The Royal Navy deliberately returned to paddle propulsion decades after adopting screws for its principal ocean-going warships. Twenty-four Racecourse-class and eight improved vessels combined modest displacement and crews with an extreme overall beam once their wheels were included. Independent paddles provided the precise low-speed control needed for minesweeping, while damaged wheels were comparatively accessible to repair. The ships also performed patrol and anti-submarine work, demonstrating that an older technology could remain the best fit for a specialized operational problem.
Chapter · 29:58-33:43
Why the Royal Navy built paddle minesweepers in World War I
Racecourse-class sloops paired slow-speed control, maneuverability, and repairable wheels with the demanding work of minesweeping and patrol.