Why mines posed such a serious destroyer threat

Mines were the greatest cause of Royal Navy destroyer losses in the wartime assessment used here, despite the attention given to submarine duels and surface battles. Their danger follows from admitting water faster than a crew can control it. An explosion beneath a ship can open a large hole or break its back, making the damage especially severe for a small destroyer. Concern about mines extends to passages such as the Mona Passage and the Strait of Hormuz. HMS Nelson's Overlord experience provides the larger-ship comparison: two mine hits in quick succession, repair and a return to service in 1945. The battleship's design allowed it to cope with mine damage. Those losses provide a proposed explanation for the Royal Navy's strong concern with mine protection after the Second World War.