RAN Fairmile Bs and HDMLs in the Island Campaigns - World Naval Ships Forums Archive (Page 2)

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RAN Fairmile Bs and HDMLs in the Island Campaigns - World Naval Ships Forums Archive (Page 2)

RAN Fairmile Bs and HDMLs in the Island Campaigns (Page 2)

Posts 51 to 91

Hi Waterhen, The pedantic Piscean :):) in me wishes to make just a wee correction to your post. The nine Aussie built HDMLs were built at the following boatyards. 1321, 1322 & 1327 -- Purdon & Featherstone, Hobart. 1323, 1324 & 1328 -- MacFarlane & Sons, Birkenhead in Adelaide and 1325, 1326 & 1329 -- E A Jack, Launceston, Tasmania. I'll give you a call asking for Ken's phone number in WA.:D

Hello again, I can report now a rather exciting :D (for me) :D event to take place early November in Sydney. I'm calling it [B][I][COLOR="Indigo"]"Lunch with Mick"[/COLOR][/I][/B] and it is having lunch with 'Mick' (real name Edgar Thomas) Dennis MM, the sole survivor of Op Copper. Joining my lovely Deb and myself will be the three remaining survivors from HDML 1321, the 'little ship' which took Mick and his seven mates to Muschu Island way back in 1945 and they are John Sevenoaks (stoker), Ron Reynolds (radio telegraphist from SA) and Russell Smith (1st Lieut 1321, northern NSW). We also have Russell Vasey (CO of 1321 from 1951-6), 'Bro' Palmer, son of Ernie, 1321's CO, Geoffrey Black, a WW2 Fairmile vet who wrote the very good book "Against All Odds", Dick Thompson (Fairmile Assoc historian) and Donald Gubbay, brother of LT Alan Gubbay, one of the Z Spec commando's. There should be other family members joining us for what I think will be a very special event indeed. See 'RAN Ship of the Day', posts #123 & 124 for an account of Op Copper/HDML 1321 put together by 'kookaburra'.

Lucky man Roger, look forward to hearing how it went, and maybe some pics, I think you could pass on the good wishes of the forum. Jim

Hi Rodger, many thanks for correcting my recent post re the nos. and names of builders of HDMLs constructed in Tasmania, and South Australia. I stuffed up in big heaps. I thought the information given was from a reputable site, unfortunately it wasn't. Will give the site details when I find it again. As promised I will try to ring my cousin in W.A.and ask him if he's O.K. with me giving you his contact details, rather than give them without his consent. he's had some recent health issues. all the best, regards for now, Don.

Hi, can anyone help me with a query re an incident with a Fairmile and the corvette, HMAS Kapunda, in Port Morseby, during WW11. An elderly friend, a W/T operator who served for a short period on the said Fairmile has asked if I could find out for him. Unfortunately he can't remember the No. of the Fairmile. The Fairmile was moored at the T shaped jetty in Port Morseby when it was rammed by HMAS Kapunda. That's all the info he's able to provide. regards, Don.

Hi Waterhen, According to the Fairmile Association book " Fairmile Ships of the Royal Australian Navy" Vol 2, the Fairmile HMAS ML 426 was Rammed at a T shaped wharf in Port Moresby by the Corvette, HMAS Katoomba in February 1944 Bro Palmer

The 'Medusa Trust' web site has some very interesting data and images of the 'HDML' Fairmile craft (click [URL="http://www.hmsmedusa.org.uk/HDML_Boats_1300-1349.html"]HERE[/URL]) for the series 1300-1349. My apologies if this link has been inserted before. Regards Ted

Many thanks Bro Palmer, I'll pass on the information to my old friend, Bill Bashfield. Cheers ' Waterhen '

Hi Ted, thanks for the " Medusa trust," web link. I had used information from this site for a previous post and unfortunately it contains some errors :- HDML's, 1327 and 1329, were not built by McFarlane and sons, at Birkenhead. HDML 1327 was in fact built by Purdon and Featherstone, in Hobart, Tasmania, and HDML 1329, by E. Jack, Launceston, Tasmania. Also the " Medusa Trust," give the builder as MacFarland, instead of McFarlane. Thanks and cheers, " Waterhen," Hobart.

Hello Waterhen I would like to know from what source, the builders you subcribe for HDMLs 1327/1329, came from please. The [URL="http://cfv.org.uk/mess-deck/coastal-forces-boat-database"]Veteran's web site[/URL] data base, although in its infancy, gives the correct name and also credits McFarlane with these craft. Many thanks Regards Ted

Hello Ted, I provided the info re where the nine Aust built HDMLs were built and the info came from the book "Fairmile Ships of the Royal Australian Navy vol 2, page 159" and I'm fairly certain this is confirmed by either National Archives or the RAN. I'll check the confirmation, but I'm certain the info is correct.

Here is the reply I received from Dick Thompson, Secretary and Historian of the Fairmile Association here in OZ -- "Roger, I do not know precisely where the info came from in the first place but it is something that we Fairmilers all know to be correct. Three in Hobart, three in Launceston and three at Birkenhead, South Australia and the builders are there in the books. What does the World Naval Ships Forum say? If you wish to correct what they say, you can say your, and our, authority is the Australian Commonwealth Navy Board. That is the organisation which ran the Navy in those days and, amomg other things it arranged shipbuilding. Or, you could say the Australian Commonwealth Department of Navy. The Dept of Defence as we now know it was created in the 1970s but the original Dept of Defence existed from 1901 to 1940, when four subordinate departments were created There was a small Dept of Defence which did policy and coordinated things plus the much larger Dept of Navy, a Dept of Army, a Dept of Air and the Dept of Supply which ran all of the munitions and aircraft factories and arranged the supply of military equipment. Dick T"

Thank you Roger, cannot argue with that sort of provenance, the Vets web site has been corrected. I have sent you a PM Ted

Hi Bro, my friend thanks you for the information regarding the Corvette, HMAS Katoomba T-Boning his Fairmile B, HMA ML426 at the T shaped wharf at Port Moresby in February 1944. He felt quite sure that it was the Kapunda, but apologises for his mistaken belief. He also said that ML426 was not a happy ship, that the crew could not get on with each other. After the Fairmile he was posted to a combined American, Australian shore based naval radio station, built in a remote area of bush land, by the " See Bees " at Brant, about 22 Klms. West of Port Moresby, where they and there equipment were accomodated in camouflaged Quonset huts. Here about 30 Australian Navy wireless telegraphists provided ship to shore wireless communication for allied vessels in the South West Pacific. As the Japanese bases retreated closer to Japan he was transferred back to Australia. Cheers, " Waterhen "

Hello to all with an interest in these Aussie 'little ships', My wife Deb and I made the trip to Sydney early last month to have lunch with some incredible Aussie hero's in Mick Dennis (real name Edgar Thomas Dennis) MM and two of his naval mates in Russell Smith, 1st Lieut on HDML 1321 and the radio telegraphist Ron Reynolds. Mick Dennis is the sole survivor of the eight man Z Special commando party taken to Muschu Island by HDML 1321 on April 11, 1945. The astonishing revalation for me was that these three Gents had not seen other since the end of 1945, some 66 years. It was very moving to see them greet each other after so long and for Mick and Russell to put an end to some long lingering concerns they had carried within for all those years. We had lunch in Sydney at the Coogee Legion Club where the stoker off 1321 is a member. John Sevenoaks sadly could not join us for lunch due to a fall at home a few days before, but I was able to take both Russell and Ron around to meet him and his wife Lindsay which was very nice. Quite a number of relatives of those involved in Op Copper (see post nos 123 & 124 in 'RAN Ship of the Day') and HDML 1321 were able to attend the lunch, we had 20 people as I recall and everyone said what a great day and I'm positive many new friends were made. The "lunch with Mick" as I call it is something that we will both remember as long as we live. We brought back home many treasured memories. Deb and I have produced an article about the lunch which I am more than happy to send to anyone who wishes the read it. I could not work out how to copy and paste it into the forum and I think the number of photo's make the file too large anyway.

One important group of small ships which have not been discussed in this thread are/were the 5 x 80ft Army Hospital launches used to evacuate casualties from the landing beach heads back to hospital ships/hospitals. These vessels were named; KOORAKEE, KOROIT, KOUMALA, KRAWARREE and KURANDA. The only site I have found to-date is "exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/89333/Sunday_History_Photo_Tas.aspx" (I'm still trying to work out how to refer websites correctly):o I have first hand experience of these great little ships. As a small boy growing up on a remote coral atoll in New Guinea, my family owned one of these vessels but I don't know which one! We had named her Nuguria and used her to transport goods to and produce from the plantation (copra). My family owned her from about 1952 until approx 1959 and sold her on to a local shipping company - Bougainville Shipping Company. When we bought her my uncle changed the main engines over to 2 x Grey Marine 2 stroke screamers and I will always recall that wonderful sound of the exhausts (through the ships side) as we rolled in a seaway As the colonial era ended in PNG and I was dispatched to boarding school, I lost track of her. Cheers Chris

Hi Chris, I ahve some information on Krawaree, and have sent you a PM Cheers Bro

I can help out with some later information on SDB 1324. I was at HMAS Lonsdale in the late 1970s and the boat was still there at that time. I was the Chief Shipwright at the base and part of my job description was maintain TV Nepean. The boat had been used by the Lonsdale division of RANR for some time before that when I was at FMP Williamstown but the they got to use an Attack class patrol boat so the Nepean didn't get used and fell into disrepair and just languished at the stone wall next to the old building slip at Williamstown dockyard. I was also a ships diver so fell in with the reserve diving team and we worked together really well. They didn't have acces to any boat of their own to go to remote areas in Port Phillip Bay for their diving ops. The normal 40' work boat was not much use for overnight stays with up to 20 divers away down the Portsea end of the bay for example. So remote diving operations were not often carried out. So after many weeks work where we, as in the Shipwright department and a couple of stokers from the base worked on the boat we got it pretty well up and going again. A lot of work was done in getting the bilges clean and the suction system working, cleaning the sumps of the engines and getting the electrical system up and sort of working. The engines received some fresh oil, probably for the first time in 10 or so years as the records were very vague, new batteries and an overhaul of the little Kelly and Lewis aux generator/ bilge pump. The fuel system was cleaned out and the old fuel tanks cleaned and then fresh diesel was trucked in and filled up. I couldn't believe the amount of fuel it held. It was amazing for such a small boat. The boat was cleaned from stem to stern and all sorts of rubbish removed. By the time it went out for a trial it looked like it was a real part of the small boat Navy. Got to say I was pretty proud of what we had achieved. It was still an old boat but for its age it moved through the water really nicely although it rolled a lot when stationary The Melbourne Port Division of the RANR did a lot of weekend work repairing wiring and a lot of other things, painting and scraping. So we eventually got the thing up and going again and seaworthy. It was used for nearly 2 years from memory by the Diving team. We did all sorts of diving operations all round Port Phillip Bay. The beauty to this craft was, that for the first time the Diving Team were fully selfsufficient. They could go anywhere around the bay at any time in a fairly large boat and have a diving platform with accommodation facilities, even if they were a bit spartan, cooking facilities also a bit spartan and were able to conduct their own seamanship training of their own Junior and Senior Sailors. So all in all it was a win win situation. I posted out of Lonsdale to the Melbourne in 1984, it was still at Lonsdale then. It was put up for disposal when the new diving tender arrived a year or so later. The last I saw of it was tied up in the Maribynong River a couple of years later when some on had bought it and removed the whole superstructure and it looked like it was being converted into a large motor yacht/ pleasure boat regards to all Peter Sneddon

Hello Peter and welcome to the Forum and thank you for adding your snippet of information. Jim

Hi, This is not really a reply, but i was wondering if anyone can help with information, service history or pics of ML 1129...it had an unusual main armament of a 1 pounder /37mm Vickers gun. It may have been built by Thornycroft's at Hampton. Many thanks, Bill

Hi Bill is this any use??
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In my continuing research of RAN ships by their lesser known identities, i.e. their allocated Signal Letters it also includes the 35 Fairmile Bs, to which I seek if possible, confirmation that which I have read (sighted) and learnt (unconfirmed) is indeed correct. As boats were being received for local assembly, and others contracted to be built locally so their hull numbers and signal letters would have had to have been coordinated and promulgated. Those callsigns that I seek confirmation of are attached printed in red letters. My full worksheets continue as a work in progress and included visiting RN subs on the Australian station, Army ships of the 32nd Small Ships group and I have strayed across the Tasman to include many of the RNZN ships, and they my be viewed at [url]http://www.rancba.org.au/Ships_Callsigns.htm[/url] Any assistance from Fairmile Association members and or memorabilia from former Radio Operator / Telegraphist crew member families appreciated. Thanks. Sandy

Hello Bill, re HDML 1129, According to the excellent book 'Allied Coastal Forces vol I' the gun fitted to the foredeck of '1129' is a 2pdr Mk XI. If you need any further info, please send me a 'pm'. There doesn't appear to be much info around on '1129' and it appears she spent the majority of her time as a training vessel on Australia's east coast.

[QUOTE=Graham McNab;10020386]In my continuing research of RAN ships by their lesser known identities, i.e. their allocated Signal Letters it also includes the 35 Fairmile Bs, to which I seek if possible, confirmation that which I have read (sighted) and learnt (unconfirmed) is indeed correct. As boats were being received for local assembly, and others contracted to be built locally so their hull numbers and signal letters would have had to have been coordinated and promulgated. Those callsigns that I seek confirmation of are attached printed in red letters. My full worksheets continue as a work in progress and included visiting RN subs on the Australian station, Army ships of the 32nd Small Ships group and I have strayed across the Tasman to include many of the RNZN ships, and they my be viewed at [url]http://www.rancba.org.au/Ships_Callsigns.htm[/url] Any assistance from Fairmile Association members and or memorabilia from former Radio Operator / Telegraphist crew member families appreciated. Thanks. Sandy[/QUOTE] Hi Graham, I noticed that HDML 1321 is on your list of doubtfull callsigns. I have spoken to one of the three surviving crew members of the ship, Ron Reynolds, who also happened to have been the Telegraphist on her during 1944-1945, but apart from remembering that it was a call sign allocated by the AIB, not the navy, he cannot remember the actual call sign. Too long ago I guess Bro Palmer

For those who may be interested, DNA tests just completed have confirmed the identity of the remains of the two Australian soldiers found at Kairuru Island in PNG, They are the remains of Corporal Spence Walklate , an Private Ron Eagleton the remaining missing commandoes from the raid on Muschu island, in which HMAS HDML 1321 was involved. I think congratulations are due the MIA Australia, and Don Dennis the author of the book "Guns of Muschu" for their efforts in locating these men. It means now that all of the commandos involved in the raid have been accounted for, the sole survivor Mick Dennis of course, is alive and well in Sydney. Bro Palmer

In case someone is interested in us over the ditch in New Zealand, our Fairmiles went up to the islands and their story is covered in Cassells, Ken R (1993) The Fairmile Flotillas of The Royal New Zealand Navy. It is a very good read. Wright, Gerry (2010) Salty Dits -Some tales from the MLs by those who served in them, is again a good read of the, mostly post war, exploits of the crews and the HDMLs on the NZ coast. Despite a lot of effort, we only wrecked one, and it was largely as a result of the salvage by all accounts. Paea (ML 1184) P3552 is maintained by her enthusiastic owners in very original condition. We still have a few that haven't escaped over the Tasman!
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Some great stories and history on this site; does anyone know anything about HDML 1323 during 1944. All i ever read about HDML 1323 was the incident in Hong Kong many years later. I never read any reference to her during 1944, although she was clearly right up there on the front line.

Hi Douglas, The following is quoted directly from a page in the Fairmile Association book, "Fairmile Ships of the R.A.N Vol II". " In a minute dated 22nd June 1944, Capt R.R.Dowling RAN, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, decreed the three HDML's ( 1322, 1323 and 1326) would be based in Merauke in Dutch New Guinea" " Along with the US, the Australian Army had established a base there, that included a unit of the Far Eastern Liaison Office ( FELO), an AIB unit. The job of the HDs was to work with Army Intelligence units to gather information and check for further penetration by the Japanese along the rivers and coastline of south-west Dutch New Guinea" There are some personal recollections from the crew of 1326 and 1323 published as well, but nothing on what transpired during these patrols, as the AIB were involved this is not surprising, because MacArthur ordered all files from this unit and the SRD be destroyed at the end of the war. Cheers Bro

The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby has announced that the remains of Lance Corporal Spence Walklate, and Private Ronald Eagleton will be buried at the Bomana War Cemetery on Thursday 12th June. Lance Corporal Walklate, and Private Spencer are the last two of the missing Commandos from the Ill fated Operation Copper, who landed on Muschu Island from HMA HDML 1321. The only survivor of the operation, sapper "Mick" Dennis MM will attend, as will members of the families R.I.P.

Bearing in mind that the Z Special Unit used HDML 1321 (see [URL="http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/what-was-the-z-force/story-e6frea6u-1226185157582"]What was the Z Force?[/URL]), this might interest our friends down under: [INDENT][URL="http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/Media%20Release%20Australian%20Secret%20Heroes%20final.pdf"]Australia's Secret Heroes[/URL] (includes images) [/INDENT] [QUOTE][B]Australia’s Secret Heroes[/B] A powerful first-hand account of the Z Special Unit Sunday 15 June 2014 at 8.30pm Australia’s Secret Heroes tells the extraordinary story of Z Special Unit, a remarkable group of men who were plucked from the Australian military in World War II, trained in explosives, camouflage, silent killing and how to resist torture and then sent on incredibly perilous undercover operations in Asia. At the time of the White Australia policy, the unit actively recruited soldiers of Asian heritage, so they could blend in and help train native guerrilla resistance movements. For years, the Z Special operatives were sworn to secrecy. But now the veterans, some speaking publicly for the first time, relive their incredible wartime exploits. In a unique “living history” approach, Australia’s Secret Heroes takes six descendants of the Z Special operatives and places them on training missions to give them a taste of what their forefathers went through. Over the course of the series, the modern-day “recruits” undergo various training exercises, witness water-boarding, torture techniques and hear first-hand about some of the most ingenious and dangerous covert operations ever undertaken in international war history. In a gripping and emotional journey, a Z Special veteran tells his own harrowing story of how under torture he gave up information leading to the capture of one of the descendant’s forefathers. The series also details accounts of what happened in the men’s last days before being executed and illustrates the use of bespoke equipment used by Z Special, including the specially recreated Sleeping Beauty which was a James Bond like one-man motorised submersible canoe. Perhaps one of the most terrifying tales of the series is revealed when descendants travel to Borneo to hear first-hand accounts about the involvement of one of their forefathers in head hunting. In a landmark series for SBS, Australia’s Secret Heroes features an impressive reflection from the veterans and the modern-day recruits, with the veteran’s own opinions on war and its effect on them, and the recruit’s sentiments on their insightful experiences during the series that provided them with a stronger attachment to their relatives.[/QUOTE]
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[QUOTE=Rob Hoole;10117204]Bearing in mind that the Z Special Unit used HDML 1321 (see [URL="http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/what-was-the-z-force/story-e6frea6u-1226185157582"]What was the Z Force?[/URL]), this might interest our friends down under: [INDENT][URL="http://www.mcdoa.org.uk/Media%20Release%20Australian%20Secret%20Heroes%20final.pdf"]Australia's Secret Heroes[/URL] (includes images) [/INDENT][/QUOTE] HDML, later Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) 1321 became HMAS Rushcutter and was my first ship as an 18 yr old reservist. The attached is a pic of her in that role [URL="https://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5537648501/"]https://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5537648501/[/URL] Some other excellent phots on this link Chris

HDML 1321 was also the first of the Australian built HDMLs, built by Purdon and Featherstone in Hobart, she like the other Australian HDMLs was 80ft long, 8 ft longer than the boats built in England and the US. 1321 like her sister ship 1327 was modified specifically for AIB ( Allied Intelligence Bureau) "M" Special ( Coastwatchers) and "Z" Special ( Commando) operations, with the addition of the boxlike cabin aft of the Wheel house, and a raised bridge, both structures being fairly obvious in the photograph posted by Rob Hoole. As MV Rushcutter she is, I believe still in the Darwin area, and may be up for sale, although I have been unable to find any add for her BP

[QUOTE=Bro Palmer;10117313]HDML 1321 was also the first of the Australian built HDMLs, built by Purdon and Featherstone in Hobart, she like the other Australian HDMLs was 80ft long, 8 ft longer than the boats built in England and the US. 1321 like her sister ship 1327 was modified specifically for AIB ( Allied Intelligence Bureau) "M" Special ( Coastwatchers) and "Z" Special ( Commando) operations, with the addition of the boxlike cabin aft of the Wheel house, and a raised bridge, both structures being fairly obvious in the photograph posted by Rob Hoole. As MV Rushcutter she is, I believe still in the Darwin area, and may be up for sale, although I have been unable to find any add for her BP[/QUOTE] I last saw hr 4 years ago anchored in Gove harbour NE Arnhem Land

Hi All, My grandfather was Lt R.G. Evans, CO of ML1324 and I have recently been given a number of his wartime documents. I've just started my research into his naval career and am interested in getting further detail on Operation Sunlag/Brim and in particular where or how I could get his official report on this. I have his monthly reports on ML1324 from commissioning in 44 through to the end of the war and am happy to post this if anyone is interested. It states things like miles sailed, fuel usage, condition of crew and ship, etc. It also refers to a report he wrote on Sunlag. This report I would be most interested in looking at but have not been able to find it. Any pointers to this would be greatly appreciated. Also, if there are any members of the crew or their families I would be very much interested in getting in touch with them. Another document I have is an apparent account of Operation Brim to get the Sunlag party by an unnamed Z force member who finished training at Fraser Island in April 45, immediately transferred to Darwin and in July went on Operation Brim in HDML1324. It says they made two trips with the first cancelled due to the "grandfather of all storms" with my grandfather being lashed to the tiller until the next morning. Anyhow, kudos on an excellent site and a very valuable resource. Regards, Nick

Hi Nick, I have checked the Fairmile association book "Fairmile Ships of the RAN vol 2" they dont have anything on 1324, its about the only one they dont have something on. As you mentioned Z special, which is one of the units associated with the A.I.B there is a very good chance that you wont find much about those two operations, MacArthur ordered all documents from the AIB and SRD be destroyed at the end of the war.:confused: I had the same problem with researching 1321, my fathers ship, as along with 1327 she was actually an AIB ship I could not find much at all. There were some copies of her deck logs at the National Archives so they might be your best chance, if you haven't already tried them Good Luck Bro Palmer

Hi Bro, Thanks for the reply. I've had some luck at the NAA under series A3269 which has 932 detailed documents relating to SRD ops and training. I've read Lt Stevenson's report from 45 on Sunlag although it doesn't mention the HDML1324 extraction which was operation Brim, or perhaps Bream. From what I have so far, Timor was a major Allied intelligence failure. The Operation Legarto party were captured in mid 43 and the signaller Sgt Ellwood (field promoted Lt) was tortured and was forced to transmit messages that the party was still operational. This went on for about 18 months with the Japanese controlling the communications. He survived the war and has stated that he never gave the authentication code and did his best to indicate that he was compromised. Unbelievably, SRD HQ in Melbourne did not twig to this and not only sent in several other operations, in which 9 Australians and an unknown number of Timorese were killed, they also provided the names, dates and insert locations for these ops. Further, after being advised by Central Bureau of a Top Secret Ultra intercept sent from Timor to Tokyo on Feb 18, 1944 to the Vice Minister of War, that Lt Cashman on Operation Cobra had been captured they enquired as to his situation and requested the authentication code "slender." A week later the tortured Lt Cashman gave up this word and thus the Japanese were able to learn that the Allies had broken this particular cypher and were able to continue the deception. The RAN site on ML814 states that Op Sunlag was formed and then inserted by the Lugger Maintainace Section - Z force based in Darwin - without informing SRD HQ two days prior to an expected resupply drop to Legarto. Operation Brim or Bream was the successful extract by HDML1324 of Sunlag. I suspect you are quite right that a lot of documents were destroyed after the war as a lot of heads including Blamey and those at SRD HQ were going to roll. However, I still hold out some hope there is something still around on Op Brim/Bream from what I have managed to garner so far. Also, I have a newspaper clipping from the Adelaide News, Sept 19, 1945 stating that HDML1324 was the first ship to enter Keopang Harbour to take the Japanese surrender. My grandfather always intended to write a book on the true story of Timor but Alzheimers got him first. No idea as to why the Fairmile Association has no info on 1324 as it looks like a great deal of her history is on this thread. I've yet to research the other HDML's he served on but will keep digging.

You seem to have found a lot more on 1324 than they have on 1321. It is strange about the Fairmile Association not having any details on her as they have stories about the other ML's that became associated with the Timor debacle, but I guess if there were no surviving crew members when the book was written, or if these blokes hadn't let them know about the ship, then obviously they couldn't write about her, a lot of the stories about the other ML's have been told by crew members of those ships. This is the place to find out though, there are some very knowledgeable people subscribing two this forum Good Luck Bro

MV Rushcutter, ex HMAS Rushcutter, ex HDML 1321 has sunk in Darwin Harbour. There is an effort ongoing to raise the funds to salvage her as the new owners don't have the funds to do so and have been ordered to remove the wreck, hopefully this historic vessel will be preserved. The link is from our local paper, the NT News. [URL="http://ntnews.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx?newspaper=nt%20news&cid=6696"]http://ntnews.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx?newspaper=nt%20news&cid=6696[/URL] Go to the index re "Battle to raise historic Warship" The story contains factual errors as the ship was still in RAN service and used for Reserve training well into the 1970's, it was my first ship as a 18 year old in 1965. Cheers Chris

As mentioned by ASSAIL, HMAS HDML 1321, the last of the Australian built Harbour Defence Motor Launches, and veteran of the island campaigns, as featured in Post #123 in the RAN "Ship of the day" thread by Kookaburra, sank at her moorings in Darwin Harbour on the 19th October. Salvaging her is beyond the financial capacity of the owners, so a crowdfunding project has been started, not only to salvage her, but to restore her to her wartime configuration, then to donate her to to a museum, or a city to be put on a permanent dry display. The group managing the crowd funding believe that she is an important part of Australian wartime history, partially because of her exceptional, if unconventional record, but also along with being the the last of her class, she was also the first of the Australian built eighty footers. Donations are being received now at " [url]www.gofundme.com/save-1321-2v9u[/url]. All money raised will be spent on the salvage and restoration of this vessel Cheers Bro Palmer

Hi everyone, I just came across this forum after researching for more information about the HDML, ML-1324 which my father was the motor mechanic and thought I might be able to add some more details. It is correct about the involvement in Timor at the end of the war and he said that they were sent into the harbour first whether alone or with other vessels to sweep for mines before the main fleet came in. From the information he gave us they spent most of there time based around Brisbane and up the coast and it was only after the skipper put in request for further involvement that they were given orders that enabled them to head up to Darwin right at the end of the war and were involved in a few operations. He also mentioned that they were involved in the rescue of a team of men from one of the Japanese controlled Islands. They had to wait off shore at one point due to rough seas and for an overcast night. My farther did have some input into the type of engines fitted and know that ML-1324 had two diesels motors fitted as opposed to petrol engines. When questioned on his preference over petrol he said it was what he was trained and qualified for and that training he considered them safer. This descion was hi-lighted after one similar vessel had an explosion on board during testing I believe. Well I have to say good bye for now and hope this has been a little more that can be added to the stories regarding RAN HDML’s records and will add some more detail ASAP. Cheers for now.

[QUOTE=Re.Crew ML-1324;10172926]Hi everyone, I just came across this forum after researching for more information about the HDML, ML-1324 which my father was the motor mechanic and thought I might be able to add some more details. It is correct about the involvement in Timor at the end of the war and he said that they were sent into the harbour first whether alone or with other vessels to sweep for mines before the main fleet came in. From the information he gave us they spent most of there time based around Brisbane and up the coast and it was only after the skipper put in request for further involvement that they were given orders that enabled them to head up to Darwin right at the end of the war and were involved in a few operations. He also mentioned that they were involved in the rescue of a team of men from one of the Japanese controlled Islands. They had to wait off shore at one point due to rough seas and for an overcast night. My farther did have some input into the type of engines fitted and know that ML-1324 had two diesels motors fitted as opposed to petrol engines. When questioned on his preference over petrol he said it was what he was trained and qualified for and that training he considered them safer. This descion was hi-lighted after one similar vessel had an explosion on board during testing I believe. Well I have to say good bye for now and hope this has been a little more that can be added to the stories regarding RAN HDML’s records and will add some more detail ASAP. Cheers for now.[/QUOTE] I can confirm ML1324 was the first to enter the Harbor and was sent in first to sweep for mines before the rest of the ships came in. I don’t have any other details as to what other duties they performed while there, but have found some photos that I will post which include crew members. Cheers for now.

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