#422 The HMS Magic

 Fun Fact #422

The HMS Magic

One early June 1944 morning, the minesweeper HMS Magic set sail to be among the first 3 ships to arrive at Normandy on D-Day (June 6th 1944). With its sister ships the HMS Cato and HMS Pylades they cleared part of the channel allowing the American Mine Squadron 7 to expand these lanes for the invasion. However, despite the enemy fire, Strong winds and even manned torpedoes; the HMS Magic was concerned with something else. 

The Germans had a new weapon which had been deployed in the area: The Bottom Mine. These sat at the bottom of the sea to avoid sweeper wires and used pressure, magnetic, or acoustic sensors to count a certain number of ships before rising to the surface. The HMS Magic was retrofitted specifically to hunt this new terror, and it did so diligently, helping to greatly reduce the bottom mines along the path to beach Juno. 

Sadly The HMS Magic and its sisters would not live to see the end of the war. Once The Germans learned it was capable of destroying bottom mines, they sent several German Human Torpedos (Nerger Class submersible, think Kamikaze but water) which detonated along its side on July 6th 1944. The HMS Cato went to rescue survivors but struck a mine. The HMS Pylades was then hit by the remaining Nerger units. One of the only survivors of the HMS Magic was Aurthur Eden Worthington who survived because he was on the deck allowing him to quickly evacuate to the HMS Cato and was later fished from a lifeboat by a Civilian fisher.

After D-Day the US and British would begin to convert the rest of the Cathrine class Minesweepers to this new standard ( HMS Notables include: The Catherine, Fairy, Gorgon, Chance, and Elfrida). While forgotten, surprisingly most of the converted ships remain today, and are still active in the navies Turkey, Brazil and The USA. 

Apologies for the odd Topic but in the month of October, I couldn't resist discussing the time The US made a magic of its own for use in The D-Day (Designated Day) Invasion of Normandy

Image from World Naval Ships . Com

https://www.worldnavalships.com/catherine_class.htm