1945. Used by Allied Minesweeping Service beginning 1 Dec 1945, Returned to Royal Navy 20 Nov 1947. Scrapped in Tokyo 31 Mar 1948.
Decommissioned 16 Oct 1945; Placed in strategic reserve 1946; Reacquired by the RCN July 1951 with new hull number FSE 193 as coastal escort; Transferred Turkish Navy 29 Mar 1958 & renamed Beycoz; Discarded & broken up 1971.
North Vancouver Ship Repair; North Vancouver, British Columbia
13 Aug 1940
14 Nov 1940
29 Sept 1941
6 Nov 1945
Decommissioned 6 Nov 1945; Placed in strategic reserve 1946; Reacquired by the RCN & given the new hull number FSE 192 as coastal escort; Transferred to Turkish Navy 29 Mar 1958 as Beylerbeyi; Discarded & broken up 1972; Registry closed 1979.
Decommissioned 28 Oct 1945; Reacquired by RCN 1951 with pennant number 190; Transferred to Turkey 29 Mar 1958 as Büyükdere; Decommissioned, registry deleted & broken-up 1972.
Decommissioned 23 Oct 1945; Placed in strategic reserve 1946; Reacquired by RCN 1951 with new hull number FSE 185 as coastal escort; Sold to Turkish Navy 29 Mar 1958 as Bozcaada; Discarded & scrapped 1971.
Decommissioned 13 Oct 1945; Placed in strategic reserve 1946; Reacquired by RCN 1951 with new hull number FSE 187 as coastal escort; Transferred Turkish Navy 29 Mar 1958 as Bor Nova; Discarded & broken-up 1972.
