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MMS 69
Motor Minesweeper MMS 69 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.
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
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 exploded the acoustic mine. 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 detonated the magnetic mine.
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 69, Built by Richard Ironworks, Lowerstoft. Launched 22 November 1941. Sold April 1954.
MMS 69 formed part of the 110th Flotilla, Nore Command.
5 Nov 44. DEAN, Raymond A, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 175049, MPK (Missing Presumed Killed)
MMS 69 took part in Operation Calendar Two, clearing the Scheldt Estuary of mines and opening up the port of Antwerp to supply the Allied armies who by then had over extended supply lines reaching all the way back to the Normandy Landing Beaches.
The men of the MMS 69 received high praise and awards for their courage.
MID. (Mentioned in Despatches)
Sydney George MOORE, C/MX96822, Wireman. 3 Apr 45. MID. Minesweeping - MID awarded for great gallantry and endurance in clearing the estuary of the Scheldt of mines during the period of September to November 1944.
MID. (Mentioned in Despatches)
Henry Arthur STEPHENS, LT/JX222389. PO. 3 Apr 45 MID. Minesweeping - MID awarded for great gallantry and endurance in clearing the estuary of the Scheldt of mines during the period of October to November 1944.
OFFICERS from Navy List August 1942.
Temp. Lieut., R.N.V.R., R. G. Cooper. 30 Jan 42.
Temp. Sub-Lieut., R.N.V.R., D. W. Edwards. 19 March 42.
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1943.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, W. C. T. Weekes. 7 Sept 42.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, R. H. Paddle. 23 Jan 43.
OFFICERS from Navy List Dec. 1943.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR, W. C. T. Weekes. (Act.) (In Command) 7 Sept 42.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, S. French. 18 Oct 43.
OFFICERS from Navy List June. 1944.
Temp. Lieut. Com. RNVR, W. C. T. Weekes. (Act.) (In Command) 7 Sept 42.
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR, S. French. 18 Oct 43.
OFFICERS from Navy List January 1945.
Temp. Lieut. RNVR. L. A. Levey. (In Command) 25 Aug 44
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR. S. W. H. F. Allen. 25 Aug 44.
OFFICERS from Navy List July 1945.
Temp. Lieut. Com. RNVR. L. A. Levey. (In Command) 25 Aug 44
Temp. Sub-Lieut. RNVR. S. W. H. F. Allen. 25 Aug 44.