The Bangor class of minesweeping ships were bluff-bowed ships, very wet in a head sea, and arguably less comfortable even than corvettes in rough weather. These faults were eliminated in the Algerine class. They were intended by the RCN as convoy escorts, hence not fitted with minesweeping gear [1].

Although they were larger than corvettes, Algerines the latter outperformed them as ocean escorts, the Algerines finding particular favour as Senior Officers' ships in Western Local groups. Most found employment for many years after the war on hydrographic survey duties or as training ships for reservists. Fifty two Algerines were built for the RCN and  twelve for the Royal Navy.

Here, HMCS Wallaceburg is representing the Algerine class. Click on image to enlarge.  (Photo courtesy Naval Museum of Alberta. Colourized by Chatgpt)

RADIO FIT - WWII ERA

The table below shows  an Algerine's radio fit based on data provided by Alan Riley an ex-RCN WWII era Sparker. The list was further refined by extracts from BR229.
 
 

TYPE	DESCRIPTION	QUANTITY
CM11	LF/HF Transmitter - Receiver	2
FR12	LF/HF Transmitter - Receiver	2
HT-11	HF Radiotelephone	1 Only fitted in the group leader.
FH-3/CSR5	HFDF	1
MDF-5	MFDF	1
PV-500 HM	HF Transmitter	1
PV-500LM	LF transmitter	Only some ships had one
TBS	VHF Transmitter/Receiver	1
MSL-5	MF/LF receiver	1
CSR-5	Receiver	2
TW-12	MF/HF Transmitter	1 Only some ships had one

Algerines did not have a main mast in the normal sense of the word. Instead, there was a frame of sorts fitted aft of the funnel. This frame had several functions. Firstly, it  provided an anchor point for the ship's  four wire radio antennas. Secondly it supported a  quarter wave ,ground plane antenna for the TBS voice radio.Thirdly, a flag could be flown from the frame.  Lastly, it provided a storage position for a DAN buoy. This was the configuration on HMCS Wallaceburg J336.

This photo shows how the wire antennas are anchored to the frame. There were  also minor differences in the design of the frame. This was the arrangement aboard HMCS Winnipeg J337in June 1959.(DND photo HS343-76)

On an Algerine, the DAN buoy was part of the minesweeping equipment. It was used as a  marker buoy—essentially a floating marker used to define a swept channel, mark a mine position, or establish a reference point of sorts on the water.

Here is a British Algerine-class minesweeper operating from HMS Lochinvar, with the crew deploying a DAN buoy over the stern. The buoy and its sinker are being handled by the deck crane, while the mooring wire is paying out into the water. (Imperial War Museum photo)

RADAR

The Algerine class were fitted with the Type 271 radar on-build. Additional details can be found here. Later in the war, the Canadian developed 268 surface search and navigational radar (3cm) was installed on Algerine class minesweepers [2].

ASDIC

At this time, it is not known what model of ASDIC was fitted on these vessels.

THE ALGERINE CLASS MINESWEEPERS AFTER WORLD WAR II

Spud Roscoe provides this summary of what happened to the Algerines after WWII. "The Navy retained nine of the twelve Algerine Class Minesweepers sometimes referred to as Escort Vessels.  MIDDLESEX was lost shortly after the war when she ran aground on Shut In Island, just to the east of the approaches to Halifax on December 2nd, 1946. The Navy removed all they could and left the rest to the fate of the elements.

FORT FRANCES and NEW LISKEARD also served other government departments such as the Department of Transport and Department of the Environment. Naturally they had to have a different call sign while serving in that capacity. FORT FRANCES was CGCK and NEW LISKEARD was CGCF.

The nine Algerines retained are listed below along with their voice call signs.

168 CZJR NEW LISKEARD    "Extort E"
169 CYVX PORTAGE         "Assort W"
170 CGKP FORT FRANCES    "Equal N"
171 CYZV KAPUSKASING     "Menu K"
172 CYVZ WALLACEBURG     "Barmaid A"
173 CGJB ROCKCLIFFE      "Cabot L"
174 CYZG OSHAWA          "Barmaid X"
176 CYVS SAULT STE MARIE "Jigger P"
177 CYVT WINNIPEG        "Inlet W"

HMCS FORT FRANCES was assigned call sign CZJQ for a short time after the war".

The radio fit data in the tables below was extracted from BR 299, a Royal Navy publication dated 1947. Photos and specs for some of this equipment can be found in this document  Any numeric suffixes which appear for American made equipment, denote the procurement contract number. A TBL-4 is identical to a TBL-12  but was made on perhaps a under a different contract number or even a different contractor.

	1943. This view shows the relative position of the radio office (W/T)  to the bow. Click on image to enlarge.
	1943: Layout of the radio (W/T) office. Click on image to enlarge
	1943: Showing the relative positron of the HF/DF office to the bow  Click on image to enlarge.
	1943: Layout of the HF/DF office. Click on image to enlarge.
The  deck plans in this table were originally drawn by  Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay)  Shipbuilding  and were downloaded from the Maritime.org web site. These are generic  deck plans from 1943 and do not apply to nay specific vessel.

NOTES:

[1] Jim McAlister indicates that in a post war configuration, a photo of HMCS Wallaceburg in drydock shows the reinforced stern and the sweeping gear. This gear was fitted for training purposes and was only installed for a short period of time and was the only Algerine so equipped.

[2] From the reference material, it's not clear if the author was referring to RCN or RN Algerines. Because the 268 was Canadian developed, it's assumed that it saw service aboard RCN Algerines hence the reason for listing it.

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Contributors and Credits:

1)  Ships of Canada's Naval Forces (1910-2001) by Ken Macpherson and Ron Barrie. Vanwell Publishing 2002.
2) Spud Roscoe <spudroscoe(at)eastlink.ca>
3) Alan Riley WWII Telegraphist, Toronto Ont.
4) James McAlister" <themcalisters(at)sympatico.ca>
5)  Clive Kidd, Collingwood Heritage Museum <cjckidd(at)waitrose.com>
6) BR299  dated 1947, Royal Navy,
7) Canadian Warship Names by David Freeman. Vanwell Publishing , St. Catharines , Ont.2000
8) Ship's Deck Plans Algerine)  https://maritime.org/doc/plans/
9) Darren Scannell <hawkone@hawk-graphics.com>
 
 

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Sept 18/26