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Mine-sweepers

Algerine Class minesweepers had a 950ton displacement and were 225 feet in length (68.6
meters) with a beam of 35 feet 6 inches (10.8 meters) and a draught of 12 feet 3 inches (3.7

meters). They were twin-screw vessels powered by 2 vertical triple expansion steam engines
off 3 drum boilers which produced 2,400 hp. They had a top speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 kmph

or 19 mph) and had a range of 5,000 nautical miles running at 10 knots. Each vessel had a

compliment of 85. (Fig. 1.35).

HMSAS Bloemfontein

HMSAS Bloemfontein was built in Canada during the war for the Royal Navy. She was laid
down on 26 April 1944 and launched in December 1944. She was completed on 10 July 1945

and commissioned as HMS Rosalind, and then spent several years clearing minefields in
Europe. She was de-commissioned in 1947 and subsequently sold to South Africa. (Fig. 1.36).

In mid-1948 she was recommissioned as HMSAS Bloemfontein. She spent most of her early

career in the South African Navy training or making goodwill visits to foreign countries. She
was laid up in the late 1950s and recommissioned in 1961 to serve as an interim training ship

until the construction of the shore based training establishment Simonsberg had been
completed.

In 1963 she was returned to reserve before being deemed surplus to requirements. On 5 June

1967 she was sunk in False Bay as a target by the frigate SAS President Kruger and the
minesweeper SAS Johannesburg.

HMSAS Pietermaritzburg

HMS Pelorus was built for the Royal Navy during WW 2. (Fig. 1.37). She was laid down on

8 October 1942, launched 18 June 1943, and commissioned on 7 October 1943. She became
th
flotilla leader of the 7 Minesweeper Flotilla, clearing mines off the East Coast of England. In
June 1944 the Flotilla was assigned to sweep one of the beaches during the Normandy landings.

She struck a mine which caused extensive damage to her port engine and shaft. After repairs
th
were completed, she was reassigned to the English Channel and the 6 Minesweeping Flotilla.

In 1945 the Flotilla was transferred to the Indian Ocean and spent some time escorting convoys.

After the war she was sold to the South African Navy and renamed HMSAS Pietermaritzburg.