mine-laying fleets

the regular mine-laying fleets of the powers at war are composed of the following vessels, all of which are fitted with special apparatus for the work. submarine mines can, however, be laid by any vessel, and it is therefore almost impossible to say exactly what ships are engaged in this work. both germany and austria have converted a large number of their merchantmen into mine-layers. england, in reply, has converted a large number of small steamers into mine-sweepers. russia is a strong believer in explosive mines, and has strewn the gulfs of finland and riga with them. japan, being on the offensive, is employing more mine-sweepers 175than layers. france has an elaborate system of submarine mine defence for all her important harbours, and maintains a small fleet at each base, known as the “defence mobile.” these vessels are all capable of both mine-laying and sweeping.

the submarine mine is primarily the defence of the weaker naval power, and therefore a fleet acting on the defensive, either temporarily or permanently, requires more mine-layers than mine-sweepers, but the reverse is naturally the case with a fleet acting on the offensive. although this may be taken as a general rule, it does not imply that a strong naval power like great britain, whose policy is attack and not defence, needs no mines or mine-layers. on the contrary, the laying of counter mines is one of the ways of destroying an enemy’s mine-field; and even the strongest fleet cannot guard every portion of a long coast line with many harbours exposed 176to attack. the judicious laying of mine-fields will often prevent raids by hostile submarines and torpedo-boats; and will limit the theatre of operations, as was done by the british navy in the southern portion of the north sea in october, 1914. the axiom that a really strong navy needs to be strong in every branch, therefore holds good in this, as in all other respects.

mine-laying fleets.

great britain.

apollo. thetis. andromache. latona. naiad. intrepid. iphigenia.

these are all second class cruisers of from 3,400 to 3,600 tons, built about 1891?2, which have been converted into mine-layers. they are equipped with a very large number of submarine explosive mines, which can be automatically lowered into the water as the vessels steam along. their speed is about 15 knots, and their armament consists of four 4·7-inch quick-firing 177guns. their complement is about 150 officers and men.

photo, cribb, southsea.]

the british mine-layer h.m.s. iphigenia.

the mine-dropping gear can be seen in the stern.

germany.

pelikan (1890). nautilus (1906). albatross (1907). arkona (1903).

all these vessels, with the exception of the arkona, which was a protected cruiser, have been specially built for mine-laying work. their displacement is about 2,000 tons. the pelikan has a speed of 15 knots, the albatross and nautilus of 20 knots, and the arkona of 21?? knots. they are all fitted with special gear for dropping the large number of mines carried, and their armament consists of from four to eight 21-pdr. quick-firing guns. their complement is about 200 officers and men.

austria.

the austro-hungarian navy possesses only one regular mine-laying warship—the chamaleon, which was being completed when war was declared. she is a vessel of 1,800 tons displacement, 178with a speed of 20 knots. her mine-launching gear is of the most modern and efficient type, and she is armed with several quick-firing guns.

since the beginning of hostilities austria has converted several old warships and merchantmen into mine-layers.

france and russia.

neither of these powers possess proper mine-laying vessels, but on the outbreak of war several old warships and small merchant steamers were used for that purpose.