MMS-class minesweeper: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|1940 class of British minesweepers}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}

{{nomore footnotes needed|date=February 2013}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin |sclass=2}}

{{Infobox ship image

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|Name=

|Builders=

|Operators=* {{navy|UKUnited Kingdom}}

* {{naval|Canada|1911}}

* {{navy|British Raj}}

* {{navy|Free France}}

* {{navy|Kingdom of Greece}}

* {{navy|Netherlands}}

* {{flagicon|Belgium|government}} [[Free Belgian Forces|Free Belgian Navy]]

* {{navy|Norway}}

* {{navy|Soviet Union}}

* {{navy|Italy}}

|Class before=

|Class after=

|Subclasses={{sclass-|Llewellyn|minesweeper|4}}

|Cost=

|Built range=1940–1945

|In service range=

|In commission range=

|Total ships building=

|Total ships planned=

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|Header caption=

|Ship type=[[Minesweeper]]

|Ship displacement= {{convert|240|-|250|LT|t|0|lk=on}}

|Ship length=* {{convert|105|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|p/p]]

* {{convert|119|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|o/a]]

|Ship beam= {{convert|23|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|Ship height=

|Ship draught= {{convert|9|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}

|Ship depth=

|Ship propulsion=Diesel engine, {{convert|375|-|425|bhp|0|abbr=on}}

|Ship speed= {{convert|12|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|0}}

|Ship range=

|Ship endurance=

|Ship complement=20

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|Ship EW=

|Ship armament=*2 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]] AA guns

* 2 × machine guns

|Ship armour=

|Ship notes=

}}

|}

The British [[Royal Navy]] operated large numbers of small Motor Minesweepers (MMS) during the [[Second World War]], in two major classes,: the first with {{convert|105|ft|m|abbr=on}} hulls (of which 294 were built) and the second with {{convert|126|ft|m|abbr=on}} hulls (of which 102 were built). Intended to counter [[Naval mine#Influence mines|magnetic influence mines]] in coastal waters, they had wooden hulls.

==105 ft MMS==

In the early months of the [[Second World War]], Germany made extensive use of magnetic mines, which led to a requirement for a wooden minesweeper, less vulnerable than steel [[Naval trawler|trawlers]].<ref name="bwnp141">{{Harvnb|Brown|2000|p=141}}</ref> The resultant design, the 105 &nbsp;ft-class<ref name="wrp56">{{harvnb|Worth|1984|p=56}}</ref> (also known as the ''MMS 1'' series<ref name="jfsww2">{{harvnb|Preston|1989|p=76}}</ref> and later the Type 1501 series<ref name="jfs53p67">{{harvnb|Blackman|1953|p=67}}</ref>) was built between 1940 and 1944.<ref name="wrp56"/>

They were {{convert|105|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} [[length between perpendiculars|long between perpendiculars]],<ref name="wrp56"/> with an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|119|ft|4|in|abbr=on}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|23|ft|5|in|abbr=on}} and a [[Draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|8|ft|9|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name="conways22p72">{{harvnb|Gardiner|Chesneau|1980|p=72}}</ref> [[Displacement (ship)|Displacement]] was {{convert|240–255|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="jfsww2"/><ref name="jfs53p67"/> They were powered by a {{convert|500|bhp|kW|abbr=on}} [[diesel engine]], giving a speed of {{convert|11|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="wrp56"/><ref name="lcp583">{{harvnb|Lenton|Colledge|1973|p=583}}</ref> Their major minesweeping equipment was the LL sweep,<ref name="bwnp141"/> where two minesweepers operating side-by-side each trailed two buoyant cables with electrodes at the end of the cables. Pulsing a high current through the cables generated a magnetic field sufficient to set off mines over an area of about {{convert|1|acre}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Cowie|1949|pp=128–129}}</ref> They were later fitted with an SA sweep to deal with acoustic mines, which consisted of aan acoustic hammer box mounted on an A-frame on the ship's bow, which could be lowered into the water when required.<ref name="bwnp141"/> The ships did not have enough towing power to use conventional contact sweeps for dealing with moored contact mines.<ref name="bwnp141"/> Defensive armament consisted of two 0.5 inch machine funsguns and/or one or two [[Oerlikon 20mm cannon]]s. The ships had a complement of 20 men.<ref name="conways22p72"/>

The coastal minesweepers had [[pennant number]]s MMS1''MMS-1'' to MMS312''MMS-118'', ''MMS-123'' to ''MMS-313'' and MMS1001''MMS-1001'' to MMS1090''MMS-1090'', the last group measuring 126 feet between perpendiculars. They were nicknamed "Mickey Mouse" from their initials.

The motor minesweepers had limited use post-war and were quickly disposed of. By 1949, only four remained in service in the Royal Navy: ''St. David'' (''MMS-1733'', ex-''MMS-233''), ''Venturer'' (''MMS-1761'', ex-''MMS-261''), ''MMS-1717'' (ex-''MMS-217'') and ''MMS-1736'' (ex-''MMS-236''). ''St. David'' and ''Venturer'' were tenders to [[RNVR]] divisions.<ref name="McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 61">McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 61</ref>

Although the motor minesweepers lacked the power to tow sweeps for contact mines they were suitable for handling equipment for combating magnetic mines and some later models were fitted with an acoustic hammer on a retractable "A" frame over the bow for countering acoustic mines.

Ten had been built for the [[Royal Canadian Navy]], ''Coquitlam'', ''Crankbrook'', ''Daerwood'', ''Kalamalka'', ''La Vallée'', ''Llewellyn'', ''Lloyd George'', ''Revelstoke'', ''Rossland'' and ''St. Joseph''. By 1946 only ''Llewellyn'', ''Lloyd George'' and ''Revelstoke'' were still in service.<ref>Preston, p. 92.</ref><ref>McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 92.</ref>

The motor minesweepers had limited use post-war so they were quickly disposed of. Three were transferred by [[Lend-Lease]] to the [[Soviet Navy]].

Five were built for the [[Royal Indian Navy]], ''MMS-129'', ''130'', ''131'', ''132'' (renamed ''Barq'') and ''154''; ''MMS-151'' was transferred later. Four remained in service in 1949: ''Barq'' and ''MMS-130'', ''151'' and ''154''<ref>Preston, p. 98</ref><ref>McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 98</ref>

During the war, ''MMS-43'', ''45'', ''75'', ''79'', ''112'', ''182'', ''187'', ''188'', ''189'' and ''193'' were manned by Belgian personnel. As late as 1949, ''MMS-182'', ''187'', ''188'', ''189'', ''191'', ''193'' and ''266'' were on loan to the [[Belgian Navy]].<ref>Gardiner & Chesneau 1980, pp. 72, 385</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 115</ref>

Sixteen were transferred to the [[French Navy]]: ''D241'' (ex-''MMS-21''; later ''D361''), ''D242'' (ex-''MMS-184''; later ''D362''), ''D251'' (ex-''MMS-47''; later ''D363''), ''D252'' (ex-''MMS-9''; later ''D364''), ''D261'' (ex-''MMS-116''; later ''D365''), ''D262'' (ex-''MMS-118''; later ''D366'), ''D291'' (ex-''MMS-133''; later ''D367''), ''D292'' (ex-''MMS-134''; later ''D368''), ''D371'' (ex-''MMS-221''), ''D372'' (ex-''MMS-202''), ''D373'' (ex-MMS-220''), ''D374'' (ex-''MMS-91''), ''D375'' (ex-''MMS-75''), ''D376'' (ex-''MMS-204''), ''D377'' (ex-''MMS-49'') and ''D378'' (ex-''MMS-13''). All were returned to the [[Royal Navy]] in October 1947.<ref>Preston, p. 136</ref><ref>Gardiner & Chesneau 1980, p. 277</ref>

Eleven were transferred to the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]]; two were lost, one returned to the RN, and eight were retained postwar. The 11 vessels were: ''Ameland'' (ex-''MMS-231''), ''Beveland'' (ex-''MMS-237''), ''Marken'' (i) (ex-''MMS-227'', lost 20 May 1944), {{HNLMS|Marken|1944|2}}'' (ii) (ex-''MMS-54''), ''Putten'' (ex-''MMS-138''), ''Rozenburg'' (ex-''MMS-292''), ''Terschelling'' (i) (ex-''MMS-174'', lost 12 July 1942), ''Terschelling (ii) (ex-''MMS-234''), ''Texel'' (i) (ex-''MMS-173'', returned to RN November 1942), ''Texel'' (ii) (ex-''MMS-73''), and ''Vlieland'' (ex-''MMS-226''). ''Vlieland'' was lost in Indonesian waters in November 1951.<ref>Preston, p. 212</ref><ref>McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 234</ref><ref name="Gardiner & Chesneau 1980, p. 394">Gardiner & Chesneau 1980, p. 394</ref>

Seventeen were loaned to the [[Italian Navy]]: ''MMS-10'', ''32'', ''34'', ''35'', ''48'', ''50'', ''99'', ''100'', ''102-106'', ''135'', ''167'', ''172'' and ''185''. The first to be returned to the Royal Navy were ''MMS-34'' and ''35'', in August 1949.<ref>McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 217</ref>

Eight were transferred to the [[Royal Hellenic Navy]] in 1946: ''Andros'' (ex HMS ''MMS-310'', J810), ''Argyrokastron'' (ex-HMS ''MMS-58'', J558), ''Chimarra'' (ex-HMS ''MMS-1'' J501), ''Korytsa'' (ex-HMS ''MMS-53'', J553), ''Mikonos'' (ex-HMS ''MMS-5'', J505), ''Syros'' (ex-HMS ''MMS-313'', J813), ''Tepeleni'' (ex-HMS ''MMS-46'', J546), and ''Tinos'' (ex-HMS ''MMS-144'', J644).<ref>McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p.202</ref>

Three were transferred by [[Lend-Lease]] to the [[Soviet Navy]], ''T-108'', ''109'' and ''110'' (ex-''MMS-90'', ''203'' and ''212'', respectively).<ref name="ReferenceB">McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 293</ref>

=== Newfoundland MMS ===

''MMS-119-122'' were built in [[Newfoundland]] in 1941-42 and requisitioned by the Royal Navy. They were larger than the ''MMS-1'' type but smaller than the ''MMS-1001'' and ''BYMS-1'' types, and had a top speed of 9 knots. The four vessels were renamed ''Emberley'', ''Oderin'', ''Marticot'' and ''Mervasheen'', respectively, as [[danlayer]]s in 1942.

==126 ft MMS==

This type comprised 90 vessels for the Royal Navy, numbered ''MMS-1001-1090'', and 16 laid down for the Royal Canadian Navy but never delivered to that Service. They measured 126 feet long between perpendiculars and 139 feet 9 inches to 140 feet overall. Displacements were 360 tons standard and 430 tons deep load. A one-shaft diesel provided 1,000 bhp for a speed of 10 knots. Armament during the war comprised two 20mm guns with a few armed with four 20mm; the survivors with the RN in 1949 were armed with two 20mm and two machine guns.<ref name="McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 61"/>

By 1949, only 12 vessels of the type remained in RN service. Of these, ''MMS-1060'' and ''1061'' were in use as minesweepers, while ''1003'', ''1004'' and ''1011'' were described in ''Jane's Fighting Ships'' as "mobile wiping deperming units." Seven were in use as tenders to [[RNVR]] divisions: ''Bernicia'' (ex-''MMS-1090''), ''Curzon'' (ex-''MMS-1017''), ''Graham'' (ex-''MMS-1045''), ''hUMBER'' (EX-''mms-1030''), ''Kilmorey'' (ex-''MMS-1034''), ''Mersey'' (ex-''MMS-1075'') and ''Montrose'' (ex-''MMS-1077'').<ref name="McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 61"/>

Six were transferred to the [[French Navy]]: ''D341'' (ex-''MMS-1069''), ''D342'' (ex-''MMS-1054''), ''D343'' (ex-''MMS-1065''), ''D344'' (ex-''MMS-1055''), ''D345'' (ex-''MMS-1070'') and ''D346'' (ex-''MMS-1056''). All were returned to the RN for disposal in October 1947<ref>Preston, p. 135</ref>

Eight were transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy: ''Duiveland'' (ex-''MMS-1044''), ''Ijselmond'' (ex-''MMS-1026''), ''Overflakee'' (ex-''MMS-1046''), ''Schokland'' (ex-''MMS-1082''), ''Tholen'' (ex-''MMS-1014''), ''Voorne'' (ex-''MMS-1043''), ''Wieringen'' (ex-''MMS-1025'') and ''Walcheren'' (ex-''MMS-1042'')<ref>Preston, p. 212.</ref><ref name="Gardiner & Chesneau 1980, p. 394"/>

''MMS-1085'' and ''1086'' were transferred to the [[Royal Norwegian Navy]], where they were named ''Orka'' and ''Vefsna'', respectively They were retained postwar.<ref>McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 243</ref>

Of the 16 laid down for the RCN, ''Ash Lake'', ''Birch Lake'', ''Cherry Lake'', ''Fir Lake'', ''Maple Lake'' and ''Oak Lake'', were cancelled. The remaining ten - ''Alder Lake'', ''Beech Lake'', ''Cedar Lake'', ''Elm Lake'', ''Hickory Lake'', ''Larch Lake'', ''Pine Lake'', ''Poplar Lake'', ''Spruce Lake'' and ''Willow Lake'' - were transferred to the Soviet Navy as ''T-193-202''.<ref>Preston, p. 239</ref><ref name="ReferenceB"/> Two others were transferred from the RN to the Soviet Navy: ''T-121'' and ''122'' (ex-''MMS-1005'' and ''1023'').

''MMS-1020'' was loaned postwar to the [[Belgian Navy]] for use as a fishery protection vessel.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

==References==

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==Bibliography==

* {{cite book |editor-last=Blackman |editor-first=Raymond V. B. |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54 |year=1953 |___location=New York |publisher=McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc. }}

* {{cite book |last=Brown |first=David K. |title=Nelson to Vanguard: Warship Design and Development 1923–1945 |year=2000 |___location=Barnsley, UK |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |isbn=978-1-84832-149-6}}

* {{cite book |last=Cowie |first=J. S. |title=Mines, Minelayers and Minelaying |year=1949 |___location=London |publisher=Oxford University Press}}

* {{cite book |editor-last1=Gardiner |editor-first1=Robert |editor-last2=Chesneau |editor-first2=Roger |title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |year=1980 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |___location=London |isbn=0-85177-146-7}}

* {{cite book |last=Preston |first=Antony |title=Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II |year=1989 |___location=London |publisher=Studio Publishing |isbn=1-85170-194-X}}

* {{cite book |last1=Lenton |first1=H. T. |last2=Colledge |first2=J. J. |title=Warships of World War II |year=1973 |edition=2nd |___location=London |publisher=Ian Allan |isbn=0-7110-0403-X}}

* McMurtrie, Francis E., and Blackman, Raymond V.B. (1949). ''Jane's Fighting Ships 1949-50.'' New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc.

*{{cite book |last=Melvin |first=Michael J. |title=Minesweeper, The Role of the Motor Minesweepers in World War II |year=1992 |___location=Worcester, UK |publisher=Square One Publishing |isbn=1-872017-57-6}}

* {{cite book |last=WorthMelvin |first=JackMichael J. |title=BritishMinesweeper, WarshipsThe SinceRole 1945:of Partthe 4:Motor Minesweepers in World War II |year=19841992 |___location=LiskeardWorcester, UK |publisher=MaritimeSquare One BooksPublishing |isbn=01-907771872017-1257-26}}

* {{cite book |last=MelvinWorth |first=Michael J.Jack |title=Minesweeper,British TheWarships RoleSince of1945: thePart Motor4: Minesweepers in World War II |year=19921984 |___location=WorcesterLiskeard, UK |publisher=Square OneMaritime PublishingBooks |isbn=10-872017907771-5712-62}}

==External links==

{{Commons category|MMS class minesweepers}}

* http://www.navypedia.org/ships/russia/ru_ms_t108.htm

{{WWII British ships}}

[[Category:Mine warfare vessel classes]]