THE PARAVANE INVENTOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 161, 2 April 1919, Page 2

THE PARAVANE INVENTOR

ItOW SIM'S WKKK SAVUD FKOM MINES. The paravane ■saved us approximately 4:40,000,000 worth of war ships, besides merchant; tonnage to r.n unknown, though enormous amount. Like many other great conceptions, the paravane seems a quite simple thing. Hawsers with kites at the end of them aro put into the water—on each sido of u ship! As the ship moves along the pull on the kites tightens the hawsers, which stand out in a straight line oh either 'beam and sweep up any mines that may he met with. On one occasion last year a flotilla of light cruisers found themselves in a minefield, and by using the paravane they were able to cut their way safely through it. The German submarines were continuously laying minefields which could not be detected until vessels were in them. But with paravanes out there was no danger. Tho'mines were cut away and destroyed, niid often it was not until this began to happen that Hie men in the ships knew they were in a mined area. Different types of this Invention were developed. One kind nns used with much success against U-boats. There was also a special one that' could' be easily handled fitted-to merchant vessels. The, .paravane was invented by Lieutenant Dennis Burney, K.N., son of Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, Con\".iapdor-in-Chief at Hosyth. Lieutenant Barney comes of c.n old naval family. He is a very young officer who looks the clever man he is, and, like many other naval officers, has a distinct bent for science and mechanics. He conceived th"e, idea of a paravane while running a destroyer to and fro across Channel on escort dutj. Having got the plan, he worked it out by means of'drawings and models, and persisted in this until, finally the Admiralty agreed to give this (hhig a trial. Besnlts were so aflbd that a special department was established for it and paravanes' manufactured by the thousand. Under official regulations a naval officer who invents anything must offer it to the. Admiralty, who, if they accept flic device, may give him whatever' reward they please. lieutenant Burney was ninde acting commander and awarded the C.M.G.