Canadian Fairmile B motor launch
![]() HMC ML Q050 was the first of a series of wooden Canadian-built Fairmile B delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 18 November 1941
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Class overview | |
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Builders | See builders |
Operators | |
Built | 1941–1944 |
In service | 1941–1945 |
Completed | 88 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Fairmile B motor launch |
Displacement | 79 long tons (80 t) |
Length | 112 ft (34 m) |
Beam | 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) |
Draught | 4 ft 10 in (1.47 m) |
Propulsion | Two 650 bhp (480 kW) Hall-Scott Defender petrol engines |
Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
Range | 1,500 mi (1,300 nmi; 2,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Complement | 2 officers and 14 non-commissioned |
Time to activate | 48 hours to reconfigure weapons |
Sensors and processing systems | ASDIC |
Armour | Wheelhouse plated |
The Canadian Fairmile B was a motor launch built during the Second World War for the Royal Canadian Navy. They were adaptations of the British Fairmile B motor launch design incorporating slight modifications for Canadian climatic and operational conditions. Eighty-eight were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the Royal Canadian Navy in home waters, of which eight were supplied to the United States Navy.
They were known by their crews as "The Little Ships", "Little Fighting Ships", "Q-Boats", "MLs" or "Holy Rollers" (due to their violent pitching and tossing),[1]
History
[edit]In the spring of 1940 Canada's Naval Staff realized that the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) needed more vessels equipped with ASDIC sets for anti-submarine patrols in the St. Lawrence River and Pacific Coast. Learning "that the Admiralty was planning to build Type "B" Fairmile motor launches for such work in British waters", the RCN began to investigate the comparative advantages of building and employing the Fairmile B motor launch (ML) in Canadian waters.[2] By the end of 1940 with the first British Fairmile B motor launches completed, performance figures and a complete set of drawings and specifications were sent to Canada.[2] Although unimpressed with the trial results that showed that the Fairmile B was not quite maneuverable at slow speeds required for the ASDIC to work correctly, the need for more anti-submarine vessels was so great that the Naval Staff proceeded with the program.[2]
By April 1941, contracts for the first twenty-four Fairmile B boats was signed with seven builders in Ontario, three in British Columbia, and one in Nova Scotia for a "standard price for each vessel of $85,000 in the east and $76,000 in British Columbia."[2] It was expected that the twenty-four boats would be delivered by the end of 1941 but shortages of resources and components delayed builders efforts. As such, only thirteen Fairmiles built in the Great Lakes region were delivered in 1941; nine in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and four laid up at Sarnia and Toronto, Ontario, due to winter storms. Once in Halifax, only four of the Fairmiles could be kept operational due to a general shortage of naval personnel and all other available crews being prioritized to corvettes and minesweepers.[1][2]
In July 1941 the Naval Staff let out another contract for twelve MLs in order to help provide for the defence of Newfoundland and adjacent waters. Intended for anti-submarine patrols at St. John's, Botwood, and at Red Bay on the Strait of Belle Isle, continuing material shortages delayed the commissioning of these vessels to May and June 1942.[2]
Design
[edit]Originally designated and painted up as 'Coastal Motor Launch' (CML) 01–36, the Canadian Fairmile B was built of double mahogany wood with an eight-inch (200 mm) oak keel. Based on a line of destroyer hulls, they arrived in prefabricated kits, ready to be assembled for the RCN by a number of different boatyards.[3] In contrast to the British built boats, the Canadian Fairmile was narrower, had a greater draught, and were slightly more powerful giving the Canadian boats a two-knot (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) speed advantage over the British boats.[4] As one former Fairmile Captain described them, "sheathed for operation in ice and displacing 100 tons, they were indeed veritable 'Little Fighting Ships'."[1] Crewed by two or three officers and 14 sailors, accommodation on the Fairmile B was thought to be "cramped but comfortable".[1]
Propulsion
[edit]With a fuel capacity of 2,320 gallons of 87 octane gasoline, the early Fairmiles (Q050 to Q111) were powered by two 650-horsepower (480 kW) engines, could reach a speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) maximum, 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) sea speed and had a range of 1,925 miles (1,673 nmi; 3,098 km) at 7.5 kn (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph). Later versions (Q112 to Q129) were fitted with larger 700 hp (520 kW) engines able to achieve a top speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) with an identical range.[1][3][4][5]
Armament
[edit]A unique design feature of the Fairmile B was that with forty-eight hours notice each boat could be reconfigured to serve in a different role. Fitted with steel strips and tapped holes to ease equipment swaps, weapons and specialist gear such as torpedo tubes, mines, depth charges, and guns could be quickly stripped and attached to the boat.[6] In two days, a Fairmile could have its weapons and equipment reconfigured to serve as an escort, minesweeper, minelayer, navigation leader, coastal raider, patrol boat, ambulance or rescue launch.[6] Small arms for the crew were a 9 mm Sten submachine gun, two .303 rifles, and three .45 revolvers[1]
Each boat was equipped with sonar, radar and wireless telegraphy.[1]
Armament | Upgunned sub chaser | Torpedo boat | Acoustic minesweeper |
---|---|---|---|
Aft | 2 x 20 mm Oerlikon | - | 2 x 20 mm Oerlikon |
Amidships | 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon | - | 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon |
Bridge wings | 2 x twin 0.303 in machine guns | 2 x twin 0.303 in machine guns | 2 x twin 0.303 in machine guns |
Forward | 3 pdr high-angle/low-angle gun | 3 pdr high-angle/low-angle gun | 3 pdr high-angle/low-angle gun |
Other | 12 depth charges
Y-gun (4 reloads) |
2 x 21 in torpedo tubes
Holman projector |
14 depth charges |
Armament | Moored minesweeper | Rescue boat | Canadian B type (final) |
Aft | 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon | 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon | 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon |
Amidships | 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon | 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon | |
Bridge wings | 2 x twin 0.303 in machine guns | 2 x twin 0.303 in machine guns | |
Forward | 3 pdr high-angle/low-angle gun | 2 pdr gun | 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon |
Other | 6 depth charges
Y-gun (0 reloads) |
6 depth charges | 14 depth charges
Y-gun (7 reloads) |
Fairmile flotillas
[edit]During the Second World War the Canadian Fairmile B of the RCN played a vital role escorting shipping along the St. Lawrence River, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and between Newfoundland and the mainland of Canada.[7] Regularly deployed in flotillas of six "The Little Ships" relieved larger escort craft urgently needed elsewhere by carrying out anti-submarine patrols, port defence and rescue duties.[8][9] Based out of shore establishments on the St. Lawrence River, Halifax, Saint John, Shelburne, Sydney and on the West Coast; at sea the RCN Fairmile Fleets were accompanied by two "mother ships" HMCS Preserver and HMCS Provider providing fresh water, fuel and medical services.[4]
Vessels in class
[edit]Name | Pennant # | Shipbuilder | Location | Ordered | Completed | Flotilla (December 1944) |
Notes | Image |
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ML 050 | Q 050 | Midland Boat Works | Midland, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 18 November 1941 | 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 001 Sold 1945 as Stanba I |
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ML 051 | Q 051 | Midland Boat Works | Midland, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 24 November 1941 | 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force (SO) | Originally designated and painted up as CML 002. Sold 1946 as Radel II. Abandoned 2004 | ![]() |
ML 052 | Q 052 | Taylor & Sons, J. J. | Toronto, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 31 October 1941 | Free French Navy – Newfoundland Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 003. To Free French 1943 as Gallantry (V 111) Returned to RCN and sold 1949 as Cyrius. Later La Marie-Jo, active | ![]() |
ML 053 | Q 053 | Taylor & Sons, J. J. | Toronto ON | 3 January 1941 | 17 November 1941 | 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 004
Sold 1945 as Aloma III |
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ML 054 | Q 054 | Greavette Boats Ltd. | Gravenhurst ON | 3 January 1941 | 17 October 1941 | 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 005
Sold 1945 |
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ML 055 | Q 055 | Greavette Boats Ltd. | Gravenhurst, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 6 November 1941 | 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 006
Sold 1945 |
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ML 056 | Q 056 | Greavette Boats Ltd. | Gravenhurst, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 24 November 1941 | 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force (SO) | Originally designated and painted up as CML 007
Sold 1945 as Esso Ayacucho Scrapped 1957 |
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ML 057 | Q 057 | Minett-Shields, Ltd. | Bracebridge, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 28 October 1941 | 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 008
Sold 1945 |
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ML 058 | Q 058 | Minett-Shields, Ltd. | Bracebridge, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 24 November 1941 | 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 009
Sold 1945 as Katherine G Burnt 1949 |
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ML 059 | Q 059 | Minett-Shields, Ltd. | Bracebridge, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 26 May 1942 | 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 010
Sold 1946 as Rodco |
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ML 060 | Q 060 | Hunter Boats | Orillia, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 1 November 1941 | 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force (SO) | Originally designated and painted up as CML 011
Sold 1945 |
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ML 061 | Q 061 | Hunter Boats | Orillia, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 11 November 1941 | 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 012
Sold 1945 as Esso Concordia |
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ML 062 | Q 062 | Mac-Craft Ltd. | Sarnia, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 18 April 1942 | Free French Navy – Newfoundland Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 013
To Free French 1942 as Langlade (V 112), reacquired 1954 as HMCS Wolf, breakwater 2003 |
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ML 063 | Q 063 | Mac-Craft Ltd. | Sarnia, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 18 April 1942 | Free French Navy – Newfoundland Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 014
To Free French 1942 as Colombier (V 113), later Cumbrae II |
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ML 064 | Q 064 | LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. | Weymouth, Nova Scotia | 3 January 1941 | 15 May 1942 | 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 015
Sold 1947 as Six-Four, foundered 1952 |
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ML 065 | Q 065 | LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. | Weymouth, Nova Scotia | 3 January 1941 | 15 May 1942 | 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 016
Sold 1946 as Nadine II, later Audrey A, burnt 1978 |
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ML 066 | Q 066 | Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. | Vancouver, British Columbia | 3 January 1941 | 3 June 1942 | 75th Flotilla – Esquimalt Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 017
Sold 1946 as Earlmar, gone 2010 |
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ML 067 | Q 067 | Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. | Vancouver, British Columbia | 3 January 1941 | 27 March 1942 | 75th Flotilla – Esquimalt Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 018
Sold 1946 as Stranger II, burnt 1966 |
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ML 068 | Q 068 | A.C. Benson Shipyard | Vancouver, British Columbia | 3 January 1941 | 7 August 1942 | Flotilla unknown | Originally designated and painted up as CML 019
Sold 1946 as Salvor, later Marine Freight No. 1, Miss Linda |
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ML 069 | Q 069 | A.C. Benson Shipyard | Vancouver, British Columbia | 3 January 1941 | 28 March 1942 | 75th Flotilla – Esquimalt Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 020
Sold 1945 as Harwood, Casa Mia, lost in hurricane 1978 |
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ML 070 | Q 070 | Star Shipyards (Mercer's) Ltd. | New Westminster, British Columbia | 3 January 1941 | 14 March 1942 | 75th Flotilla – Esquimalt Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 021
Sold 1945 as Machigonne, later Gulf Ranger, Coast Ranger, Saracen III, Lahaina Lady, Noble Lady, active |
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ML 071 | Q 071 | Star Shipyards (Mercer's) Ltd. | New Westminster, British Columbia | 3 January 1941 | 15 April 1942 | 75th Flotilla – Esquimalt Force (SO) | Originally designated and painted up as CML 022
Sold 1946 as Gulf Wing, later Troubadour III, Nimpkish Princess, Northland Princess, Kona Winds, Knight Time II, sank 2015 |
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ML 072 | Q 072 | Grew Boats Ltd. | Penetanguishene, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 24 November 1941 | 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force (SO) | Originally designated and painted up as CML 023
Sold 1945 |
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ML 073 | Q 073 | Grew Boats Ltd. | Penetanguishene, Ontario | 3 January 1941 | 24 November 1941 | 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 024
Sold 1945 |
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ML 074 | Q 074 | Minett-Shields, Ltd. | Bracebridge ON | 22 July 1941 | 26 May 1942 | 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 025
Sold 1945 as Aloma III, later Terra Mar |
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ML 075 | Q 075 | Minett-Shields, Ltd. | Bracebridge, Ontario | 22 July 1941 | 22 June 1942 | 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 026
Sold 1945 |
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ML 076 | Q 076 | Minett-Shields, Ltd. | Bracebridge ON | 22 July 1941 | 23 June 1942 | 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 027
Sold 1945 |
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ML 077 | Q 077 | Greavette Boats Ltd. | Gravenhurst, Ontario | 22 July 1941 | 2 June 1942 | 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 028
Sold 1947 as Coastal Queen |
|
ML 078 | Q 078 | Greavette Boats Ltd. | Gravenhurst, Ontario | 22 July 1941 | 2 June 1942 | 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 029
Sold 1945 as Esso Cardinal |
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ML 079 | Q 079 | Taylor & Sons, J. J. | Toronto ON | 22 July 1941 | 27 May 1942 | 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 030
Sold 1945 as Nancy Grace, reacquired 1954 as HMCS Raccoon, sold later as Lady Enid |
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ML 080 | Q 080 | Taylor & Sons, J. J. | Toronto, Ontario | 22 July 1941 | 17 June 1942 | 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 031
Sold 1945 as Quarterdeck, later Almeta Queen, Cosa Grande, abandoned 2007 |
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ML 081 | Q 081 | Honey Harbour Nav. Co. Ltd. | Midland, Ontario | 22 July 1941 | 27 May 1942 | 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force (SO) | Originally designated and painted up as CML 032
Sold 1947 as Esso Taparita, burnt 1948 |
|
ML 082 | Q 082 | Honey Harbour Nav. Co. Ltd. | Midland ON | 22 July 1941 | 27 May 1942 | Quebec City, Quebec
No flotilla |
Originally designated and painted up as CML 033
Sold 1945 |
|
ML 083 | Q 083 | LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. | Weymouth, Nova Scotia | 22-Jul 1941 | 25-May 1942 | 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 034
Sold 1945 as Lazy Mariner |
|
ML 084 | Q 084 | LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. | Weymouth, Nova Scotia | 22 July 1941 | 18 June 1942 | 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 035
Sold 1946 |
|
ML 085 | Q 085 | Hunter Boats | Orillia, Ontario | 22 July 1941 | 13 June 1942 | 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force | Originally designated and painted up as CML 036
Sold 1951 as Suzette No. 1 |
|
ML 086 | Q 086 | Taylor & Sons, J. J. | Toronto ON | 16 February 1942 | 26 October 1942 | 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1946 as Monterey | |
ML 087 | Q 087 | Taylor & Sons, J. J. | Toronto, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 9 November 1942 | 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1948 as Chef Tek8erimat, later Tzigane | |
ML 088 | Q 088 | Taylor & Sons, J. J. | Toronto, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 5 October 1943 | 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force | Sold 1946 as Eighty-Eight, later Olympia III, burnt | |
ML 089 | Q 089 | Greavette Boats Ltd. | Gravenhurst, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 15 October 1942 | 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1949 as Coastal Queen, later Grand Commander, Corniche | |
ML 090 | Q 090 | Greavette Boats Ltd. | Gravenhurst, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 19 November 1942 | 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1945 as Louvicourt, later Rosal | |
ML 091 | Q 091 | Greavette Boats Ltd. | Gravenhurst, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 17 May 1943 | 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force | Sold 1946 as Nine-One, sank 1955 | |
ML 092 | Q 092 | Hunter Boats | Orillia, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 2 November 1942 | 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force | Sold 1947 as Suzette II | |
ML 093 | Q 093 | Hunter Boats | Orillia, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 2 November 1942 | 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1945 | |
ML 094 | Q 094 | Midland Boat Works | Midland, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 19 November 1942 | 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force | Sold 1945 as Ernest G | |
ML 095 | Q 095 | Midland Boat Works | Midland, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 12 May 1943 | 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force (SO) | Sold 1945 as Rodco | |
ML 096 | Q 096 | Minett-Shields, Ltd. | Bracebridge, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 9 November 1942 | 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1945 as Roseline, later Miss Kingston, Saint-Louis IV, La Santa Maria IV, active | |
ML 097 | Q 097 | Minett-Shields, Ltd. | Bracebridge, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 16 November 1942 | 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1945 | |
ML 098 | Q 098 | Grew Boats Ltd. | Penetanguishene, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 7 November 1942 | 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1948 as Corita, later Le Saint-Barnabe | |
ML 099 | Q 099 | Grew Boats Ltd. | Penetanguishene, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 7 November 1942 | 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force | Sold 1948 as Dipedon, later Donarvie II | |
ML 100 | Q 100 | Grew Boats Ltd. | Penetanguishene, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 7 November 1942 | 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1945 | |
ML 101 | Q 101 | Mac-Craft Ltd. | Sarnia, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 7 November 1942 | 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1945 as Edmar, later Nellie D | |
ML 102 | Q 102 | Mac-Craft Ltd. | Sarnia, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 14 November 1942 | 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force | Sold 1945 as Quetzal, later Curlew, Salissa M, Moondance, Enterprise II | |
ML 103 | Q 103 | Mac-Craft Ltd. | Sarnia, Ontario | 16 February 1942 | 18 November 1942 | 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force (SO) | Sold 1947 as One-O-Three, later Lady Simone, scrapped | |
ML 104 | Q 104 | Mac-Craft Ltd. | Sarnia, Ontario | October 1942 | 4 August 1943 | 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda (SO) | Sold 1945, reacquired 1954 as HMCS Cougar, scrapped 1959 | |
ML 105 | Q 105 | Mac-Craft Ltd. | Sarnia, Ontario | October 1942 | 5 September 1943 | 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda | Sold 1948 as Duc d'Orleans, scrapped 2007 | |
ML 106 | Q 106 | Grew Boats Ltd. | Penetanguishene, Ontario | October 1942 | 28 August 1943 | 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda | Sold 1945, reacquired 1954 as HMCS Beaver, scrapped 1957 | |
ML 107 | Q 107 | Grew Boats Ltd. | Penetanguishene, Ontario | October 1942 | 9 November 1943 | 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda | Sold 1949 as Miss Chevrolet, later Lady Latour, burnt 1951 | |
ML 108 | Q 108 | Midland Boat Works | Midland, Ontario | October 1942 | 13 August 1943 | 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda | Sold 1945 as Machigonne II | |
ML 109 | Q 109 | Hunter Boats | Orillia, Ontario | October 1942 | 23 August 1943 | 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda | Sold 1948 as Quetzal II, later Arara, Aruba | |
ML 110 | Q 110 | Minett-Shields, Ltd. | Bracebridge, Ontario | October 1942 | 8 July 1943 | 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1949 | |
ML 111 | Q 111 | LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. | Weymouth, Nova Scotia | October 1942 | 9 September 1943 | 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force | Sold 1945, reacquired 1954 as HMCS Moose, sold 1956 | |
ML 112 | Q 112 | Taylor & Sons, J. J. | Toronto, Ontario | October 1942 | 25 October 43 | 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | To RCMP 1945 as Fort Walsh, wrecked 1958 | |
ML 113 | Q 113 | Taylor & Sons, J. J. | Toronto, Ontario | October 1942 | 20 November 1943 | 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Sold 1947 as Laverniere, sank 1947 | |
ML 114 | Q 114 | Greavette Boats Ltd. | Gravenhurst, Ontario | October 1942 | 20 November 1943 | 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force (SO) | To RCMP 1945 as Fort Selkirk, resold 1946 as Amy May, burnt 1955 | |
ML 115 | Q 115 | Mac-Craft Ltd. | Sarnia, Ontario | October 1942 | 16 November 1943 | 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Sold 1945 as Nelvana, later Outre Mer | |
ML 116 | Q 116 | Hunter Boats | Orillia, Ontario | October 1942 | 16 November 1944 | 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Sold 1945, reacquired 1954 as HMCS Reindeer, burnt 1957 | |
ML 117 | Q 117 | Grew Boats Ltd. | Penetanguishene, Ontario | October 1942 | 16 November 1943 | 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | To RCMP 1945 as Fort Steele, resold 1946 as Nakomis, later Supertrader, Polar Clipper, | |
ML 118 | Q 118 | Midland Boat Works | Midland, Ontario | October 1942 | 6 November 43 | 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Sold 1945 as Franlis III | |
ML 119 | Q 119 | Minett-Shields, Ltd. | Bracebridge, Ontario | October 1942 | 16 November 1943 | 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | To RCMP 1945 as Fort Pitt, resold 1946 as Sondra II, active | |
ML 120 | Q 120 | LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. | Weymouth, Nova Scotia | October 1942 | 27 January 1944 | 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Sold 1945 as Nelvana II, later Osceola, The Lady Galadriel, Independence, Maryland Independence | |
ML 121 | Q 121 | LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. | Weymouth, Nova Scotia | October 1942 | 17 April 1944 | 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force | Retained 1945, intended to be HMCS Cataraqui but sold 1953 as Inshore Fisherman, later Denis D, scrapped 1977 | |
ML 122 | Q 122 | Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. | Vancouver, British Columbia | October 1942 | 17 May 1944 | Prince Rupert, British Columbia
No Flotilla |
Sold 1945 as Malibu Tyee, later Nancy N. Seymour, Sogno d'Oro, active | |
ML 123 | Q 123 | Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. | Vancouver, British Columbia | October 1942 | 6 October 1944 | Vancouver, British Columbia
No Flotilla |
Sold 1945 as Malibu Marlin, later Toluca | |
ML 124 | Q 124 | Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. | Vancouver, British Columbia | October 1942 | 30 June 1944 | Esquimalt, British Columbia
No Flotilla |
Sold 1945, reacquired 1954 as HMCS Elk, resold 1954 as Teirrah, later Pacific Gold | |
ML 125 | Q 125 | Star Shipyards (Mercer's) Ltd. | New Westminster, British Columbia | October 1942 | 22-Jul-44 | Esquimalt, British Columbia
No Flotilla |
Sold 1945 as Malibu Tillikum, later Yorkeen, Campana, Jornholm, Gulfstream II, laid up, to be scrapped | |
ML 126 | Q 126 | Star Shipyards (Mercer's) Ltd. | New Westminster, British Columbia | October 1942 | 8 July 1944 | Vancouver, British Columbia
No Flotilla |
Sold 1945 as Princess Malibu | |
ML 127 | Q 127 | Star Shipyards (Mercer's) Ltd. | New Westminster, British Columbia | October 1942 | 27 September 1944 | Unallocated motor launch
Esquimalt, British Columbia |
Sold 1945 as Chief Malibu | |
ML 128 | Q 128 | A.C. Benson Shipyard | Vancouver, British Columbia | October 1942 | 29 July 1944 | Vancouver, British Columbia
No Flotilla |
Sold 1945 as Princess Louise Inlet, burnt 1955 | |
ML 129 | Q 129 | A.C. Benson Shipyard | Vancouver, British Columbia | October 1942 | 16 October 1944 | Esquimalt, British Columbia
Unallocated motor launch |
Sold 1945 as Malibu Inez, later Huntress, Viking, Island Adventures |
Canadian Fairmile Bs in foreign service
[edit]French Free Forces Fairmiles
[edit]In February 1943, ML Q052, Q062 and Q063 were transferred to the Free French Forces and stationed at St. Pierre and Miquelon under the command of Flag Officer, Newfoundland. After the war, the French Fairmiles were returned to the RCN.[3]
United States
[edit]Eight Canadian Fairmiles (Q392 through Q399) were built by Le Blanc for the Royal Navy (RN) and were transferred under Lend-Lease to the United States Navy (USN) as US coastal protection had been depleted by transferring ships to the RN for convoy work. The USN used the Canadian-built Fairmiles as submarine chasers giving them the hull codes SC-1466 to SC-1473.[6]
Name | Pennant # | Shipbuilder | Location | Completed | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ML 392 | Q 392 | LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. | Weymouth, Nova Scotia | 26 September 1942 | To USN as SC-1466, to Mexico 1943 |
ML 393 | Q 393 | 26 June 1942 | To USN as SC-1467, scrapped 1948 | ||
ML 394 | Q 394 | 1 October 1942 | To USN as SC-1468, scrapped 1948 | ||
ML 395 | Q 395 | 26 September 1942 | To USN as SC-1469, to Mexico 1943 | ||
ML 396 | Q 396 | 23 October 1942 | To USN as SC-1470, later Panther (IX-105), scrapped 1947 | ||
ML 397 | Q 397 | 23 October 1942 | To USN as SC-1471, to Mexico 1943 | ||
ML 398 | Q 398 | 5 December 1942 | To USN as SC-1472, scrapped 1948 | ||
ML 399 | Q 399 | 5 December 1942 | To USN as SC-1473, scrapped 1948 |
Surviving examples
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Franlis_III_R01.jpg/220px-Franlis_III_R01.jpg)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Heenan, RCNR (Ret), Captain Joseph A. (February 1962). "The Little Ships: Part One" (PDF). The Crowsnest. Vol. 14, no. 4. Royal Canadian Navy. pp. 11–16. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Tucker, Norman, Gilbert (1952). The Naval Service of Canada. King's Printer. p. 43.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d Lambert and Ross, John and Al (1990). Allied Coastal Forces of World War II Vol 1: Fairmile designs and US submarine chasers. Conway Maritime Press. pp. 77–78. ISBN 0-85177-519-5.
- ^ a b c "Radio Research Paper – Fairmile Radio Fit". jproc.ca. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ Joseph A. Heenan RCNR in Crowsnest gives the later engines as "Sterling Admiral engines of 850 hp" and making 24 knots
- ^ a b c "Fairmile Type B Motor Launch". ww2ships.com. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Speed-Manoeuvreability-Power-Dependability" (PDF). The Crows Nest News of Canada's Navy. 3: 12. March 1945.
- ^ "Fairmile Motor Launch". Juno Beach Centre. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ "Naval Museum of Manitoba – Canadian Naval History". www.naval-museum.mb.ca. Retrieved 7 January 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Patrol Craft Built in Canada in WWII". shipbuildinghistory.com. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ "Red List" (Part II) Minor War Vessels Abroad (PDF). Operations Division Naval Staff Admiralty. 16 December 1944. pp. 57–61. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Fairmile Motor Launch at Juno Beach Centre "Canada In WWII" junobeach.org Archived 9 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- Canadian Fairmile Q105 presently under restoration
- The Fairmiles, Canada's Little Ships by Spud Roscoe
- Little ships
- Fairmile Radio Fit by Jerry Proc
- Canada's Little Ships by Spud Roscoe