We do not have a photograph of the Soranus, but she would have looked like this Dan Layer, the Sir Galahad.
Sep 1914. Requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to a minesweeper (Admiralty No.28).
Feb 1915. Renamed ARIES II.
22 October 1915. Based at The Nore.
March.1919. Returned to owner at Grimsby.
14 June1922. Renamed SORANUS (GY131) registered at Grimsby. (Line fishing with fourteen crew).
September1934. Reverted to trawl fishing with twelve crew.
10 October 1940. Requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to a minesweeper, Pennant Number FY.513, Hire rate £62.10.0d/month.
January 1942, ROYAL NAVY SHIPS, Nore Command, Sheerness, Wildfire III, Queenborough.
Minesweeping Group 2 - minesweeping trawlers RICHARD CROFTS at Sheerness, RUDILAIS at Harwich, SORANUS at Sheerness.
9th January 1942. HMS Destroyer VIMIERA when escorting an FS Convoy hit a mine and blew up in the Thames Estuary within sight of Sheerness. The whole ship forward of the aft funnel disintegrated and over 70 died. Wildfire III vessels helped in the rescue of survivors. HMT Soranus rescued eight of her badly wounded crew from the sea. Motor Mine Sweeper MMS 19 rescued 24 men from the stricken vessel and MMS 79 took off three more.
March 1944. The Soranus was fitted out for Dan laying. (This is three months before D-day)
October.1945. Returned to owner.
1949. Sold for breaking up.
To find out more of the Soranus’s movements go to DRIFTERS AND TRAWLERS.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST Dec 39
Not on List.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST July 40
Not on List.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 41
Not on List. (a month later Skipper J. Stewart was on the list)
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 42
Skipper, R.N.R., J. Stewart (act.) 21 July 41
Temp. Skipper, R.N.R., D. S. Summers, Apr 42
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 43
Skipper, R.N.R., A. Miller, 21 July 42
Skipper, R.N.R., J. Stewart (act.) 21 July 41
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June, 44
Skipper-Lieut., R.N.R., D. E. Coleman (act), Jan 44
Skipper R.N.R., A. Miller, 21 July 42
Skipper R.N.R., D. MacKay, 14 Jan 44
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 45
Not on list
If you, your father or your grandfather have any additional information about this ship, crew lists, stories, photographs, please send copies of them to be added to our records and this website.
Thank you.
Contact: johntenthousand@yahoo.co.uk
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HMT SORANUS
Armed Minesweeper and Dan Layer.
Wildfire III, Queenborough.
The Soranus served as a minesweeper in the Nore Command in both WW1 and WW2.
When the destroyer HMS VIMIERA hit a mine and blew up in the Thames Estuary the Soranus rescued eight of her badly wounded crew from the sea.
Later in the war the Soranus was converted into a Danlayer, just in time for D-day.
Dan Layers were usually former Trawlers or Drifters (fishing vessel) equipped for laying Dan buoys and accompanied minesweepers. They laid Dan buoys to mark the swept lanes, assuring there were no overlaps or missed areas.
Dan buoys are marker buoys consisting of a long pole designed to float vertically, with a flag and a light on top which are moored to the sea bed.
It is not known if the Soranus was at D-day, but her sister ship the Milford Prince also based at Wildfire III, Queenborough and converted to a Danlayer at the same time as the Soranus was at D-day
Type of Vessel: Trawler, Armed minesweeper and Dan layer.
Pennant: FY 513
Fishing Number: GY 131
Other Names: ARIES II
Year Constructed: 13 March 1906
Built by: Cochrane & Sons,
Built at: Selby
Owner: Grimsby & North Sea Steam Trawling Co Ltd. (1906)
Engine: 480ihp T.3-cyl by Muir & Houston Ltd, Glasgow
Gross Tons: 250 gross tons, 103 net tons.
Length: 127 feet
Beam: 22.1 feet
Depth: 11.5 feet
Armament: 1 x 12 pounder Anti-aircraft.
Fate: Survived war and sold for breaking up in 1949.
Watch these short minesweeping videos.
Minesweepers: https://youtu.be/aTsYiZFzv5M
A Bad Day in December 1940: https://youtu.be/Lw2pW31qH4s