HMS MANXMAN – Abdiel-Class Fast Minelayer
HMS MANXMAN – Abdiel-Class Fast Minelayer
HMS MANXMAN was constructed at Stephen and Sons shipyard in Govan. She was laid down on 24 March 1939, along with three sister ships: Abdiel on 29 March at JS White, Cowes, Latona on 4 April at Thornycroft, Southampton and Welshman on 8 June at Hawthorn Leslie, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
All were completed between 15 April and 25 August 1941. Two ‘Repeat’ Abdiels were ordered in April and May 1941, to be built at Stephen and Sons and Hawthorn Leslie. These were named ARIADNE and APOLLO, completed on 9 October 1943 and 12 February 1944, respectively.
The ship’s design was based on experience gained during WW1. The Royal Navy made a decision in 1922 that it needed large high-speed vessels with a substantial capacity for mines. It wanted to lay defensive minefields. They were therefore designed to have a top speed of 39.75 knots (45.74 mph), and stowage for 150 – 156 mines (through her RN service, there were five alterations to her ‘as built’ armament: 1942, 1945, 1951, 1956 and 1963).
MANXMAN was 418ft long overall x 40ft beam, standard displacement 2650 tons, deep displacement 4000 tons.
She carried 650 tons of oil fuel, giving an endurance of 3900 miles at 15 knots and 1050 miles at full speed. Wartime complement was 236 officers and ratings. Armament, as designed: 6 x 4in guns (in three turrets), one pom-pom (a four-barrelled anti-aircraft gun), 2 x 0.5 inch four-barrelled machine guns, 15 x depth charges and 150 to 156 mines.
HMS MANXMAN links with Chatham and Sheerness
- Refitted at Sheerness in 1946
• Placed into reserve in January 1948 at Sheerness, along with sister ship APOLLO
• Converted at Chatham, for £1,000,000, and completed in February 1963. She took on a new role as Minesweeper Support Ship; acting as Forward Support Ship for 6th (Coastal) Minesweeping Squadron, Far East Station. Active during the Malaysian-Indonesian confrontation, conducting security patrols.
• Paid off from active service in September 1970 after a serious fire and was placed on the disposal list in January 1971. On Thursday 23 September 1971, MANXMAN entered Chatham via the South Lock and was berthed at the East end of Basin 2.
• The edition for October 1972 of the in-house newspaper for Chatham Dockyard, the Periscope, reported the departure of MANXMAN from Chatham, under tow by HM Tug Royster. With twelve men aboard, she was bound for a Newport breaker’s yard.
• She departed via the South Lock at 11.00 on Tuesday 3 October, HM Tugs COLLIE and MASTIFF were also in attendance.
Wartime Disguise
In August 1941, MANXMAN was selected to conduct a ‘surprise’ mine-lay off the west coast of Italy. She was disguised as the French large destroyer LEOPARD. A false bow and stern were provided, and a great deal of painting was carried out to alter her lines. By using paint, canvas and wooden spars, MANXMAN’s silhouette included: a deep ‘break’ of forecastle, distinctive funnel tops, voice-pipes running fore and aft, with raked masts and funnels. The disguise was successful, and MANXMAN laid a minefield within sight of the Italian mainland between 2 am and 3.30 am.
The maximum speed of the class resulted in their use for operations where speed and evasion were important. The duties included: troop carrying, stores to Malta, and Christmas mail to the Mediterranean.
Manxman Wartime Damage
In 1942, MANXMAN was operating in the Mediterranean. She had made a supply run to Malta in mid-November, as well as laying offensive minefields in the Sicilian Narrows. MANXMAN sailed from Algiers on 1 December, bound for Malta, loaded with supplies. At 17.00 that day, at about 80 miles north of Oran she was struck by a torpedo fired from U.375. U.375 was a Type VII C submarine from 29 U-Flottille based at Le Spezia, commanded by K.L. Jurgen Konenkamp. The resulting damage led to the flooding of both engine rooms and the gear room. MANXMAN was dead in the water. After an emergency docking at Gibraltar, MANXMAN was towed to the UK for repair in June 1943. Repairs were completed in 1945, she was recommissioned in April and joined the British Pacific Fleet.
During her active service, MANXMAN had laid 3112 mines, of which 2481 were laid in an offensive minefield.
Abdiel Class War Losses
HMS LATONA
HMS LATONA completed 8 fast return runs, between Alexandria and Tobruk, in support of the Australian 9th Division at Tobruk, during August and September 1941. On her fourth run in October, in company with three destroyers, she was repeatedly attacked by enemy aircraft.
On 25 October, after a number of attacks, LATONA was struck by a bomb at about 20.00. The bomb burst in the engine room, destroying the main steam line and the fire main. She was loaded with ammunition and subsequently abandoned and torpedoed by a destroyer. LATONA had never laid a single mine. She had completed construction on 4 May 1941 and left the UK on 16 May without completing trials or a work-up period.
HMS WELSHMAN
HMS WELSHMAN torpedoed by U.617 on 1 February 1943, approximately 40 miles east of Tobruk. U.617 was a Type VII C submarine from 29 U-Flottille based at Le Spezia, commanded by KL Albrecht Brandi.
HMS ABDIEL
In September 1943, ABDIEL formed part of a cruiser group carrying troops to occupy Tronto. Arriving safely on the 9th, she anchored before disembarking the troops. Four hours later, 0015 on the 10th, a magnetic mine exploded under the ship, which resulted in a broken back, causing her to sink within two minutes.
Image: IWM (FL 4437)
