MSI Ham Type Herstal-class inshore minesweeper, BNC M481 Tournai

[Thomas_Belgium]

Would you like to see this in-game?

• Yes
• No

Where would you like to see this vehicle?

• (independent) BeNeLux tree
• France: BeNeLux subtree
• Korean-flagged (SURO 6)
• other
• no/negative

What versions would you like to see?

• 1x twin 12.7 mm Browning
• 1x twin 20 mm Oerlikon
• both versions
• other (please comment)
• no/negative

The MSI Ham Type Herstal-class inshore minesweepers were the Belgian Navy’s Cold War workhorses for mine countermeasure operations in rivers, harbors, and coastal waters. Among them, the M481 Tournai stood out as one of the first commissioned vessels of the class. Built at the Mercantile Marine Yard in Kruibeke, it entered service in 1958 and represented Belgium’s growing emphasis on self-reliant naval defense after years of using Allied-built minesweepers. Lightly armed with either a twin 12.7 mm Browning mount or a twin 20 mm Oerlikon, the Tournai was primarily a mine warfare vessel but retained enough armament for self-defense. After only twelve years of service, it was sold in 1970.

TL;DR: A Belgian-built Cold War inshore minesweeper, the M481 Tournai served 1958–1970 before being sold. Armed with twin 12.7 mm or 20 mm guns.

History

History

The M481 Tournai was laid down at the Mercantile Marine Yard in Kruibeke, Belgium on 18 May 1956 and commissioned in July 1958. She was the 12th vessel of the MSI Ham Type Herstal-class inshore minesweepers, designed to patrol Belgium’s shallow coastal waters, rivers, and estuaries in the post-World War II era.

Upon commissioning, Tournai joined the Belgian Navy’s mine countermeasure fleet, tasked with sweeping contact, acoustic, and magnetic mines. Her wooden hull and non-magnetic fittings allowed safe operation in heavily mined waters, while her modest armament—either a twin 12.7 mm Browning or twin 20 mm Oerlikon—provided only limited defensive capability.

During her service, M481 Tournai participated in training cruises, exercises with NATO and BeNeLux partners, and routine patrols along Belgium’s coast. The ship’s role was largely defensive, securing vital shipping lanes, river mouths, and port approaches. Her crew typically comprised 14 men: two officers, seven petty officers, and nine sailors. On 26 March 1970, after over a decade of service, Tournai was sold and recommissioned as SURO-6.

Beyond her service life, the legacy of the M481 Tournai persists. The city of Tournai, her historic sponsor, continues to honor the ship’s heritage. On 29 November 2024, the Belgian Navy ceremonially presented the ship’s bell to the city, symbolizing the enduring bond between the municipality and its namesake vessels (Ville de Tournai, 2024). This tradition was renewed with the construction of the BNS Tournai, part of a modern binational mine countermeasures program with the Netherlands. Launched on 2 July 2024 in Concarneau, France, the new Tournai is equipped with drones and advanced autonomous systems, allowing the Belgian Navy to detect and neutralize modern mine threats while minimizing risk to personnel.

The Tournai name thus bridges decades of Belgian naval history, from Cold War inshore minesweepers to cutting-edge modern mine countermeasure vessels, underscoring Belgium’s long-standing commitment to maritime security and innovation.

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Specifications

Displacement: 173 t standard, 178 t (sea water)
Length/Beam/Draught: 34.4 m / 6.65 m / 2.1 m
Propulsion: 2 × Nuove Reggiane TVG29 diesels, 2 shafts, 1260 hp
Speed: 15 knots
Range: 2,300 nm @ 10 knots
Crew: 18 (2 officers, 7 petty officers, 9 sailors)

Armament Variants:

Version	Weapons
Early	1 × twin 12.7 mm Browning HMG
Alternate	1 × twin 20 mm Oerlikon AA gun

Mine Warfare Gear: Acoustic, magnetic, and mechanical sweeps (shallow waters)
Construction: Wooden hull with non-magnetic fittings

Diagram

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Place in War Thunder

Regarding nations

BeNeLux

The M481 Tournai would be an excellent addition to a BeNeLux naval tree, serving as one of the first postwar, domestically built minesweepers. Its armament is modest, but like other small Cold War vessels already in WT, it would fill lower BR coastal ranks as a light, maneuverable patrol ship.

France

As the MSI class reflects Belgian Cold War design, it could also appear as a BeNeLux subtree for France, either as a tech tree vessel or a premium.

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Pictures

Pictures

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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: Lannoo.

Belgian Navy Forum. (n.d.). M481 Tournai. Retrieved from http://www.belgian-navy.be

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

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

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

Marine Belge. (n.d.). MSI 481 Tournai fiche. Retrieved from https://www.marinebelge.be/msi481.html

Ville de Tournai. (2024, November 29). Découvrez la cloche du navire Tournai à l’office du tourisme. Découvrez la cloche du navire Tournai à l'Office du Tourisme | TOURNAI.be

[SaabGripen]

It seems to be untrue that South Korea purchased this vessel. This is similar to the well-known claims by SIPRI and IISS that South Korea operated the M18 Hellcat.

1. There are no search results in any Korean media regarding naval or coast guard vessels donated or purchased from Belgium.
2. All ROKN minelayers and minesweepers are named after small cities; “SURO” and “SURO 6” clearly deviate from this naming convention.
3. The source provided by the OP only claims that the vessel was sold to the ROKN, without presenting any specific evidence or photographs.
4. The non-existence of such a vessel in ROKN is proven through the , which was declassified from confidential status after December 31, 2005.

Spoiler

[PlayedStatue626-live]

+1 could always use another minesweeper

[Thomas_Belgium]

@SaabGripen

without presenting any specific evidence or photographs.

All secondary and tertiairy sources I could find for this ship mentioned the sale to South Korea. It was also mentioned on Facebook posts in hobbyist groups.

Considering almost all MSI ships were demolished or rebuilt into non-combat vessels in the 1970s, I considered it very likely that this was also the case for the 2 ships sold to South Korea according to Wikipedia/marineBelge/maritime encyclopedia.

Sloop van Merksem, MSI M478 being demolished, 1972

Do you want me to remove this information or provide disclaimers?

[SaabGripen]

@Thomas_Belgium

All secondary and tertiairy sources I could find for this ship mentioned the sale to South Korea. It was also mentioned on Facebook posts in hobbyist groups.

It’s not a good habit to accept something as fact just because it is widely mentioned. For instance, one can easily find numerous secondary and tertiary sources that mention the M18 Hellcat was operated by the ROKA, even if that wasn’t actually the case.

It would be great to see Belgian ships in the game, but since it is not true that the ROKN operated this vessle, so I only wish for this part to be corrected. :)

[Thomas_Belgium]

@SaabGripen

It’s not a good habit to accept something as fact just because it is widely mentioned.

Oh yes, I am acutely aware of this. A picture of it with the SURO name in private or public use would have been far better, but sadly no such pictures I could find in July and August. As far as images go, this ship disappears into dust after 1969.

@SaabGripen

since it is not true that the ROKN operated this vessle

I agree that this is the most likely state. It’s more likely this was sold as scrap, so it doesn’t make sense for it to be ROKN.

That’s now removed. I can’t change the poll, so that stays.