THE “ PARAVANE ”

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1919, Page 4

THE “ PARAVANE ”

HOAV BRITAIN FOUGHT THE

MINE MENACE.

A MYSERIOUS DEVICE.

The two last lectures at the Britisl

Association meeting (writes a correspondent of the “Daily News”). A\ e were told some 6f the wonders of mines and paravanes. As to mines, Commander G Wynne said that while at the beginning of the war we were not well prepared in this regard, yet soon after the end there v ould have been British dimes in German harbours. Over 930 firms were engaged in the manufacture of mines and their parts, and over 900,000 mines were laid, of which about half were in the Channel and North Sea. In 1918 mines were being turned out at the rate of 10,000 a month. Mine-laying from the air was more picturesque than effective.

Some extraordinary interesting discoveries were made and some wonderful devices created, but the Admiralty even now would not permit anything to be said about them.

Mr Robert F. McKay told the story of the Paravane. He repeated once more the tale heard so often that at one time it was touch and go whether Whitehall would not strangle the new invention.

Mystery surrounds the Paravane. The very name is camouflage and a philological monstrosity. “Paravane” ought to mean protection against weathercocks. It had been proposed to call the thing “paraplane,” hut finally it was known in the Navy as “P.V.” while merchantmen baptised it “Otter.” There were 16 or 20 different types, divided into two classes—explosive and protector. , Tim lecturer described its work which wa s the cutting of the mooring chains

of mines and making things uncomfortable for the U-boats. At the end of the war they could cut chains of three strands of 37 wires each, which were thought to be irresistible. Warships had cut 48 mine wires, and in four more cases had probably done so—a splendid' result from 180 paravanes used.

At a moderate estimate over £15,000,000 was saved in this way, o say nothing of human lives. One ship alone saved nearly all the money spent on paravanes. ",

Three thousand merchantment were fitted with paravanes and, one ship cut three mines in fifteen minutes. There was ho case on record Of a merchantman towing a paravane being sunk by mine.

So much for the “protector.” The explosive paravane was effective when other means could not be employed.

Tire lecturer continued. “It is computed that the total, loss of shipping, due to the submarine warfare is about £1,000,000,000. each submarine destroyed was responsible for about £5,000,000 worth of damage. Accepting this figure as a basis, it may be , said that tbe explosive paravanes saved further damage being inflicted upon ‘ our shipping to the extent of about £25,000,000.” Thus the total saving effected by the , two kinds of paravancs'is nearly two hundred millions. The credit of the in- ' vention is due to Commander C. D. Burney, C.M.G., and its working was directed mainly by Rear-Admiral Field.