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(Disambiguated: George WhiteSir George White, 1st Baronet, sweepMinesweeping)
 
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{{Refimprove|date=January 2010}}
 
 
 
[[File:Paravane mine-sweeping (Seaman's Pocket-Book, 1943).jpg|thumb|A way of paravane's operation]]
 
[[File:Paravane mine-sweeping (Seaman's Pocket-Book, 1943).jpg|thumb|A way of paravane's operation]]
   
The '''paravane''', a form of towed underwater "glider", was developed (1914-1916) by Cdr Usborne and [[Charles Dennistoun Burney|Lt Burney]],<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=75h40LCsrzcC&pg=PT80&dq=paravane+burney&lr=&cd=25#v=onepage&q=paravane%20burney&f=false Millionth Chance By James Leasor&ndash;Google book search]</ref> financed by Sir [[Sir George White, 1st Baronet|George White]], founder of the [[Bristol Aeroplane Company]].
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The '''paravane''', a form of towed underwater "glider", was developed (1914-1916) by Cdr Usborne and [[Charles Dennistoun Burney|Lt Burney]],<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=75h40LCsrzcC&pg=PT80&dq=paravane+burney&lr=&cd=25#v=onepage&q=paravane%20burney&f=false Millionth Chance By James Leasor&ndash;Google book search]</ref> financed by Sir [[Sir George White, 1st Baronet|George White]], founder of the Bristol Aeroplane Company.
   
== Usage ==
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==Usage==
   
 
Initially developed to destroy naval mines, the paravane would be strung out and streamed alongside the towing ship, normally from the bow. The wings of the paravane would tend to force the body away from the towing ship, placing a lateral tension on the towing wire. If the tow cable snagged the cable anchoring a mine then the anchoring cable would be cut, allowing the mine to float to the surface where it could be destroyed by gunfire. If the anchor cable would not part, the mine and the paravane would be brought together and the mine would explode harmlessly against the paravane. The cable could then be retrieved and a replacement paravane fitted.
 
Initially developed to destroy naval mines, the paravane would be strung out and streamed alongside the towing ship, normally from the bow. The wings of the paravane would tend to force the body away from the towing ship, placing a lateral tension on the towing wire. If the tow cable snagged the cable anchoring a mine then the anchoring cable would be cut, allowing the mine to float to the surface where it could be destroyed by gunfire. If the anchor cable would not part, the mine and the paravane would be brought together and the mine would explode harmlessly against the paravane. The cable could then be retrieved and a replacement paravane fitted.
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[[File:Paravane (AWM 000527).jpg|thumb|left|A paravane being lowered into the sea from an Australian warship in 1940.]]
 
[[File:Paravane (AWM 000527).jpg|thumb|left|A paravane being lowered into the sea from an Australian warship in 1940.]]
   
[[Charles Dennistoun Burney|Lt Burney]] developed explosive paravanes as an anti-submarine weapon, a "high speed sweep". It was a paravane, containing {{convert|80|lb|kg}} of [[Trinitrotoluene|TNT]] towed by an armoured electric cable. The warhead was fired automatically as soon as the submarine touched the paravane or towing cable, or by hand from the ship's bridge. It could be quickly deployed into the water, could be towed up to {{convert|25|kn}}, and recovery if unsuccessful was reasonably simple.
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[[Charles Dennistoun Burney|Lt Burney]] developed explosive paravanes as an anti-submarine weapon, a "high speed sweep". It was a paravane, containing {{convert|80|lb|kg}} of TNT towed by an armoured electric cable. The warhead was fired automatically as soon as the submarine touched the paravane or towing cable, or by hand from the ship's bridge. It could be quickly deployed into the water, could be towed up to {{convert|25|kn}}, and recovery if unsuccessful was reasonably simple.
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
 
* {{Cite EB1922|Paravane}}
 
* {{Cite EB1922|Paravane}}
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{{Wikipedia|Paravane (weapon)}}
   
 
[[Category:Minesweepers]]
 
[[Category:Minesweepers]]

Latest revision as of 23:37, 12 October 2015

Paravane mine-sweeping (Seaman's Pocket-Book, 1943)

A way of paravane's operation

The paravane, a form of towed underwater "glider", was developed (1914-1916) by Cdr Usborne and Lt Burney,[1] financed by Sir George White, founder of the Bristol Aeroplane Company.

Usage

Initially developed to destroy naval mines, the paravane would be strung out and streamed alongside the towing ship, normally from the bow. The wings of the paravane would tend to force the body away from the towing ship, placing a lateral tension on the towing wire. If the tow cable snagged the cable anchoring a mine then the anchoring cable would be cut, allowing the mine to float to the surface where it could be destroyed by gunfire. If the anchor cable would not part, the mine and the paravane would be brought together and the mine would explode harmlessly against the paravane. The cable could then be retrieved and a replacement paravane fitted.

Paravane (AWM 000527)

A paravane being lowered into the sea from an Australian warship in 1940.

Lt Burney developed explosive paravanes as an anti-submarine weapon, a "high speed sweep". It was a paravane, containing 80 pounds (36 kg) of TNT towed by an armoured electric cable. The warhead was fired automatically as soon as the submarine touched the paravane or towing cable, or by hand from the ship's bridge. It could be quickly deployed into the water, could be towed up to 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), and recovery if unsuccessful was reasonably simple.

See also

References

  • Wikisource-logo Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1922). "Paravane". Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York. 
All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Paravane (weapon) and the edit history here.