WesWorld

Bulgaria has one class of minesweepers currently completed (Struma-class), and one design which will be built starting Q4/36 (Veleka-class). The three Strumas ended up with a transom stern and Bulgaria discovered that's a no-no, hence the Velekas. The Strumas will probably be rebuilt with normal sterns when I have some tonnage available.

Bulgaria intends to have two mine-hunter squadrons of six 500t vessels each, and two coastal hunter squadrons composed of six vessels 200t or under (something like the German WWII R-boats). The -200t MSWs will also serve as patrol boats.

Most of my warships are theoretically expected to be minelayers during wartime.

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Originally posted by Fyrwulf

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- frigates
- sloops

At the moment my merchant marine isn't large enough to justify the investment of convoy protection vessels. In a major war where I have everything I need, I'd be pumping these out like a candy factory.

Well, that means 10 months into the war your candy factories will have the first ocean-going escorts ready - and that´s without trials and the like. That´s pretty good - for your opponents....

A Greek 2000t fast minelayer.



I'd agree that you could combine minesweeper/minelayer on 500t but not on 2000t.

OTOH, destroyers can and often were fitted for minesweeping.

Cheers,

Germany is continuing to build the R-11 class minesweepers, which are 539 light tons. A slower version of the 288 light ton VP-11 escorts could easily be built which would be an smaller alternative minesweeper, before going to the even smaller historical ~120t R-boats.