MMS.79, J597. Built by George Forbes, Peterhead, England. Commissioned 21 Sep 1941.
9th January 1942. HMS Destroyer VIMIERA when escorting an FS Convoy hit a mine and blew up in the Thames Estuary within sight of Sheerness. The whole ship forward of the aft funnel disintegrated and over 70 died. Wildfire III vessels helped in the rescue of survivors. Motor Mine Sweeper MMS 19 rescued 24 men from the stricken vessel and MMS 79 took off three more. The minesweeping trawler HMT Soranus rescued eight badly wounded from the water.
Like many of the Wildfire III, Queenborough minesweepers, MMS 79 took part in the D-day landings and “Operation Calendar Two” clearing the vital waterway of the Scheldt Estuary of mines and opening up the port of Antwerp to resupply Allied troops.
OFFICERS from Navy List December 1942
(Rank. Name, Date joined ship.)
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. J. H. C. Collier. 15 Jul 1941
Temp. Sub Lieutenant RNVR. F. Diggles. 9 July 1941.
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1943
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. J. H. C. Collier. 15 Jul 1941
Temp. Sub Lieutenant RNVR. F. Diggles. 9 July 1941.
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1944
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. J. H. C. Collier. 15 Jul 1941
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. A. F. B. Lacey. 15 May 44
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
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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MMS 79
Motor Mine Sweeper MMS 79
MMS 79 moored next to MMS 77
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.