Danlayer

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A Danlayer was a type of vessel assigned to minesweeping flotillas during WWII. They were usually small trawlers, fitted for the purpose of laying "dans".

A "dan" was a marker buoy which consisted of a long pole moored to the seabed and fitted to float vertically, usually with a coded flag at the top.

Dan laying was an important part of minesweeping, and boats were fitted specifically for this purpose. The task of a danlayer was to follow the minesweepers as they worked over an area and lay "dans" which defined the area swept and made it obvious where the clear channels were. This would also help the minesweepers to cover areas accurately without gaps and unnecessary overlaps. Danlayers usually worked with minesweepers when large areas of sea were to be clear-swept.

[edit] Reference

• McDougall, R J (1989) New Zealand Naval Vessels. Page 55. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780477013994