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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
MMS 211
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 211, Built by Herd & McKenzie, Buckie. Launched 18 July 1942. Completed November 1942. Sold November 1945.
Like many of the Wildfire III, Queenborough MMS 211 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.
1 May 1945. Kristian E. ERIKSEN, Signalman, D/Dane/X 63, killed.
OFFICERS from the Navy List June 1943.
(Rank. Name, Date joined ship.)
Temp. Skipper Lieut. RNR, R. J. Read (Act.) In command. 19 Oct 42.
Temp. Skipper RNR, D. Falconer. 19 Oct 42.
OFFICERS from the Navy List Dec. 1943.
Temp. Skipper Lieut. RNR, R. J. Read (Act.) In command. 19 Oct 42.
Temp. Skipper RNR, D. Falconer. 19 Oct 42.
OFFICERS from the Navy List June. 1944.
Skipper Lieut. RNR, A. Cowie (Act) (In Command) 24 Nov 43.
OFFICERS from the Navy List January 1945.
Skipper Lieut. RNR, A. Cowie (Act) (In Command) 24 Nov 43.
OFFICERS from the Navy List July 1945.
Temp. Skipper Lieut. RNR, J. H. Miller. (Act) (In Command) 5 May 45.
Motor Minesweeper MMS 211 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.