MMS 85
Motor Minesweeper MMS 85 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.
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
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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MMS 85, Build at Wivenhoe Shipyard. Launched 14 February 1942. Sold on July 1948.
Like many of the Wildfire III, Queenborough MMS 85 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 Navy List August 1942.
Temp. Lieut., R.N.V.R., A. E. Alexander. 18 June 42.
Temp. Sub- Lieut., R.N.V.R., R. W. Bachelor. 18 June 42.
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1943.
Temp. Lieut. RANVR, G. L. B. Parry. 21 Aug. 42.
Temp. Lieut. RANVR, W. E. Body. 6 Apr 43.
OFFICERS from Navy List Dec. 1943.
Temp. Lieut. RANVR, G. L. B. Parry. 21 Aug. 42.
Temp. Lieut. RANVR, W. E. Body. 6 Apr 43.
OFFICERS from Navy List June. 1944.
Temp. Act. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, M. E. H. Gallais. May 44.
OFFICERS from Navy List January 1945.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, M. E. H. Gallais. May 44.
OFFICERS from Navy List July 1945.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, L. W. Joiner (In Command) Jan 45
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, D. A. Gibson. 28 Nov 44.