HMC ML Q053

HMC ML Q053 was a wooden Fairmile B Motor Launch (ML) upgunned submarine chaser delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 17 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 eighty Fairmile B motor launches were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the RCN.[2]

HMC ML Q053
History
Canada
Operator:
Builder:
  • Taylor & Sons, J. J.,
  • Toronto, ON
Laid down: 4 February 1941
Launched: 18 October 1941
Acquired: 17 November 1941
Out of service: 13 July 1945
Homeport: Gaspé
Identification:
  • CML 004
  • HMC ML Q053
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 thirteen 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 fourteen sailors, accommodation on the Fairmiles was thought to be "cramped but comfortable".[5]

Another 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.[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 Q053 was not a commissioned ship of the RCN, but was rather listed as a tender to escort depot ship HMCS Sambro.[10] Listed as part of the 71st Flotilla - Halifax L.D. Force, on 8 June 1943 Q053 was credited with recovering an intact mine laid in the Halifax approaches by German submarine U-119. While following minesweeper HMS Byms 2189 (J 989), the crew of Q053 observed a floating mine cut loose by the sweeper and with a ninety yard tow line attached, moved the mine to Ketch Harbour.[11] Not knowing if the mine was magnetic or time-fuzed to explode after surfacing, during the long tow to harbour, the crew of Q053 were kept forward under cover. Once the mine was brought ashore, Lieutenant (Temp) George Rundle (RCNR) with the assistance of Leading Seaman Lancien, removed the access plate to the mine, cut the electrical wiring and extracted the detonator and primer. "For displaying gallantry, skill and coolness in carrying out hazardous duties" Lt George Rundle was awarded the George Medal and LS Lancien the British Empire Medal.[12]

In December 1944, Q053 was listed as part of the RCN North-West Atlantic Command Gaspé Force (Administered by N.O. i/c., Gaspé), 71st Motor Launch Flotilla.[13] After the war, she was sold for C$7,900 and renamed Aloma III under new ownership with the War Assets Corporation (WAC) to Marine Industries Ltd. Sorel (MIL). She was later sold to Consolidated Shipbuilding Corp., Morris Heights, N.Y.. Her final disposition is unknown.[14][15]

Commanding Officers
  • Lt C.L. Campbell, RCNVR - 17 Sep 1941 to 10 Mar 1942
  • Sub/Lt Stanley Edwin Charles Garlick, RCNVR - 11 Mar 1942 to 11 May 1942
  • Lt Robert Permanter Baldwin, RCNVR - 12 May 1942 to 26 Feb 1943
  • Lt George MacDonald Schuthe, RCNVR - 27 Apr 1943 to 09 Jan 1944
  • Lt Wesley Pinkham Munsie, RCNVR - 26 Jan 1944 to 08 Jan 1945
  • Lt Harold Douglas MacFarland, RCNVR - 03 Apr 1945 to 13 Jul 1945

See also

References
  1. "RCN ML Q053". www.forposterityssake.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  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 Q053". www.forposterityssake.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  11. "Harold A. Skaarup Web page". silverhawkauthor.com. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  12. "RUNDLE, George Henry Olaf, Lieutenant - George Medal - RCNR / Render Mine Safe Officer Halifax". Canada Gazette. 16 June 1945.
  13. 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)
  14. "Patrol Craft Built in Canada in WWII". shipbuildinghistory.com. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  15. "Fairmiles of the Royal Canadian Navy » —Q050 to Q059". Retrieved 2020-01-07.
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