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
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 Bmotor 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] Expected that the twenty-four boats would be delivered by the end of 1941, shortages of resources and components delayed builders efforts. As such, only thirteen Fairmiles built in the Great Lakes region were delivered in 1941, with only nine successfully arriving 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
Originally designated and painted up as CML (coastal motor launch) 01–36, the Canadian Fairmile B was built of double mahogany wood with an eight-inch (200mm)oakkeel. Based on a line of destroyerhulls, 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 (3.7km/h; 2.3mph) 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
With a fuel capacity of 2,320 gallons of 87 octane gasoline, the early Fairmiles (Q050 to Q111) were powered by two 650-horsepower (480kW) engines, could reach a top speed of 20 knots (37km/h; 23mph) (max), 16.5 knots (30.6km/h; 19.0mph) sea speed and a range of 1,925 miles (1,673nmi; 3,098km) at 7.5 knots (13.9km/h; 8.6mph). Later versions (Q112 to Q129) were fitted with larger 700hp (520kW) engines able to achieve a top speed to 22 knots (41km/h; 25mph) (max), with an identical range.[1][3][4][5]
Armament
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 9mm Sten gun, two .303 rifles, and three .45 revolvers[1]
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" HMCSPreserver and HMCSProvider providing fresh water, fuel and medical services.[4]
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
French Free Forces Fairmiles
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
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]
Fairmile Bs built in Canada in service with the United States Navy
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
Belgian excursion vessel Franlis III (Ex HMC ML Q118) in the port of Ostend (Belgium)
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HMC ML Q051 was a wooden Canadian-built Fairmile B Motor Launch (M.L.) upgunned submarine chaser delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 24 November 1941. Originally designed for the Royal Navy by W.J. Holt of the British Admiralty and built by British boatbuilder Fairmile Marine, during the Second World War eighty Fairmile B motor launches were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the RCN.
HMC MLQ052 was a wooden Fairmile B Motor Launch (ML) upgunned submarine chaser delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 31 October 1941. Originally designed for the Royal Navy by W.J. Holt of the British Admiralty and built by British boatbuilder Fairmile Marine, during the Second World War eighty Fairmile B motor launches were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the RCN.
HMC MLQ053 was a wooden Fairmile B Motor Launch (ML) upgunned submarine chaser delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 17 November 1941. Originally designed for the Royal Navy by W.J. Holt of the British Admiralty and built by British boatbuilder Fairmile Marine, during the Second World War eighty Fairmile B motor launches were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the RCN.
HMC ML Q054 was a wooden Canadian-built Fairmile B Motor Launch (ML) upgunned submarine chaser delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 17 October 1941. Originally designed for the Royal Navy by W.J. Holt of the British Admiralty and built by British boatbuilder Fairmile Marine, during the Second World War eighty Fairmile B motor launches were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the RCN.
HMC ML Q055 was a wooden Canadian-built Fairmile B Motor Launch (ML) upgunned submarine chaser delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 6 November 1941. Originally designed for the Royal Navy by W.J. Holt of the British Admiralty and built by British boatbuilder Fairmile Marine, during the Second World War eighty Fairmile B motor launches were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the RCN.
HMC MLQ056 was a wooden Canadian-built Fairmile B Motor Launch (ML) upgunned submarine chaser delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 23 November 1941. Originally designed for the Royal Navy by W.J. Holt of the British Admiralty and built by British boatbuilder Fairmile Marine, during the Second World War eighty Fairmile B motor launches were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the RCN.
HMC MLQ057 was a wooden Canadian-built Fairmile B Motor Launch (ML) upgunned submarine chaser delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 28 October 1941. Originally designed for the Royal Navy by W.J. Holt of the British Admiralty and built by British boatbuilder Fairmile Marine, during the Second World War eighty Fairmile B motor launches were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the RCN.
References
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Heenan, RCNR (Ret), Captain Joseph A. (1 February 1962). "The Little Ships"(PDF). The Crowsnest. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Tucker, Norman, Gilbert (1952). The Naval Service of Canada. King's Printer. p.43.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
1 2 3 4 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. ISBN0-85177-519-5.
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