Northern Barrage - Laying The Barrage

Laying The Barrage

In July 1939, before World War II had begun, the possibility of a Northern Barrage between the Orkney Islands and Norway (similar to that laid during World War I) had been investigated, however after the occupation of Norway by the Germans in April 1940 it was decided to position minefields between Orkney, the Faeroes and Iceland. Gaps would be left to allow passage of the fleet and convoys. In addition, mines were to be laid in the Denmark Strait, north of Iceland.

The 1st Minelaying Squadron, based at Kyle of Lochalsh, was formed in June 1940, but the allocated ships were not available for minelaying until October. Lack of escorts and support problems also restricted operations, but 10,300 mines were laid at the southern end of the Faeroes-Iceland section before the end of the year.

In 1941 work progressed on the with new fields laid north and south of the Faeroes as well as in the Denmark Strait. A refitting programme in U.S. ports was also implemented, but the work delayed by fog and gales. Intelligence reports in July indicated that U-boats were using the Faeroes-Iceland passage, so a series of deep anti-submarine fields were laid north-west of the Faeroes.

In 1942 the value of the Northern Barrage was beginning to be questioned, though new fields were laid south of Iceland, before starting new deep fields on the Faeroes Bank. Magnetic mines were also laid in the Denmark Strait to replace earlier losses.