Any WW2 carrier aircraft deployed with with degaussing rings?

• May 18, 2020

• #1

A

Admiral Beez

Major

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Oct 21, 2019

Toronto, Canada

Here's a Wellington with a degaussing ring, used to safely detonate magnetic sea mines by mimicking a surface vessel's magnetic field.



And a Blohm und Voss BV138 similarly equipped.



Were degaussing rings ever considered for carrier aircraft? They'd need to either fit down the lift or have the loop installed on deck.

 

• May 21, 2020

• #2

D

Darth Sarcastis

Recruit

3

4

Jul 24, 2017

I believe Grumman tried with the TBF, but the equipment was to bulky

D/S

 

• May 21, 2020

• #3

swampyankee

Chief Master Sergeant

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Jun 25, 2013

Were any USAAF or USN aircraft deployed with those magnetic mine detonating hoops?

 

• May 22, 2020

• #4

yosimitesam

Airman 1st Class

204

446

Aug 8, 2010

Huntingdon, TN

Admiral Beez said:

Here's a Wellington with a degaussing ring, used to safely detonate magnetic sea mines by mimicking a surface vessel's magnetic field.

View attachment 581991

And a Blohm und Voss BV138 similarly equipped.

View attachment 581990

Were degaussing rings ever considered for carrier aircraft? They'd need to either fit down the lift or have the loop installed on deck.

Click to expand...

Probably not very useful on carrier A/C. Magnetic mines would be used in or near harbors and anchorages where the water was shallow enough for magnetic mines to be appropriate. Most carrier combat action would not be in waters shallow enough for magnetic mines to be a threat, not to mention constant changes in course/speed making any area to be mined too large to be practical. Just guessing here, though. If you find a pic or info on a carrier A/C with magnetic mine exploder please post as that would be interesting.

 

• May 22, 2020

• #5

P

poprune

Airman

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11

Jan 18, 2005

A think there's a problem with terminology here: from my reading on the subject, 'de-gaussing' was applied to ships to negate or balance the natural magnetism in a ship's hull, whereas the intention of the ring on the aircraft was quite the opposite! There probably is a correct name for the device, though I have a notion that the flight crew's name differed somewhat from the official one... And the idea of flying low enough to activate a ton or so of HE in shallow water can't have been overly enticing!

 

• May 22, 2020

• #6

P

pbehn

Colonel

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10,391

Oct 30, 2013

According to wiki, the Wellingtons were fitted with a Ford V8 (later a de Havilland Gypsy 6) and electrical generator, the method only works in shallow water.