MSI Ham Type Herstal-class inshore minesweeper, BNC M473 Lokeren

Suggestions Naval
1
Would you like to see this in-game?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters
Where would you like to see this vehicle?
  • (independent) BeNeLux tree
  • France: BeNeLux subtree
  • other
  • no/negative
0 voters
Which version should be added?
  • twin 12.7 mm Browning
  • twin 20 mm Oerlikon
  • no/negative
0 voters

The M473 Lokeren was one of Belgium’s MSI-class inshore minesweepers (dragueurs de mines de petit fond), commissioned in August 1958 at the Mercantile Marine Yard in Kruibeke. These compact wooden-hulled ships were designed to hunt and sweep mines in coastal and riverine waters, combining non-magnetic hull design with versatile mine countermeasures.

The Lokeren followed the standard MSI armament of a twin 12.7 mm Browning or a twin 20 mm Oerlikon, giving her useful light anti-air and close defense capability. She remained in service with the Belgian Naval Force for nearly 30 years, before being decommissioned on 1 February 1987 and later sold to Danish breakers in 1990.

TL;DR: Belgian MSI-class minesweeper M473 Lokeren, armed with twin .50 cal Browning and twin 20 mm Oerlikon, served 1958–1987.

image

M473 Lokeren underway during Belgian Navy service.

History

History

The M473 Lokeren was laid down on 18 May 1957 and commissioned on 8 August 1958. Sponsored by the city of Lokeren, she carried the callsign ORHJ.

image

Like all MSI-class vessels, she was built with a wooden hull and non-magnetic fittings, designed for Cold War mine warfare in rivers and shallow seas. With two Nuove Reggiane diesel engines producing 1260 hp, she reached speeds of up to 15 knots with a range of 2,300 nm at 10 knots.

Commanded by Wilfried Carlier, she spent her entire career in Belgian service, fitted with successive radar upgrades from the Decca 707 (1958–1970) to the Decca 1216 (1970–1987).

After nearly three decades, she was decommissioned on 1 February 1987 and sold for scrapping to Danish Breakers in 1990.

Specifications (M473 Lokeren)

Displacement:

  • 173.12 t (freshwater, full load)
  • 177.55 t (saltwater, full load)

Dimensions:

  • Length overall: 34.44 m
  • Length between P/P: 32.46 m
  • Beam: 6.65 m (max) / 6.58 m (waterline)
  • Depth: 3.65 m
  • Draught: 1.80 m (2.10 m max)
  • Waterline length: 12.20 m
  • Range: 2,300 nm @ 10 knots

Propulsion:

  • 2 × Nuove Reggiane diesels, 2 shafts
  • 1260 hp total
  • Fuel: 18 t diesel

Speed: 15 knots

Crew: 18 (2 officers, 7 petty officers, 9 sailors)

Electronics:

  • Decca 707 radar (1958–1970)
  • Decca 1216 radar (1970–1987)

Armament:

  • 1 × twin 12.7 mm Browning MG
    OR
  • 1 × twin 20 mm Oerlikon AA gun

Mine Warfare Gear: Acoustic, magnetic, and mechanical sweeps
Construction: Wooden hull, non-magnetic fittings

Place in War Thunder

Regarding nations

BeNeLux

The Lokeren would fit well in a BeNeLux coastal fleet line, representing a late Cold War Belgian minesweeper.

France (BeNeLux subtree)

Alternatively, she could be integrated into the French naval tree as part of a BeNeLux subtree.

Pictures

Pictures

image
image800×1109 212 KB

image
image
image
image1024×961 77.5 KB

image
image

Sources

Sources

Anrys, H., De Decker de Brandeken, J.-M., & Eygenraam, P. (1992). De zeemacht: van de admiraliteit van Vlaanderen tot de Belgische zeemacht. Tielt.

Dragueurs de mines belges de type MSI. (2023). Wikipedia. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragueurs_de_mines_belges_de_type_MSI

Hofkens, L. (2021). Officiële eigendomsoverdracht van de mijnenveger M477 Oudenaarde. Ruimschoots, 22(1).

Jalon, R. (2010). De MSI 477 “Oudenaarde” in de watten gelegd door een enthousiaste ploeg vrijwilligers. Ruimschoots, 10(4).

Masset, F., & Grimbergs, E. (2015). MSI M477 Oudenaarde. Ruimschoots, 15(3), 21–23.

NavSource Naval History. (2023). Mine Warfare Vessel Photo Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2023, from http://www.navsource.org/archives/11/0583.htm

Van Beylen, J., et al. (1972). Maritieme Encyclopedie (Vol. 5). Bussum.

Belgian Navy Forum. (n.d.). MSI mine sweeper inshore. Archived at: https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.belgian-navy.be%2Ff13-msi-mine-sweeper-inshore

Belgian MSC/MSI Archive. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbelgian-msc-msi.doomby.com%2F