#paravane

[theworldatwar]

The crew of a Royal Navy Destroyer prepares to lower a paravane - date and location unknown. Sweeping along at the end of its cable to one side and behind its towing point, the paravane was designed to cut the mooring line of any mine it came in to contact with, causing it to float to the surface, where it could be disposed of by gun fire.

[lonestarbattleship]

Paravane

If you have toured Battleship Texas and seen this odd looking thing on the side of a turret and wondered what it was?

It's a paravane, an underwater glider fitted with a warhead and it was used to cut the lines to sea mines. It attached to a tow cable, that strung through a skeg on the underside of the bow.

It would lowered down into the water when the ship was underway.

The wings, or "planes", will pull the paravane away from the ship.

"If the tow cable snags the cable anchoring a mine then the anchoring cable is cut by jaws on the paravane, allowing the mine to float to the surface, where it is destroyed by gunfire."

"If the anchor cable fails to part, the mine and the paravane are brought together and the mine explodes against the paravane. The cable can then be retrieved and a replacement paravane fitted."

In WWII, it was modified and used against submarines as well. Destroyers and minesweepers would deploy off the stern, while larger ships would still deploy the from the bow.

source, source

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command: 80-G-K-1716, 80-G-K-1714, 80-G-K-1713, NH 124020, NH 60758

[scrapironflotilla]

A paravane being lowered from the British Transport Cryantza.

The paravane was a form of towed underwater weapon that was used in anti-submarine warfare, was developed between 1914–16 by the British Royal Navy. It was deigned for use against naval mines but an explosive version was developed for use against submarines.

[metalby]

Paravane [Forever is a Long Time Ago]. 2025. Bandcamp, Spotify, Facebook, Amazon, Youtube. Twitter(metalone). ProgCritique.

[brazilskavyprava]

Work in progress 👉🏻 beautiful luxury bedroom for one of my biggest collector ❤️#dreamjob #wordrobe #paravane #handpainted #workinprogress #comingsoon #abstractart #collector #colorful #luggi #tobecontinued #artistlife #light #praha (v místě Prague, Czech Republic) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAUizB6H2h_/?igshid=t0akwa8xemwp

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Les marins d’un dragueur de mines britannique s’apprêtent à lancer le paravane. Cet engin, propulsé par un petit moteur et dont la forme ressemble fort à celle d’une torpille, est utilisé pour repérer les mines flottant entre deux eaux. On le lance dans l’eau dans les parages des mines et la lame tranchante dont il est armé coupe l’amarre qui retient l’explosif à son poids et celui-ci remonte à la surface. A l’instant où le paravane ren­contre un obstacle, automatiquement un pavillon se dresse sur sa coque et signale la présence dangereuse il l’observateur qui sur le pont du bateau suit le parcours de l’engin. Le paravane est alors halé à bord et la mine est ou détruite à coups de canon ou repêchée au filet. Dans cette vignette, nous distinguons fort bien les différentes caractéristiques de cet appareil.” - from L’Illustration Nouvelle, October 5, 1939. Page 12.