Coastal Forces of the Royal Australian Navy
Encyclopedia
Coastal Forces
was a division of the Royal Navy
established during World War II
. It consisted of small coastal defence craft such as motor launch
es, submarine chaser
s, air-sea rescue
launches, motor gun boats
and motor torpedo boats
. It did not include minesweepers, trawlers or landing craft. This article is about the equivalent boats used by the Royal Australian Navy
(RAN).
31 Harbour Defence Motor Launches (HDMLs) and 35 Fairmile B-type Motor Launches entered service from October 1942. They were employed on routine patrols, convoy escorts, running special forces in and out of Japanese-held areas, boom defence patrols in harbours at home and abroad, courier operations, survey work, and raiding Japanese-held coasts.
on 1 June 1942. The first Australian Fairmile, ML 813, entered service at the end of that year. Originally designed in the UK for coastal anti-submarine and convoy duties, the RAN Fairmiles performed these and a variety of other functions. Their tasks included convoy escort, servicing and supporting advancing troops, landing and recovering commandos and coastwatchers, rescuing civilians from enemy occupied territories, and invasion escort.
Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy
Coastal Forces was a division of the Royal Navy established duringWorld War II under the command of Rear Admiral Coastal Forces. -History:The Royal Navy had previously operated flotillas of small torpedo- and depth-charge-armed craft during the First World WarThe first Headquarters was set up at ...
was a division of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
established during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It consisted of small coastal defence craft such as motor launch
Motor Launch
A Motor Launch is a small military vessel in British navy service. It was designed for harbour defence and submarine chasing or for armed high speed air-sea rescue....
es, submarine chaser
Submarine chaser
A submarine chaser is a small and fast naval vessel specially intended for anti-submarine warfare. Although similar vessels were designed and used by many nations, this designation was most famously used by ships built by the United States of America...
s, air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
launches, motor gun boats
Motor Gun Boat
Motor Gun Boat was a Royal Navy term for a small military vessel of the Second World War. They were physically similar to the Motor Torpedo Boats but equipped with a mix of guns instead of torpedoes. Their small size and high speed made them difficult targets for E-boats or torpedo bombers, but...
and motor torpedo boats
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
. It did not include minesweepers, trawlers or landing craft. This article is about the equivalent boats used by the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
(RAN).
Units and craft
It included the following types of coastal defence craft:| Type | Built | Lost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harbour Defence Motor Launch Harbour Defence Motor Launch The Harbour Defence Motor Launch was a British small motor vessel of the Second World War.The HDML was designed by W J Holt at the Admiralty in early 1939. During the war, 486 HDMLs were constructed, mainly by yacht builders, in the United Kingdom and a number of other allied countries... Fairmile B motor launch Fairmile B motor launch The Fairmile B motor launch was a type of Motor Launch built by Fairmile Marine during the Second World War for the Royal Navy for coastal operations.-Design:... |
31 35 |
2 |
31 Harbour Defence Motor Launches (HDMLs) and 35 Fairmile B-type Motor Launches entered service from October 1942. They were employed on routine patrols, convoy escorts, running special forces in and out of Japanese-held areas, boom defence patrols in harbours at home and abroad, courier operations, survey work, and raiding Japanese-held coasts.
RAN HDMLs
| Ship | Commissioned | Career | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
RAN Fairmiles
A Fairmile school was established at HMAS RushcutterHMAS Rushcutter (naval base)
HMAS Rushcutter was a Royal Australian Navy depot, radar and anti-submarine training school at Rushcutter Bay, Edgecliff, New South Wales, Australia....
on 1 June 1942. The first Australian Fairmile, ML 813, entered service at the end of that year. Originally designed in the UK for coastal anti-submarine and convoy duties, the RAN Fairmiles performed these and a variety of other functions. Their tasks included convoy escort, servicing and supporting advancing troops, landing and recovering commandos and coastwatchers, rescuing civilians from enemy occupied territories, and invasion escort.
| Ship | Commissioned | Career | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
Surviving craft
| Vessel | Description | Built | Builder | In the care of | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
See also
- Coastal Forces of the Royal NavyCoastal Forces of the Royal NavyCoastal Forces was a division of the Royal Navy established duringWorld War II under the command of Rear Admiral Coastal Forces. -History:The Royal Navy had previously operated flotillas of small torpedo- and depth-charge-armed craft during the First World WarThe first Headquarters was set up at ...
- Coastal Forces of the Royal Canadian NavyCoastal Forces of the Royal Canadian NavyCoastal Forces was a division of the Royal Navy established during World War II. It consisted of small coastal defence craft such as motor launches, submarine chasers, air-sea rescue launches, motor gun boats and motor torpedo boats. It did not include minesweepers, trawlers or landing craft...
- Coastal Forces of the Royal New Zealand NavyCoastal Forces of the Royal New Zealand NavyCoastal Forces was a division of the Royal Navy established during World War II. It consisted of small coastal defence craft such as motor launches, submarine chasers, air-sea rescue launches, motor gun boats and motor torpedo boats. It did not include minesweepers, naval trawlers or landing craft...
Reading list
- Evans, Peter (2002) Fairmile Ships of the Royal Australian Navy. Vol 1. ISBN 9781876439866
- Evans, Peter (2002) Fairmile Ships of the Royal Australian Navy. Vol 2. ISBN 1876439297
- Stevens, D (2005) The Royal Australian Navy in World War II. ISBN 1741141642
- Book reviews