Motor Minesweeper MMS 190 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.
MMS 190 (photograph taken from MMS 45) both vessels are believed to be in the same flotilla.
Photo from Lieutenant E. A. Cash’s collection.
OFFICERS from Navy List August 1942.
Temp. Lieut., R.N.V.R., C. C. Gotto. 4 Apr 42.
Temp. Lieut., R.A.N.V.R., G. A. Willington. 4 Apr 42.
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1943.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, R. W. Bachelor. 21 Aug 42.
OFFICERS from Navy List Dec. 1943.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, R. W. Bachelor. (In Command) 21 Aug 42.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, J. A. Murdoch. 14 July 43.
OFFICERS from Navy List June. 1944.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, R. W. Bachelor. (In Command) 21 Aug 42.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, J. A. Murdoch. 14 July 43.
OFFICERS from Navy List January 1945.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, R. W. Bachelor. (In Command) 21 Aug 42.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, J. A. Murdoch. 14 July 43.
OFFICERS from Navy List July 1945.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, R. W. Bachelor. (In Command) 21 Aug 42.
Temp.Sub-Lieut. RNVR, A. F. Deards. March 45.
MMS190
MMS 190, Built by J. & G. Forbes, Sandhaven. Launched 17 January 1942. Completed April 1942. Sold 1947.
Like many of the Wildfire III, Queenborough MMS 190 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.
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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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