MMS 268
Motor Minesweeper's were purpose built, wooden, shallow draft, minesweepers with both SA and LL sweeping capabilities. SA is Sweep Acoustic, a device similar to a Kanga Hammer which makes a loud thumping noise which explodes acoustic mines. LL (double L) is a pair of electric cables which are towed parallel to each other on floats and emit a strong electric pulse which generates a magnetic field which detonates magnetic mines.
Four Hundred and two Motor Minesweeper were built for the Royal Navy between 1940 and 1945.
Admiralty type; 1 to 118 and 123 to 313
Displacement 165 Tons
Length: 105 Feet (32 metres)
Beam: 23 Feet (7 metres)
Draft: 9 feet 6 inches. (2.9 Metres)
Engine: Diesel. 500 BHP.
Speed: 12.65 Miles per hour. (11 knots)
Complement: 20 Officers and men.
Armament: Two 20 mm Anti-aircraft guns
Two machine guns.
Watch these short videos about the Wildfire III Minesweepers.
Minesweepers: https://youtu.be/aTsYiZFzv5M
D-day minesweepers: https://youtu.be/ZjlA5LxCAsg
Clearing the Scheldt: https://youtu.be/8ELsc9T3Lbw
The Relief of Holland: https://youtu.be/GghYEFHmOfY
MMS 268. Built by Frank Curtis, Par, Cornwall.
The son of a crew member of MMS 268 writes, “My dad was the first commanding officer of MMS 268, launched from Par and fitted out in Charlestown. Swept mainly out of Sheerness, but also Dover and Newport. He later commanded BYMS 2007 in the Far East.
5 June 1944, (and rest of June) MMS 268 swept inshore off the Normandy (D-day) beaches.
Like many of the Wildfire III, Queenborough MMS 268 took part in the D- Day landings and “Operation Calendar Two”. Clearing the vital water way of the Scheldt Estuary of mines and opening up the port of Antwerp to resupply Allied troops with over stretched supply lines.
OFFICERS from the Navy List June 1943.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, R. A. Masson. 30 Nov 42.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, R. A. Howlett. 30 Nov 42.
OFFICERS from the Navy List Dec. 1943.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, R. A. Masson. 30 Nov 42.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, V. R. Jones. 18 Oct 43.
OFFICERS from the Navy List June. 1944.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, R. A. Masson. 30 Nov 42.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, T. Beaumont. 21 Nov 43.
OFFICERS from the Navy List January 1945.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, R. A. Masson. 30 Nov 42
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, T. Beaumont. 21 Nov 43.
OFFICERS from the Navy List July 1945.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, A. McMurtry. (In Command) 20 Feb 45.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, T. Beaumont. 21 Nov 43.
Motor Minesweeper MMS 268 would have looked the same as her sister ship, MMS 192. Note, the Acoustic “hammer” on the bow in the up position used to sweep for acoustic mines and the drum on the stern for the LL cables used to detonate magnetic mines.
If you, your father or your grandfather have any additional information about this ship, crew lists, stories, photographs, please send copies of them to be added to our records and this website.
Thank you.
Contact: johntenthousand@yahoo.co.uk
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