Motor Minesweeper 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.
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MMS 8
Watch these short videos about the Wildfire III Minesweepers.
Minesweepers: https://youtu.be/aTsYiZFzv5M
D-day minesweepers: https://youtu.be/ZjlA5LxCAsg
Motor Minesweeper. (Note, the Acoustic “hammer” on the bow in the up position for acoustic mines, the drum on the stern for the LL cables to detonate magnetic mines and the anti-aircraft gun behind the cut away funnel.)
MMS 8, J 508. Build by Richards Ironworks Ltd., Lowestoft, England. Commissioned 8 Jan 1941.
24 Jun 1944. Sunk. Detonated a mine and sunk off Normandy while sweeping for mines off the D-day landing beaches.
Crew lost.
BALL, John E, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 263181, MPK
BARRETT, Jack H, Ty/Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK
BROWN, George, Steward, RNPS, LT/LX 576566, MPK
BUTLER, Jack, Wireman, C/MX 118178, MPK DARBY, John D, Ty/Lieutenant, RNVR, killed
DUNKS, James, Ordinary Signalman, RNPS, LT/JX 424171, MPK
KNOPP, Harry, Engineman, RNPS, LT/KX 149345, MPK
MACCUISH, John, Ordinary Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 529961, killed
MESSENGER, John A, Stoker, RNPS, LT/KX 596821, MPK
MOYSE, Ernest B, Leading Cook, RNPS, LT/MX 120230, MPK
REDMILE, John A, Leading Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 172993, MPK
TAYLOR, Clifford, Stoker 1c, RNPS, LT/KX 158763, killed
TREDGETT, Herbert J, Engineman, LT/JX 150237, MPK
WOODS, Alfred W, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 221574, MPK
OFFICERS from Navy List December 1942
(Rank. Name, Date joined ship.)
Temp. Lieutenant F. L. Perkins, RNVR. DSC. 3 Feb 1941
Temp. Sub Lieutenant K. Hodson. 17 March 42
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1943
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. G. A. Moritz. In Command. 1 Feb 43.
Temp. Sub Lieutenant. RNVR. G. R. B. Smith. 6 March 43.
OFFICERS from Navy List June 1944
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. J. H. Barrett, In Command. 16 Feb 44. Killed when MMS detonated mine.
Temp. Lieutenant. RNVR. J. D. Darby. 14 Jan 44.