- Yes
- No
- (independent) BeNeLux tree
- France: BeNeLux subtree
- Britain
- other
- no/negative
The M943 (ex-MMS 189) 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 Wilson Noble shipyards in Fraserburgh, Scotland, she was laid down on 2 September 1941, launched on 14 May 1942, and entered service with the Royal Navy on 19 August 1942. Initially serving as MMS 189, she was later transferred to Belgium on 8 May 1946. Renumbered M943 in 1950, she remained in service with the Belgian Naval Force until 1954. Like her sisters, M943’s role was primarily postwar mine clearance in Belgian and North Sea waters, and she also performed limited patrol and research duties. Her armament consisted of 1 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannon and 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns.
TL;DR: Belgian MMS-class minesweeper M943, wooden postwar minesweeper with 1 × 20 mm and 2 × 12.7 mm.
History
History
Construction
- Shipyard: Wilson Noble, Fraserburgh Moray Forth, Scotland (UK)
- Laid down: 2 September 1941
- Launched: 14 May 1942
- Commissioned (RN): 19 August 1942
Initially serving under the Royal Navy as MMS 189, she displaced 163 tons standard and 175 tons full load, belonging to the MMS-class of shallow-water minesweepers designed for North Sea operations.
Belgian Service
On 8 May 1946, she was transferred to the Belgian Navy as MMS 189, later renumbered M943 in 1950. In Belgian service she performed:
- Mine clearance along the Belgian coast and North Sea
- Patrol and limited hydrographic research
She remained in service until 1954, before being sold for scrapping to A.R. Challis Ltd., London on 25 August 1955.
Commanding Officers (Belgian service)
Name Period of Command Lieutenant de Vaisseau A.F. Waignien 8 May 1946 – 5 Nov 1946 Lieutenant de Vaisseau De Schutter 5 Nov 1946 – 24 Nov 1948 Lieutenant de Vaisseau Defrenne 24 Nov 1948 – 7 Mar 1949 Lieutenant de Vaisseau Van Schoonbeek 7 Mar 1949 – 26 Sep 1949 Lieutenant de Vaisseau Grandjean 26 Sep 1949 – 8 Dec 1950 Enseigne de Vaisseau Dumont 8 Dec 1950 – 22 Sep 1951 Aspirant Naudts 22 Sep 1951 – 20 Dec 1951 Enseigne de Vaisseau Lienart 20 Dec 1951 – 13 Oct 1952 Aspirant Marin 13 Oct 1952 – 29 Oct 1952 Aspirant Huberty 29 Oct 1952 – 19 Jan 1953 Aspirant Van Boeckel 19 Jan 1953 – 10 Apr 1953 Aspirant Devillers 10 Apr 1953 – 14 Jun 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 M943 would be another suitable rank I coastal vessel for the BeNeLux naval tree. Its limited armament and slow speed make it ideal as an introductory ship.
Possible additions include:
- Rank I tech tree vessel in a BeNeLux tree
- French coastal fleet BeNeLux subtree
- Premium/event ship in the British tree
Pictures
Sources
Sources
- Marine Belge. MMS189 / M943. Retrieved from https://marinebelge.be/mms189.html
- Wikipedia: MMS-class minesweeper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMS-class_minesweeper
- Netherlands Navy. 105ft MMS class. Retrieved from https://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/105ft.htm