PV class minesweeper

HMCS PV I-VII were Royal Canadian Navy minesweeping trawlers built before World War I in the United States.

Origin of P.V. Class Minesweepers

The P.V. Class of Minesweepers were built as Menhaden trawlers. These ships were purchased in the United States and built in Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts. A total of 7 were acquired and numbered I through VII. Prior to service in the RCN, these trawlers were used in Atlantic Menhaden fishery.

Royal Canadian Navy Service

HMCS P.V. I - VII were purchased and armed by the RCN to form a flotilla of already built ships capable of being minesweepers. They were based out of Sydney, Nova Scotia, and saw service as Minesweeper Patrol Boats from March, 1917 - April, 1919. In 1919 the class was decommissioned, disarmed, sold, and returned to their former occupation as Menhaden Trawlers.

pecifications

* Launched: 1903-1912
* Commissioned: 1917-1919
* Paid Off: 1919
* Displacement: 247 - 390 tons (Varied between each ship)
* Length: 126 - 155 feet 6 inches (Varied between each ship)
* Width: 22.3 - 24.1 feet (Varied between each ship)
* Draught: 9.2 - 13 feet (Varied between each ship)
* Top Speed: 8 - 11 knots (Varied between each ship)
* Crew: ?
* Armament: 1 X 12 Pounder (Naval gun capable of firing a 12 pound shot) Single mount on Forecastle
* Low Speed: 0.5 knots

Original Names Prior to Commissioning

* P.V. I "William B. Murray"
* P.V. II "Amagansett"
* P.V. III "Herbert N. Edwards"
* P.V. IV "Martin J. Marran"
* P.V. V "Rollin E. Mason"
* P.V. VI "Leander Wilcox"
* P.V. VII "Rowland H. Wilcox"

References

* [http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/ww1/pv/ PV Type minesweeping trawlers]
* Macpherson, Keneth R. and Burgess, John. (1982)(Second Printing)The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910-1981. Collins Publishers. ISBN 0-00-216856-1