Racecourse-class minesweeper

The Racecourse-class minesweepers were 32 ships delivered to the Royal Navy during the First World War. They were built to two related designs as paddlewheel coastal minesweeping sloops under the Emergency War Programme. The vessels were reasonable sea-boats, but lost speed badly in a seaway when the paddle boxes tended to become choked with water. The class is also widely referred to as the Ascot class and Improved Ascot class.

"Racecourse-class" redirects here. For another class of ships sometimes known as Racehorse class, see 24-class sloop.

HMS Plumpton
Class overview
NameRacecourse class
Operators Royal Navy
Succeeded byHalcyon class
Built1916 & 1918
Completed
  • 24 Racecourse class
  • 8 Improved Racecourse class
General characteristics
Displacement
  • Racecourse class: 810 long tons (823 t)
  • Improved class: 820 long tons (833 t)
Length235 ft (72 m)
Beam
  • Racecourse class: 29 ft (8.8 m)
  • Improved class: 29 ft 3 in (8.92 m)
  • 58 ft (18 m) at the paddles (both types)
Draught6.75–7 ft (2.06–2.13 m)
PropulsionInclined compound. Cylindrical return tube. 1,400 hp (1,000 kW).
Speed15 knots (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Range156 tons coal
Complement50-52 men
Armament
  • Racecourse class:
  • 2 × 12-pounder guns
  • Improved class:
  • 1 × 12-pounder gun
  • 1 × 3-inch AA gun
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