Wartime paddlers

[Mike Mayhew]

We all talk about our hobby of making all things paddle, but I have noticed a lack of comments regarding Paddle steamers in War time. In 1914/18 many steamers were used as mine sweepers due to their shallow draft, and again in 1939/45 mant were taken up by the minstry as sweepers and anti aircraft units. I recently came upon a set of drawings for an admiralty class of paddle sweeper called the Ascot Class. 1919. Although not as colourful as a traditional paddler, never the less it makes into an interesting model.
Here in UK there are excellent photos of War time paddlers, were there similar boats taken up for War service in Australia or elsewhere? or were other contries better prepared than we were.
I think it would make an interesting avenue for some modellers,.........................any comments? other than sod off!
Waverley Mike.

[wsnowdon]

Hi Mike, Walter here, regarding the use of paddlers in watime.
Regarding the ASCOT (sometimes refered to as RACECOURSE) class, most
of them saw very little use as they were completed too late for
service, and I am certain at least two were used as seaplane carriers
for two or three aircraft carried abaft the paddle boxes. Also post
WW1, two were converted for civilian use and made very handsome two
funneled pleasure paddlers. Names to follow when I can get into my
library (loft!). Also the US navy and French navy used many stern
wheelers in China some of which were captured and taken up by the
Japanese navy
The Polish navy had quite a few taken up for service on their rivers
and estuaries, including the only torpedo armed sidewheeler (a
rotating torpedo tube on the after deck !!) minelayers, hospital
ships, anti aircraft ships, command, patrol and several other uses.
All were sidewheelers and a lot were ex Russian. The Germans took
several of them into service. Can I suggest you visit
http://polishnavy.prv.pl/ quite hard to navigate, but plenty of
photos and some simple profile drawings.
Also, the paddlesteamer preservation society publish an excelent
small book titled HMS ARISTOCRAT. This gives the full wartime service
of my namesake Clyde steamer TALISMAN. This includes an armament
layout drawing, VERY difficult to find for British paddlers taken up.
Sorry this is so long, but this is a pet subject of mine. If you
want more, (like the Turkish FETH-UL-ISLAM) etc, let me know. All
the best, Walter (alias talisman)

[Alistair Deayton]

For World War I paddlers and the Ascot class, I can recommend the book "A
Dangerous Occupation" by Chris Collard., This tells the story of the P & A
Campbell paddlers at war and also of other paddlers in the same flotillas
and the need for and history of the Ascot class.
There was a small booklet called "Paddle Steamers at War" published a few
years ago which tells some of the story of some of the Clyde and other
paddle steamers used as minesweepers 1939-45.
As to other countries, some German coastal paddlers were requisitioned.
Romania had a paddle flotilla and still has a navel river paddle steamer
LOCOTENANT COMMANDER PAUN, www.danube-reaearch.com/Danube.html has a photo
of her.
Australia did not, as far as I know have minefields in her coastal waters,
but WEEROONA from Melbourne was used as a static accommodation ship and
ended up at Manila or somewhere like that.
A number of paddlers from the Irriwaddy and the Indian Rivers were
requisitioned for use in Mesopotamia, mainly on the Tigris, in World War I.
They were joined by a class of UK-built quarter-wheelers, one of which
survives in Egypt as the river cruise ship KARIM, some of the ex-LCC Thames
steamers requisitioned, and some other newly built steamers from the UK
including some side-wheel hospital ships. Their story has never been fully
told and, as we approach a seemingly inevitable war in the area, it is of
current interest.

Alistair Deayton