Enemy Waters (Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Norwegian Navy, U.S. Navy, and other Allied Mine Forces battling the Germans and Italians in World War II)

Huraian

When Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939, the Royal Navy was deficient in minelayers needed to try to hold enemy forces at bay and out of its home waters. Turning first to the Merchant Navy, it requisitioned a liner and two ferries for this use, and a dozen destroyers and submarines were also converted to carry mines. Later, six fast minelaying cruisers joined the force. When Italy entered the war on the Axis side in June 1940, the situation became dire.