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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|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 a 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 guns 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 ''MMS-1'' to ''MMS-118'', ''MMS-123'' to ''MMS-313'' and ''MMS-1001'' to ''MMS-1090'', the
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.
The motor minesweepers had limited use post-war and were quickly disposed of.
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>
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>McMurtrie and Blackman 1949, p. 115</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>
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