- Yes
- No
- (independent) BeNeLux tree
- France: BeNeLux subtree
- Britain
- other
- no/negative
The MMS-class 105 ft minesweepers were small wooden-hulled vessels originally built for the Royal Navy during World War II. After 1945, Belgium received several of these ships, which entered service with the Belgian Navy between 1946 and 1954. Designated M182–M193 and later renumbered M940–M946, these minesweepers were used primarily for clearing mines in Belgian and North Sea waters. A further vessel, M1020 (later M947), was also acquired and served as both a guardship and a hydrographic survey vessel. In Belgian service, the ships were equipped with 1 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannon and 2 × 12.7 mm Browning machine guns, significantly lighter than the heavier British wartime fits. They carried out their intended purpose of post-war mine clearance but also served in secondary roles such as fisheries protection and coastal patrol. Their small size, limited speed, and very light armament place them in the category of coastal craft.
TL;DR: Belgian MMS-class minesweepers, postwar wooden vessels with 1 × 20 mm and 2 × 12.7 mm armament. Ideal as low-rank coastal craft.
History
History
Origins
The MMS-class (Motor Minesweeper) was designed during WWII as a response to the growing threat of German magnetic and acoustic mines (Wikipedia, 2023; Nautical Archaeology Society, n.d.). With a wooden hull to reduce magnetic signatures, simple diesel engines, and specialized sweeping gear, they became the backbone of Allied coastal mine clearance. Over 400 were built, serving not only in the Royal Navy but later transferred to many Allied navies. Several of these ships were fully staffed by sailors of the Free Belgian forces and would fly the Belgian tricolours during their whole service life.
Christmas card from aboard the MMS 191 (later re-named the M944), note the Belgian flags.Belgian Service
Belgium received seven of these vessels after the war, beginning in May 1946. They were numbered in the M180–M190 range, later reclassified into the M940 series in 1950. An eight ship, M1020, was also acquired and renumbered M947. This last vessel was modified for fisheries patrol and hydrographic research and was of the 120 ft MMS-class.
The following table summarizes their service:
Original Number Belgian Number (post-1950) Service Period Notes M182 M940 1946–1954 Minesweeping duties M187 M941 1946–1954 Minesweeping duties M188 M942 1946–1954 Minesweeping duties M189 M943 1946–1954 Minesweeping duties M191 M944 1946–1954 Minesweeping duties M193 M945 1946–1954 Minesweeping duties M266 M946 1946–1954 Minesweeping duties All Belgian MMS-class vessels were decommissioned by July 1954, as larger and more capable ships such as the BNC Algerine-class Minesweepers replaced them.
Specifications
Dimensions:
- Length: 36 m (32 m pp)
- Beam: 7.18 m
- Draught: 2.51 m
Displacement: ~340 tons
Propulsion:
- 1 × National diesel engine (375 hp)
- 1 shaft, 1 propeller
- Fuel: 22 tons of diesel
Speed:
- 9.5–10 knots
- 7 knots while sweeping
Range: 4,000 nautical miles at 7 knots
Crew: 18 (2 officers + 16 men)
Minesweeping gear:
- Magnetic sweep LL (Mark II or IV)
Armament:
Weapon Type Mounting Quantity Oerlikon 20 mm cannon Single mount 1 Browning M2 12.7 mm MG Single mount 2
Place in War Thunder
The Belgian MMS-class 105 ft minesweepers would serve as rank I vessels for the BeNeLux naval tree. Their light armament and slow speed would make them fragile, but they provide enough to take on most 1.0-1.7 craft.
They would be best suited as:
- A rank I tech tree vessel for an independent BeNeLux tech tree.
- Alternatively, part of the French coastal fleet Benelux subtree.
- They could also serve as a foreign vessel in the British tech tree.
Pictures
Sources
Sources
Marine Belge. (n.d.-a). MMS182. from https://marinebelge.be/mms182.html
Marine Belge. (n.d.-b). MMS187. from https://marinebelge.be/mms187.html
Marine Belge. (n.d.-c). MMS188. from https://marinebelge.be/mms188.html
Marine Belge. (n.d.-d). MMS189. from https://marinebelge.be/mms189.html
Marine Belge. (n.d.-e). MMS191. from https://marinebelge.be/mms191.html
Marine Belge. (n.d.-f). MMS193. from https://marinebelge.be/mms193.html
Marine Belge. (n.d.-g). MMS226. from https://marinebelge.be/mms226.html
Marine Belge. (n.d.-h). MMS1020. from https://marinebelge.be/mms1020.html
Military History Fandom. (n.d.). MMS-class minesweeper. In Military Wiki. Retrieved August 25, 2025, from https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/MMS-class_minesweeper
Nautical Archaeology Society. (n.d.). Minesweeper MMS 113. Retrieved August 25, 2025, from https://www.nauticalarchaeologysociety.org/minesweeper-mms113
Netherlands Navy. (n.d.). 105ft MMS class. from https://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/105ft.htm
Wikipedia. (2023, May 1). MMS-class minesweeper. In Wikipedia. from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMS-class_minesweeper
World Naval Ships Forums. (2008). MMS class minesweepers. from https://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/thread.php?threadid=381