CHAPTER XII

MINE-LAYING FLEETS

The regular mine-laying fleets of the powers at war are composed of the following vessels², all of which are fitted with special apparatus³ for the work. Submarine mines can, however, be laid by any vessel¹, and it is therefore almost impossible to say exactly what ships are engaged in this work. Both Germany and Austria have converted a large number of their merchantmen into mine-layers. England, in reply, has converted a large number of small steamers into mine-sweepers. Russia is a strong believer in explosive mines, and has strewn the gulfs of Finland and Riga with them. Japan, being on the offensive, is employing more mine-sweepers 175than layers. France has an elaborate system of submarine mine defence for all her important harbours, and maintains a small fleet at each base, known as the “defence mobile.” These vessels are all capable of both mine-laying and sweeping⁴.

The submarine mine is primarily the defence of the weaker naval⁵ power, and therefore a fleet acting⁶ on the defensive⁷, either temporarily or permanently⁸, requires more mine-layers than mine-sweepers, but the reverse is naturally the case with a fleet acting on the offensive. Although this may be taken as a general rule, it does not imply that a strong naval power like Great Britain, whose policy is attack and not defence, needs no mines or mine-layers. On the contrary, the laying of counter mines is one of the ways of destroying an enemy’s mine-field; and even the strongest fleet cannot guard every portion of a long coast line with many harbours exposed 176to attack. The judicious⁹ laying of mine-fields will often prevent raids by hostile submarines and torpedo-boats; and will limit the theatre of operations, as was done by the British Navy in the southern portion of the North Sea in October, 1914. The axiom that a really strong navy needs to be strong in every branch, therefore holds good in this, as in all other respects.
Mine-Laying Fleets.
Great Britain.

    Apollo. Thetis. Andromache. Latona. Naiad. Intrepid¹⁰. Iphigenia.

These are all second class cruisers of from 3,400 to 3,600 tons, built about 1891?2, which have been converted into mine-layers. They are equipped with a very large number of submarine explosive mines, which can be automatically lowered into the water as the vessels steam along. Their speed is about 15 knots, and their armament consists of four 4·7-inch quick-firing 177guns. Their complement¹¹ is about 150 officers and men.

Photo, Cribb, Southsea.]
THE BRITISH MINE-LAYER H.M.S. IPHIGENIA.
The mine-dropping gear can be seen in the stern.
Germany.

    Pelikan (1890). Nautilus (1906). Albatross (1907). Arkona (1903).

All these vessels, with the exception of the Arkona, which was a protected cruiser, have been specially¹² built for mine-laying work. Their displacement¹³ is about 2,000 tons. The Pelikan has a speed of 15 knots, the Albatross and Nautilus of 20 knots, and the Arkona of 21?? knots. They are all fitted with special gear for dropping the large number of mines carried, and their armament consists of from four to eight 21-pdr. quick-firing guns. Their complement is about 200 officers and men.
Austria.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy possesses only one regular mine-laying warship—the Chamaleon, which was being completed when war was declared. She is a vessel of 1,800 tons displacement, 178with a speed of 20 knots. Her mine-launching gear is of the most modern and efficient type, and she is armed with several quick-firing guns.

Since the beginning of hostilities¹⁴ Austria has converted several old warships¹⁵ and merchantmen into mine-layers.
France and Russia.

Neither of these powers possess proper mine-laying vessels, but on the outbreak of war several old warships and small merchant steamers were used for that purpose.

1 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

2 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 apparatus   

n.装置，器械；器具，设备

参考例句：

• The school's audio apparatus includes films and records.学校的视听设备包括放映机和录音机。
• They had a very refined apparatus.他们有一套非常精良的设备。

4 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

5 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

6 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

7 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

8 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

9 judicious   

adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的

参考例句：

• We should listen to the judicious opinion of that old man.我们应该听取那位老人明智的意见。
• A judicious parent encourages his children to make their own decisions.贤明的父亲鼓励儿女自作抉择。

10 intrepid   

adj.无畏的，刚毅的

参考例句：

• He is not really satisfied with his intrepid action.他没有真正满意他的无畏行动。
• John's intrepid personality made him a good choice for team leader.约翰勇敢的个性适合作领导工作。

11 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

12 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

13 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

14 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

15 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。