HMC ML Q050

HMC ML Q050 was the first of a series of wooden Canadian-built Fairmile B Motor Launch (ML) boats delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 18 November 1941.[1] 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 80 Fairmile B motor launches were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the RCN.[2]

HMC ML "Q050" conducting anti-submarine exercises in May 1943. The large black flag indicates radio ASDIC contact.
History
Canada
Class and type: Fairmile B Motor Launch
Operator:
Builder: Midland Boat Works
Laid down: 01 February 1941
Launched: 22 August 1941
Acquired: 18 November 1941
Out of service: 10 June 1945
Renamed: Stanba I (1946)
Homeport: Gaspé, Quebec
Identification:
  • CML 001
  • HMC ML Q050
General characteristics
Class and type: Fairmile B Motor Launch
Type:
  • Upgunned Sub Chaser
  • Acoustic Minesweeper
  • Rescue Boat
Displacement: 79 long tons
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
Crew: 16
Time to activate: 48 hours to reconfigure weapons
Sensors and
processing systems:		 ASDIC
Armament:
  • Upgunned Sub Chaser
  • 1 x twin 20-mm Oerlikon
  • 1 x single 20-mm Oerlikon
  • 2 x twin 0.303-in Machineguns
  • 1 x 3-lb HA/LA gun
  • 12 depth charges
  • 1 x Holman projector
  • 1 x Y-gun (4 reloads)
  • Acoustic Minesweeper
  • 1 x twin 20-mm Oerlikon
  • 1 x single 20-mm Oerlikon
  • 2 x twin 0.303-in Machineguns
  • 1 x 3-lb HA/LA gun
  • 14 depth charges
  • Rescue Boat
  • 1 x single 20-mm Oerlikon
  • 2 x twin 0.303-in Machineguns
  • 1 x 2-lb gun
  • 6 depth charges
Armour: Wheelhouse plated

Design
Main article: Canadian Fairmile B Motor Launch

Built of double mahogany (diagonally) with an eight-inch oak keel and based on a line of destroyer hulls, the Fairmiles arrived in prefabricated kits to be assembled for the RCN by 13 different boatyards.[3] In contrast to the British built boats, the Canadian Fairmiles were narrower, had a greater draught, and were slightly more powerful giving the Canadian boats a two knot speed advantage over the British boats.[4] With a fuel capacity of 2,320 gallons of 87 octane gasoline, the early Fairmiles (Q050 to Q111) were powered by two 650 hp engines, could reach a top speed of 20 knots (max), 16.5 knots sea speed and a range of 1925 miles at 7.5 knots. Later versions (Q112 to Q129) were fitted with larger 700 hp engines able to achieve a top speed to 22 knots (max), with a range of 1925 miles at 7.5 knots.[5][6][4] Crewed by two or three officers and 14 sailors, accommodation on the Fairmiles was thought to be "cramped but comfortable".[5]

Another unique design feature of the Fairmile B was that with 48 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.[2] 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.[2] "Armament consisted of three 20mm Oerlikon guns, mounted forward, aft and amidships; two .303 machine-guns; one 9mm Sten gun; two .303 rifles; three .45 revolvers; and 20 depth-charges of 300 Ibs each, including eight fitted for the "Y" gun. Each boat was equipped with sonar, radar and WIT."[5]

The first thirty-six Canadian Fairmile B type were designated and painted up as CML 01-36 (Coastal Motor Launch).[6]

Fairmile Flotillas
Main article: Coastal Forces of the Royal Canadian Navy

Affectionately known as The Little Ships, Little Fighting Ships or Q-Boats by their crews, during the Second World War the Fairmile B Motor Launches 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. 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.[7][8] 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 (F94) and HMCS Provider (F100) providing fresh water, fuel and medical services.[9]

Operational History

While she flew the White Ensign, ML Q050 was not a commissioned ship, but rather listed as a tender to escort depot ship HMCS Sambro.[10][1] From January to April 1944 ML Q050 was listed as part of the 71st ML Flotilla and her commanding officer Lt Alfred George Beardmore, RCNVR was assigned as the Senior Officer (S.O.) of the Flotilla. In December 1944, she was listed as part of the RCN North-West Atlantic Command Gaspé Force (Administered by N.O. i/c., Gaspé), 71st Motor Launch Flotilla.[11]

After the war, she was sold for C$7,900 in late 1945 by the War Assets Corporation (WAC) to Marine Industries Ltd. Sorel (MIL) and returned for resale to Consolidated Shipbuilding Ltd., Morris Heights, N.Y. In 1946 she was sold to Standard Oil Bahamas Ltd. (Bermuda) and renamed Stanba I (#176991) to be used for offshore geomagnetic surveying in the Bahamas.[10][1] Her final disposition is unknown.

Commanding Officers
  • Lt J.W. Braidwood, RCNVR - 17 Nov 1941 to 18 Apr 1942
  • Sub/Lt David Rodney Grierson, RCNVR - 19 Apr 1942 to 07 Jun 1942
  • Sub/Lt Thomas Henry Crone, RCNVR - 08 Jun 1942 to 25 Aug 1942
  • Lt J.T. Sharp, RCNVR - 26 Aug 1942 to 19 Dec 1943
  • Lt Alfred George Beardmore, RCNVR (S.O. 71st ML Flotilla) - 10 Jan 1944 to 06 Mar 1944
  • Sub/Lt Robert Mansfield Greene, RCNVR - 07 Mar 1944 to 04 Apr 1944
  • Lt Alfred George Beardmore, RCNVR - 05 Apr 1944 to 05 Dec 1944
  • Lt John Joseph McLaughlin, RCNVR - 21 Apr 1945 to 10 Jun 1945
  • Launching of ML Q050, the first Fairmile of Royal Canadian Navy at Midland Boat Works, Midland, Ontario on August 28, 1941.
  • Minister of Munitions and Supply C.D. Howe and Capt. Joseph Heenan, Captain of the ML's, aboard ML Q050
  • ML Q050 off St-Margaret's Bay, N.S., Spring 1943
  • ML Q050 off Gaspé, July 1942
  • ML Q050 sails past an iceberg, date unknown.

See also

References
  1. "Fairmiles of the Royal Canadian Navy » —Q050 to Q059". Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  2. "WW2Ships.com: Fairmile Type B Motor Launch". www.ww2ships.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  3. "Steam Community :: Guide :: The Fairmile B Motor Launch". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  4. "Radio Research Paper - Fairmile Radio Fit". jproc.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  5. Heenan, RCNR (Ret), Captain Joseph A. (1 February 1962). "The Little Ships" (PDF). The Crowsnest. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  6. 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.
  7. "Fairmile Motor Launch". Juno Beach Centre. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  8. "Naval Museum of Manitoba - Canadian Naval History". www.naval-museum.mb.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  9. "Radio Research Paper - Fairmile Radio Fit". jproc.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  10. "RCN ML Q050". www.forposterityssake.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  11. Navy, Royal (16 December 1944). "Red List" (Part II) Minor War Vessels Abroad. http://convoycu49-1944.com/files/RED_LIST_Part_One_-_minor_war_vessels_in_home_waters_dated_December_10_1944_master_binder_as_of_April_12_2019.pdf: Operations Division Naval Staff Admiralty. pp. 57–61.CS1 maint: location (link)


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