Military Affairs (nonnaval)

The Oxford Companion to... The Oxford Essential... Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes Further reading

paravane

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | Copyright

paravane, a device invented during the First World War (1914–18) as a defence against moored mines for ships under way. The paravane is essentially a glorified wirecutter which is towed, one on each bow of a ship, at the end of a length of toughened wire. The paravane itself works on the otter principle to keep it at a fixed depth, to stretch its towing wire taut, and to hold it at an obtuse angle to the ship's course. If a moored mine lies in the path of a ship, the bow wave pushes it aside and its mooring wire is deflected down the paravane's towing wire into the wirecutter where it is severed. The mine then floats to the surface where it can be sunk by rifle fire. Paravanes, introduced into the Royal Navy in 1916, were used by the larger warships when any danger from moored mines existed. It was invented by Commander Dennistoun Burney.

The paravane principle was also used in the Oropesa method of sweeping mines.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"paravane." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"paravane." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-paravane.html

"paravane." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-paravane.html

Learn more about citation styles

paravane

The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military | 2001 | Copyright

paravane n. a device towed behind a boat at a depth regulated by its vanes or planes, so that the cable to which it is attached can cut the moorings of submerged mines.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"paravane." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"paravane." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-paravane.html

"paravane." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-paravane.html

Learn more about citation styles

paravane

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

paravane •airplane, terreplein •sailplane, tailplane •mainplane •seaplane, ski-plane •chilblain •biplane, triplane •warplane • towplane • Tamerlane •monoplane • aeroplane • gyroplane •hydroplane • châtelaine • aquaplane •balletomane • Moulmein •Charlemagne • frangipane • propane •windowpane • counterpane •membrane • checkrein • lamebrain •migraine • ingrain • quatrain •grosgrain • wholegrain • scatterbrain •suzerain • birdbrain • sixain •elastane • Beltane • Aquitaine •octane •Fonteyn, montane •Holstein • Bloemfontein • butane •bloodstain • chevrotain •ethane, methane •polyurethane • Alfvén • paravane •weathervane • vervain • Gawain