HMCS Middlesex (J328)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada
|
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| Name: | Middlesex |
| Builder: | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company Ltd. |
| Laid down: | 29 September 1942 |
| Launched: | 27 May 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 6 August 1944 |
| Struck: | 12 December 1946 |
| Identification: | Pennant number: J328 |
| Honours and awards: |
Atlantic 1944–45 |
| Fate: | Ran aground 2 December 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Algerine-class minesweeper |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: | 225 ft (69 m) o/a |
| Beam: | 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) |
| Draught: | 12.25 ft 6 in (3.89 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
| Range: | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement: | 85 |
| Armament: |
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HMCS Middlesex was a reciprocating engine-powered Algerine-class minesweeper built for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Entering service in 1944, the vessel served as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic. Following the war, the ship ran aground on 2 December 1946 and broken up for scrap.
The reciprocating group displaced 1,010–1,030 long tons (1,030–1,050 t) at standard load and 1,305–1,325 long tons (1,326–1,346 t) at deep load The ships measured 225 feet (68.6 m) long overall with a beam of 35 feet 6 inches (10.8 m). They had a draught of 12 feet 3 inches (3.7 m). The ships' complement consisted of 85 officers and ratings.
The reciprocating ships had two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,400 indicated horsepower (1,800 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). They carried a maximum of 660 long tons (671 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).
The Algerine class was armed with a QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V anti-aircraft gun and four twin-gun mounts for Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The latter guns were in short supply when the first ships were being completed and they often got a proportion of single mounts. By 1944, single-barrel Bofors 40 mm mounts began replacing the twin 20 mm mounts on a one for one basis. All of the ships were fitted for four throwers and two rails for depth charges. Many Canadian ships omitted their sweeping gear in exchange for a 24-barrel Hedgehog spigot mortar and a stowage capacity for 90+ depth charges.
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