Canadian Fairmile B

The Canadian Fairmile B was a motor launch built during the Second World War for the Royal Canadian Navy. They were adaptations of the British Fairmile B motor launch design incorporating slight modifications for Canadian climatic and operational conditions. Eighty-eight were built in Canada for service with the Coastal Forces of the Royal Canadian Navy in home waters, of which eight were supplied to the United States Navy.

HMC ML Q050 was the first of a series of wooden Canadian-built Fairmile B delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on 18 November 1941
Class overview
BuildersSee builders
Operators
Built1941–1944
In service1941–1945
Completed88
General characteristics
Class and typeFairmile B motor launch
Displacement79 long tons (80 t)
Length112 ft (34 m)
Beam17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
Draught4 ft 10 in (1.47 m)
PropulsionTwo 650 bhp (480 kW) Hall-Scott Defender petrol engines
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range1,500 mi (1,300 nmi; 2,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement2 officers and 14 non-commissioned
Time to activate48 hours to reconfigure weapons
Sensors and
processing systems		ASDIC
ArmourWheelhouse plated

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 B motor 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 (200 mm) oak keel. Based on a line of destroyer hulls, 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 (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) 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 (480 kW) engines, could reach a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (max), 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) sea speed and a range of 1,925 miles (1,673 nmi; 3,098 km) at 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph). Later versions (Q112 to Q129) were fitted with larger 700 hp (520 kW) engines able to achieve a top speed to 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) (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 9 mm Sten gun, two .303 rifles, and three .45 revolvers[1]

Each boat was equipped with sonar, radar and wireless telegraphy.[1]

Example armament combinations
Armament Upgunned sub chaser Torpedo boat Acoustic minesweeper
Aft 2 x 20 mm Oerlikon - 2 x 20 mm Oerlikon
Amidships 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon - 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon
Bridge wings 2 x twin 0.303 in machine guns 2 x twin 0.303 in machine guns 2 x twin 0.303 in machine guns
Forward 3 pdr high-angle/low-angle gun 3 pdr high-angle/low-angle gun 3 pdr high-angle/low-angle gun
Other 12 depth charges

Holman Projector

Y-gun (4 reloads)

 2 x 21 in torpedo tubes

Holman projector

 14 depth charges
Armament Moored minesweeper Rescue boat Canadian B type (final)
Aft 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon
Amidships 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon
Bridge wings 2 x twin 0.303 in machine guns 2 x twin 0.303 in machine guns
Forward 3 pdr high-angle/low-angle gun 2 pdr gun 1 x 20 mm Oerlikon
Other 6 depth charges

Y-gun (0 reloads)

 6 depth charges 14 depth charges

Y-gun (7 reloads)

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

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" HMCS Preserver and HMCS Provider providing fresh water, fuel and medical services.[4]

Vessels in class
List of Canadian-built Fairmile B[3][10][11]
Name Pennant # Shipbuilder Location Ordered Completed Flotilla

(December 1944)

 Notes Image
ML 050 Q 050 Midland Boat Works Midland, Ontario 3 January 1941 18 November 1941 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 001

Sold 1945 as Stanba I
HMC ML Q050
ML 051 Q 051 Midland Boat Works Midland, Ontario 3 January 1941 24 November 1941 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force (SO) Originally designated and painted up as CML 002

Sold 1946 as Radel II

Abandoned 2004
HMC ML Q051
ML 052 Q 052 Taylor & Sons, J. J. Toronto, Ontario 3 January 1941 31 October 1941 Free French Navy – Newfoundland Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 003

To Free French 1943 as Gallantry (V 111) Returned to RCN and sold 1949 as Cyrius

Later La Marie-Jo, active
HMC ML Q052
ML 053 Q 053 Taylor & Sons, J. J. Toronto ON 3 January 1941 17 November 1941 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 004

Sold 1945 as Aloma III
HMC ML Q053
ML 054 Q 054 Greavette Boats Ltd. Gravenhurst ON 3 January 1941 17 October 1941 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 005

Sold 1945
HMC ML Q054
ML 055 Q 055 Greavette Boats Ltd. Gravenhurst, Ontario 3 January 1941 6 November 1941 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 006

Sold 1945
HMC ML Q055
ML 056 Q 056 Greavette Boats Ltd. Gravenhurst, Ontario 3 January 1941 24 November 1941 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force (SO) Originally designated and painted up as CML 007

Sold 1945 as Esso Ayacucho

Scrapped 1957
HMC ML Q056
ML 057 Q 057 Minett-Shields, Ltd. Bracebridge, Ontario 3 January 1941 28 October 1941 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 008

Sold 1945
HMC ML Q057
ML 058 Q 058 Minett-Shields, Ltd. Bracebridge, Ontario 3 January 1941 24 November 1941 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 009

Sold 1945 as Katherine G Burnt 1949
ML 059 Q 059 Minett-Shields, Ltd. Bracebridge, Ontario 3 January 1941 26 May 1942 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 010

Sold 1946 as Rodco
ML 060 Q 060 Hunter Boats Orillia, Ontario 3 January 1941 1 November 1941 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force (SO) Originally designated and painted up as CML 011

Sold 1945
ML 061 Q 061 Hunter Boats Orillia, Ontario 3 January 1941 11 November 1941 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 012

Sold 1945 as Esso Concordia
ML 062 Q 062 Mac-Craft Ltd. Sarnia, Ontario 3 January 1941 18 April 1942 Free French Navy – Newfoundland Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 013

To Free French 1942 as Langlade (V 112), reacquired 1954 as HMCS Wolf, breakwater 2003
ML 063 Q 063 Mac-Craft Ltd. Sarnia, Ontario 3 January 1941 18 April 1942 Free French Navy – Newfoundland Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 014

To Free French 1942 as Colombier (V 113), later Cumbrae II
ML 064 Q 064 LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. Weymouth, Nova Scotia 3 January 1941 15 May 1942 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 015

Sold 1947 as Six-Four, foundered 1952
ML 065 Q 065 LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. Weymouth, Nova Scotia 3 January 1941 15 May 1942 72nd Flotilla – Sydney Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 016

Sold 1946 as Nadine II, later Audrey A, burnt 1978
ML 066 Q 066 Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. Vancouver, British Columbia 3 January 1941 3 June 1942 75th Flotilla – Esquimalt Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 017

Sold 1946 as Earlmar, gone 2010
ML 067 Q 067 Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. Vancouver, British Columbia 3 January 1941 27 March 1942 75th Flotilla – Esquimalt Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 018

Sold 1946 as Stranger II, burnt 1966
ML 068 Q 068 A.C. Benson Shipyard Vancouver, British Columbia 3 January 1941 7 August 1942 Flotilla unknown Originally designated and painted up as CML 019

Sold 1946 as Salvor, later Marine Freight No. 1, Miss Linda
ML 069 Q 069 A.C. Benson Shipyard Vancouver, British Columbia 3 January 1941 28 March 1942 75th Flotilla – Esquimalt Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 020

Sold 1945 as Harwood, Casa Mia, lost in hurricane 1978
ML 070 Q 070 Star Shipyards (Mercer's) Ltd. New Westminster, British Columbia 3 January 1941 14 March 1942 75th Flotilla – Esquimalt Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 021

Sold 1945 as Machigonne, later Gulf Ranger, Coast Ranger, Saracen III, Lahaina Lady, Noble Lady, active
ML 071 Q 071 Star Shipyards (Mercer's) Ltd. New Westminster, British Columbia 3 January 1941 15 April 1942 75th Flotilla – Esquimalt Force (SO) Originally designated and painted up as CML 022

Sold 1946 as Gulf Wing, later Troubadour III, Nimpkish Princess, Northland Princess, Kona Winds, Knight Time II, sank 2015
ML 072 Q 072 Grew Boats Ltd. Penetanguishene, Ontario 3 January 1941 24 November 1941 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force (SO) Originally designated and painted up as CML 023

Sold 1945
ML 073 Q 073 Grew Boats Ltd. Penetanguishene, Ontario 3 January 1941 24 November 1941 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 024

Sold 1945
ML 074 Q 074 Minett-Shields, Ltd. Bracebridge ON 22 July 1941 26 May 1942 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 025

Sold 1945 as Aloma III, later Terra Mar
ML 075 Q 075 Minett-Shields, Ltd. Bracebridge, Ontario 22 July 1941 22 June 1942 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 026

Sold 1945
ML 076 Q 076 Minett-Shields, Ltd. Bracebridge ON 22 July 1941 23 June 1942 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 027

Sold 1945
ML 077 Q 077 Greavette Boats Ltd. Gravenhurst, Ontario 22 July 1941 2 June 1942 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 028

Sold 1947 as Coastal Queen
ML 078 Q 078 Greavette Boats Ltd. Gravenhurst, Ontario 22 July 1941 2 June 1942 73rd Flotilla – New Brunswick Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 029

Sold 1945 as Esso Cardinal
ML 079 Q 079 Taylor & Sons, J. J. Toronto ON 22 July 1941 27 May 1942 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 030

Sold 1945 as Nancy Grace, reacquired 1954 as HMCS Raccoon, sold later as Lady Enid
ML 080 Q 080 Taylor & Sons, J. J. Toronto, Ontario 22 July 1941 17 June 1942 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 031

Sold 1945 as Quarterdeck, later Almeta Queen, Cosa Grande, abandoned 2007
ML 081 Q 081 Honey Harbour Nav. Co. Ltd. Midland, Ontario 22 July 1941 27 May 1942 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force (SO) Originally designated and painted up as CML 032

Sold 1947 as Esso Taparita, burnt 1948
ML 082 Q 082 Honey Harbour Nav. Co. Ltd. Midland ON 22 July 1941 27 May 1942 Quebec City, Quebec

No flotilla

 Originally designated and painted up as CML 033

Sold 1945
ML 083 Q 083 LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. Weymouth, Nova Scotia 22-Jul 1941 25-May 1942 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 034

Sold 1945 as Lazy Mariner
ML 084 Q 084 LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. Weymouth, Nova Scotia 22 July 1941 18 June 1942 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 035

Sold 1946
ML 085 Q 085 Hunter Boats Orillia, Ontario 22 July 1941 13 June 1942 79th Flotilla – Gaspé Force Originally designated and painted up as CML 036

Sold 1951 as Suzette No. 1
ML 086 Q 086 Taylor & Sons, J. J. Toronto ON 16 February 1942 26 October 1942 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1946 as Monterey
ML 087 Q 087 Taylor & Sons, J. J. Toronto, Ontario 16 February 1942 9 November 1942 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1948 as Chef Tek8erimat, later Tzigane
ML 088 Q 088 Taylor & Sons, J. J. Toronto, Ontario 16 February 1942 5 October 1943 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force Sold 1946 as Eighty-Eight, later Olympia III, burnt
ML 089 Q 089 Greavette Boats Ltd. Gravenhurst, Ontario 16 February 1942 15 October 1942 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1949 as Coastal Queen, later Grand Commander, Corniche
ML 090 Q 090 Greavette Boats Ltd. Gravenhurst, Ontario 16 February 1942 19 November 1942 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1945 as Louvicourt, later Rosal
ML 091 Q 091 Greavette Boats Ltd. Gravenhurst, Ontario 16 February 1942 17 May 1943 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force Sold 1946 as Nine-One, sank 1955
ML 092 Q 092 Hunter Boats Orillia, Ontario 16 February 1942 2 November 1942 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force Sold 1947 as Suzette II
ML 093 Q 093 Hunter Boats Orillia, Ontario 16 February 1942 2 November 1942 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1945
ML 094 Q 094 Midland Boat Works Midland, Ontario 16 February 1942 19 November 1942 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force Sold 1945 as Ernest G
ML 095 Q 095 Midland Boat Works Midland, Ontario 16 February 1942 12 May 1943 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force (SO) Sold 1945 as Rodco
ML 096 Q 096 Minett-Shields, Ltd. Bracebridge, Ontario 16 February 1942 9 November 1942 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1945 as Roseline, later Miss Kingston, Saint-Louis IV, La Santa Maria IV, active
ML 097 Q 097 Minett-Shields, Ltd. Bracebridge, Ontario 16 February 1942 16 November 1942 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1945
ML 098 Q 098 Grew Boats Ltd. Penetanguishene, Ontario 16 February 1942 7 November 1942 76th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1948 as Corita, later Le Saint-Barnabe
ML 099 Q 099 Grew Boats Ltd. Penetanguishene, Ontario 16 February 1942 7 November 1942 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force Sold 1948 as Dipedon, later Donarvie II
ML 100 Q 100 Grew Boats Ltd. Penetanguishene, Ontario 16 February 1942 7 November 1942 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1945
ML 101 Q 101 Mac-Craft Ltd. Sarnia, Ontario 16 February 1942 7 November 1942 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1945 as Edmar, later Nellie D
ML 102 Q 102 Mac-Craft Ltd. Sarnia, Ontario 16 February 1942 14 November 1942 77th Flotilla – Halifax M.L. Force Sold 1945 as Quetzal, later Curlew, Salissa M, Moondance, Enterprise II
ML 103 Q 103 Mac-Craft Ltd. Sarnia, Ontario 16 February 1942 18 November 1942 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force (SO) Sold 1947 as One-O-Three, later Lady Simone, scrapped
ML 104 Q 104 Mac-Craft Ltd. Sarnia, Ontario October 1942 4 August 1943 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda (SO) Sold 1945, reacquired 1954 as HMCS Cougar, scrapped 1959
ML 105 Q 105 Mac-Craft Ltd. Sarnia, Ontario October 1942 5 September 1943 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda Sold 1948 as Duc d'Orleans, scrapped 2007
ML 106 Q 106 Grew Boats Ltd. Penetanguishene, Ontario October 1942 28 August 1943 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda Sold 1945, reacquired 1954 as HMCS Beaver, scrapped 1957
ML 107 Q 107 Grew Boats Ltd. Penetanguishene, Ontario October 1942 9 November 1943 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda Sold 1949 as Miss Chevrolet, later Lady Latour, burnt 1951
ML 108 Q 108 Midland Boat Works Midland, Ontario October 1942 13 August 1943 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda Sold 1945 as Machigonne II
ML 109 Q 109 Hunter Boats Orillia, Ontario October 1942 23 August 1943 70th M.L Flotilla (Detached to Royal Navy) – Bermuda Sold 1948 as Quetzal II, later Arara, Aruba
ML 110 Q 110 Minett-Shields, Ltd. Bracebridge, Ontario October 1942 8 July 1943 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1949
ML 111 Q 111 LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. Weymouth, Nova Scotia October 1942 9 September 1943 78th Flotilla – Newfoundland Force Sold 1945, reacquired 1954 as HMCS Moose, sold 1956
ML 112 Q 112 Taylor & Sons, J. J. Toronto, Ontario October 1942 25 October 43 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force To RCMP 1945 as Fort Walsh, wrecked 1958
ML 113 Q 113 Taylor & Sons, J. J. Toronto, Ontario October 1942 20 November 1943 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force Sold 1947 as Laverniere, sank 1947
ML 114 Q 114 Greavette Boats Ltd. Gravenhurst, Ontario October 1942 20 November 1943 82nd Flotilla – Sydney Force (SO) 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
Name Pennant # Shipbuilder Location Completed Notes
ML 392 Q 392 LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co., J. H. Weymouth, Nova Scotia 26 September 1942 To USN as SC-1466, to Mexico 1943
ML 393 Q 393 26 June 1942 To USN as SC-1467, scrapped 1948
ML 394 Q 394 1 October 1942 To USN as SC-1468, scrapped 1948
ML 395 Q 395 26 September 1942 To USN as SC-1469, to Mexico 1943
ML 396 Q 396 23 October 1942 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)

References
  1. Heenan, RCNR (Ret), Captain Joseph A. (1 February 1962). "The Little Ships" (PDF). The Crowsnest. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. Tucker, Norman, Gilbert (1952). The Naval Service of Canada. King's Printer. p. 43.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. 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.
  4. "Radio Research Paper – Fairmile Radio Fit". jproc.ca. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  5. Joseph A. Heenan RCNR in Crowsnest gives the later engines as "Sterling Admiral engines of 850 hp" and making 24 knots
  6. "WW2Ships.com: Fairmile Type B Motor Launch". ww2ships.com. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  7. "Speed-Manoeuvreability-Power-Dependabiltiy" (PDF). The Crows Nest News of Canada's Navy. 3: 12. March 1945.
  8. "Fairmile Motor Launch". Juno Beach Centre. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  9. "Naval Museum of Manitoba – Canadian Naval History". www.naval-museum.mb.ca. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  10. "Patrol Craft Built in Canada in WWII". shipbuildinghistory.com. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  11. "Red List" (Part II) Minor War Vessels Abroad (PDF). Operations Division Naval Staff Admiralty. 16 December 1944. pp. 57–61.
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