120ft Motor Lighter
The 120 ft Motor Lighter was a class of lighters designed by the Australian Shipbuilding Board during World War II and built for the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Navy and the US Army.[1][2]
 Australian Army 120ft motor lighter AV2050 during World War II | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | 120ft Motor Lighter |
| Operators |
|
| Completed | ~50 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Motor Lighter |
| Tonnage | 250 tons |
| Length | 120 ft (37 m) |
| Beam | 24 ft (7.3 m) |
| Draught | 9 ft (2.7 m) |
| Propulsion | Diesel engines |
Design
The lighters were 120 feet (37 m) in length, 9 feet (2.7 m) depth and 24 feet (7.3 m) breadth and cost about $120,000 each to build.[2]
Operators
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy ordered three refrigerator, two stores and nine water variants.
| Ship | Built | Builder | Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRL 251 | ||||
| MRL 252 | ||||
| MRL 253 | Johnson's Shipyard, Melbourne | Renamed HMAS Gayundah in 1969. | ||
| MRL 254 | Order cancelled | |||
| MRL 255 | Order cancelled | |||
| MSL 251 | Tulloch Limited, Rhodes | Loaned to Department of External Territories, sank during a storm on 23 June 1950, with 17 lives lost. | ||
| MSL 252 | State Dockyard, Newcastle | 1946–1973 | Converted to a survey vessel in 1958, renamed HMAS Paluma. Paid off on 30 March 1973, and sold in 1974. | |
| MWL 251 | Renamed HMAS Gunga Din. | |||
| MWL 252 | Order cancelled. | |||
| MWL 253 | ||||
| MWL 254 | Broken up at Homebush Bay. | |||
| MWL 255 | State Dockyard, Newcastle | |||
| MWL 256 | State Dockyard, Newcastle | Renamed HMAS Lonsdale, later HMAS Gunga Din II. | ||
| MWL 257 | Sold for scrapping in 1985. | |||
| MWL 258 | Order cancelled. | |||
| MWL 259 | Order cancelled. |
Australian Army
Thirty one vessels were ordered by the Australian Army.
| Ship | Built | Builder | Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AV 2050 Elspeth | ||||
| AV 2051 | ||||
| AV 2052 | Johnson's Shipyard, Melbourne | 1945 | For auction in 1948. | |
| AV 2053 | ||||
| AV 2054 | ||||
| AV 2055 | ||||
| AV 2056 Evelyn | ||||
| AV 2057 | ||||
| AV 2058 | ||||
| AV 2059 | ||||
| AV 2060 | ||||
| AV 2061 | ||||
| AV 2062 | ||||
| AV 2063 | ||||
| AV 2064 | ||||
| AV 2065 | ||||
| AV 2066 Ellen | Transferred to Royal Navy as MSL 41 | |||
| AV 2067 Endeavour | Transferred to Royal Navy as MSL 42 | |||
| AV 2068 | For auction incomplete in 1948. | |||
| AV 2069 | ||||
| AV 2070 | ||||
| AV 2071 | ||||
| AV 2072 | ||||
| AV 2073 | ||||
| AV 2074 | ||||
| AV 2075 Emily | ||||
| AV 2076 | ||||
| AV 2077 | ||||
| AV 2078 | ||||
| AV 2079 | ||||
| AV 2080 Ebbtide | Transferred to Royal Navy as MRL 21 |
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force ordered five vessels.
Royal Navy
| Ship | Built | Builder | Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSL 41 | ||||
| MSL 42 | ||||
| MRL 21 |
United States Army
| Ship | Built | Builder | Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OL-22 |
Notes
- Alsop, p.56.
- Wilson, p.32.
References
- Alsop, Brian (1996). Australian Army watercraft : Australia's unknown fleet : from the Second World War to the present day. Topmill, Marrickville. ISBN 1-876043-15-6.
- Wilson, Michael; Australia. Navy Office. Naval Historical Records Section; Australia. Navy Office. Public Affairs (1994). Royal Australian Navy : Profile No. 4. Royal Australian Navy 21st century warships: naval auxiliaries 1911–1999 (including Defence Maritime Services). Topmill, Marrickville. ISBN 1-876270-72-1.
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