- Yes
- No
- (independent) BeNeLux tree
- France: BeNeLux subtree
- Britain
- other
- no/negative
The M941 (ex-MMS 187) was a Belgian postwar minesweeper of the MMS-class (Motor Minesweeper), built in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Constructed at R. Irving shipyards in Peterhead, she was laid down in September 1941, launched in April 1942, and entered service with the Royal Navy in July 1942. Initially serving as MMS 187, she was later transferred to Belgium on 8 May 1946. Renumbered M941 in 1950, she remained in service with the Belgian Naval Force until July 1954. Like her sisters, M941’s role was primarily postwar mine clearance in Belgian and North Sea waters, though she also performed fisheries protection and patrol duties. Her armament was modest, consisting of 1 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannon and 2 × 12.7 mm Browning machine guns, reflecting her peacetime tasks rather than combat operations.
TL;DR: Belgian MMS-class minesweeper M941, wooden postwar minesweeper with 1 × 20 mm and 2 × 12.7 mm. A niche Rank I BeNeLux coastal craft.
History
History
Construction
- Shipyard: R. Irving, Peterhead, Scotland (UK)
- Laid down: 2 September 1941
- Launched: 2 April 1942
- Commissioned (RN): 8 July 1942
Initially serving under the Royal Navy as MMS 187, she displaced 163 tons standard and 175 tons full load, belonging to the 105 ft MMS-class of shallow-water minesweepers, ideal for the North Sea.
Belgian Service
On 8 May 1946, she was transferred to the Belgian Navy and entered service as M187, later renumbered M941 in 1950. In Belgian service she performed:
- Mine clearance in the Belgian coast and North Sea
- Patrol and fisheries protection
- Limited hydrographic research duties (shared with her sister M947)
She remained in service until 25 July 1954, before being sold to A.R. Challis Ltd. in London on 25 August 1955.
Commanding Officers (Belgian service)
Name Period of Command T/Lt. Cecil Postlethwaite Inman, RNVR 20 Jun 1942 – 1 Oct 1943 Lt. W.J.M. Deketelaere, RNR 1 Oct 1943 – 31 Jan 1946 Lt. de Vaisseau W.J.M. Deketelaere 1 Feb 1946 – 22 Jun 1946 Lt. de Vaisseau De Schutter 22 Jun 1946 – 5 Nov 1946 Lt. de Vaisseau De Giey 8 Jan 1947 – 18 Apr 1949 Lt. de Vaisseau De Schutter 18 Apr 1949 – 8 Dec 1950 Lt. de Vaisseau Grandjean 8 Dec 1950 – 22 Sep 1951 Aspirant Van Boeckel 22 Sep 1951 – 7 Apr 1952 Enseigne de Vaisseau Dumont 7 Apr 1952 – 3 Nov 1952 Aspirant Devillers 4 Nov 1952 – 3 Apr 1953 Aspirant Nevens 19 Apr 1953 – 19 Apr 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 M941 would be another excellent rank I coastal vessel for a BeNeLux naval tree. Its extremely light armament and slow speed make it unsuitable for higher ranks but ideal for an introductory vehicle.
Possible additions include:
- A rank I tech tree vessel in a BeNeLux tree
- A French coastal fleet Benelux subtree option
- Alternatively, a premium/event ship in the British tree
Pictures
Pictures
As M941 in Ostend
Sources
Sources
- Marine Belge. (n.d.-b). MMS187. Retrieved from https://marinebelge.be/mms187.html
- Netherlands Navy. (n.d.). 105ft MMS class. Retrieved from https://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/105ft.htm
- Wikipedia. (2023, May 1). MMS-class minesweeper. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMS-class_minesweeper
- Nautical Archaeology Society. (n.d.). Minesweeper MMS 113. Retrieved from https://www.nauticalarchaeologysociety.org/minesweeper-mms113
- World Naval Ships Forums. (2008). MMS class minesweepers. Retrieved from https://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/thread.php?threadid=381