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 1, J 501. Build by Richards Ironworks Ltd., Lowestoft, England. Launched 3 Aug 1940.
11th May, 1941. MMS1 was bombed by the Luftwaffe. One of the bombs narrowly missed the ship. The Blitz on London was almost over and the German Bombers were being withdrawn and fighter bomber attacks on shipping in the Thames Estuary begun.
MMS 1 was out of action for 12 days while being repaired.
MMS 1 swept the Thames Estuary, the English Channel and the North Sea for Magnetic and Acoustic mines.
OFFICERS from Navy List December 1942
(Rank. Name, Date joined ship.)
Lieutenant RNVR. R.K. Husband. 11 Sept 40.
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. J. W. Johnson. 27 Nov 41
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR. J. W. Heward. 7 Sept 42
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1943
Lieutenant RNVR. R.K. Husband. 11 Sept 40.
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. J. W. Johnson. 27 Nov 41
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR. J. W. Heward. 7 Sept 42
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1944
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. J. W. Johnson. 27 Nov 41
Temp. Sub Lieutenant. RNVR. H. W. Knott. June 43.
Motor Minesweeper MMS 1 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.
MMS 1
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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