Category:Trawler (UK)

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The Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Reserve fielded a huge force of trawlers for minesweeping and antisubmarine net-tending service throughout the war.

R.N.R. Trawler Section

The Royal Naval Reserve's Trawler Section was established in 1911 as an auxiliary minesweeping force allocated to seven areas and nine bases, all answering to the Admiral of Patrols. At the outbreak of war, there were 1,278 skippers, engineers and deck hands. Over time, they took on anti-submarine patrol duty as well as convoy work and watchkeeping over swept channels and nets.[1]

Wartime activity was intense: 54,000 warrant skippers and ratings would pass through the service between 1914 and 1919. Strength at the end of the war would amount to 37,145 men and the areas of operations had grown to include the Mediterranean, South and West Africa, East and West Indies, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The men of the Section would be awarded two Victoria Crosses: Skipper Thomas Crisp would be awarded one posthumously for an engagement with a U-boat in August, 1917 and Chief Skipper Joseph Watt for his actions during the Battle of the Strait of Otranto in May, 1917.[2]

The R.N.R. Trawler Section would lose 18 Admiralty trawlers, 246 hired trawlers and 130 hired drifters before it completed its demobilization on 30 April, 1920. All trawlers in British service not in the hands of civilian caretakers would henceforth be manned by active duty R.N. personnel.[3]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, May 01, 1920; pg. 6; Issue 42399.
  2. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, May 01, 1920; pg. 6; Issue 42399. Many other awards are noted in the source article.
  3. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, May 01, 1920; pg. 6; Issue 42399.

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