MMS-class (105ft) , BNC M940 - Stable patrol and de-mining the coast

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The M940 (ex-MMS 182) was a Belgian postwar minesweeper of the MMS-class (Motor Minesweeper), originally constructed for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Built at F. Curtiss shipyards in Newcastle and launched in May 1942, she served in British hands before being transferred to Belgium on 8 May 1946. Initially designated M182, she was renumbered M940 in 1950 and remained in service until her decommissioning in July 1954. Her main role was postwar mine clearance in Belgian waters, although like her sister ships she also carried out patrol duties. Armed with 1 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannon and 2 × 12.7 mm Browning machine guns, she was lightly armed compared to wartime fits, but sufficient for her intended peacetime tasks.

TL;DR: Belgian MMS-class minesweeper M940, postwar wooden vessel with 1 × 20 mm and 2 × 12.7 mm armament. Suitable as a rank I coastal craft.

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M940 here as M(MS)182 in 1946

History

History

Construction

  • Shipyard: F. Curtiss, Totness, Newcastle
  • Laid down: 2 September 1941
  • Launched: 2 May 1942
  • Commissioned (RN): 11 September 1942

Initially serving under the Royal Navy as MMS 182, she displaced 163 tons standard and 175 tons full load, being part of the 105 ft MMS-class designed for shallow-water minesweeping.

Belgian Service

Transferred on 8 May 1946 to the Belgian Navy, the vessel was renamed M182. She was later renumbered M940 in 1950, serving until July 1954. In Belgian service she undertook:

  • Coastal mine clearance in Belgian and North Sea waters
  • Secondary duties such as patrol and fisheries protection

Finally, she was sold on 25 August 1955 to A.R. Challis Ltd in London.

Commanding Officers (Belgian service)

Name Period of Command
Lt. de Vaisseau N.J.A. Steens 8 May 1946 – 16 Sep 1947
Lt. de Vaisseau Grandjean 16 Sep 1947 – 3 May 1948
Lt. de Vaisseau De Giey 3 May 1948 – 5 Jan 1949
Lt. de Vaisseau De Schutter 5 Jan 1949 – 7 Mar 1949
Lt. de Vaisseau Steens 7 Mar 1949 – 7 Feb 1950
Lt. de Vaisseau De Schietere de Lophem 7 Feb 1950 – 15 Aug 1950
Enseigne de Vaisseau Lemaire 15 Aug 1950 – 16 Oct 1950
Lt. de Vaisseau Depierre 16 Oct 1950 – 22 Sep 1951
Aspirant De Grande 22 Sep 1951 – 7 Apr 1952
Enseigne de Vaisseau Troipont 7 Apr 1952 – 27 Oct 1952
Aspirant De Grande 27 Oct 1952 – 15 Nov 1953

Specifications

Dimensions:

  • Length: 36 m (32 m pp)
  • Beam: 7.18 m
  • Draught: 2.51 m

Displacement: 163 t standard, 175 t full load

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 M940 would be an ideal rank I coastal vessel for the BeNeLux naval tree. Its extremely light armament and slow speed would make it a fragile, niche vessel, but one well suited for low-tier gameplay.

It could be added as:

  • A rank I tech tree vessel in a BeNeLux tree
  • A French coastal fleet Benelux subtree addition
  • Alternatively, as a premium/event ship in the British tree

Pictures

Pictures

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Arrival at port, 1946

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Moored in 1946, note the different paint scheme

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Core crew in 1946

Sources

Sources
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2

+1 could be a good premium

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3

It would be one of the better picks for placement in the British tree, as it was also used extensively for British crew to train on with Belgian sailors.

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