Fairmile B motor launch

The Fairmile B motor launch was a very numerous class of motor launch produced in kit form by British boatbuilder Fairmile Marine, and then assembled and fitted out by numerous boatyards during the Second World War to meet the Royal Navy's coastal operation requirements.

Design

While the Type A motor launch had been designed entirely for Fairmile by architect Norman Hart, the Type B design had come from Bill Holt, head of the Admiralty's DNC Boat Section. The hard-chine hull of the Type A had exhibited seakeeping and handling limitations, but Holt's round-bilged design for the Type B was found to be a far more seaworthy form.
Like all Fairmile boats, production of the Type B was based on total prefabrication so individual components could be contracted out to small factories for production and these arranged as kits that would be delivered in stages to various boatyards for assembly & fitting out on a 'just-in-time' basis. Accordingly, the detailed design work for the Type B was taken on by Fairmile and modified to suit their kit fabrication principle - they then also handled production of component parts.
Altogether approximately 650 boats were built between 1940 and 1945. Like the Type As, the Type Bs were initially intended as submarine chasers, so the boats were fitted with ASDIC as standard.
Their main armament initially reflected their anti-submarine focus, with 12 depth charges, a single QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss gun forward, and one set of twin 0.303-in Lewis or GO machine guns ; early boats often received a Holman projector amidships. A common upgrade to gun armament by 1942–43 in many early boats was to add an aft bandstand mounting for either a 2-pdr Rolls gun or a 20mm Oerlikon cannon. The specifications given are for the original 1940 British version.
As the war moved on, the vessels were adapted to other roles and the armament was modified and upgraded such as the replacement of the 3-pounder with one or more 20 mm Oerlikon cannon and removal of the ASDIC dome for more clearance as minesweepers. Some boats were configured as motor torpedo boats.

Boats

The Fairmile B type superseded the original Fairmile A type, which had been designed by Norman Hart.

First batch (September 1939 orders)

An initial batch of 24 of these was ordered by the Admiralty as part of its first emergency war programme on 22 September 1939 from the Fairmile Marine company, of which the first eleven were completed to the Hart design ; the remaining thirteen were completed to the new Fairmile B design. The first Fairmile B motor launch was completed and delivered on 12 August 1940, with a further eleven from this first production batch entering service before the end of the year.

Name	Ship Builder	Completed	Fate
ML 112	Woodnutt & Co., St Helens, Isle of Wight	22 September 1940	Sold on 27 February 1946.
ML 113	Tough Brothers, Teddington	12 August 1940	Sold in March 1946 as Pendennis.
ML 114	Brooke Marine, Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft	24 August 1940	For disposal in 1946.
ML 115	Solent Shipyard, Sareisbury Green, Hants.	18 September 1940	Sold in October 1946.
ML 116	A. M. Dickie & Sons, Tarbert, Argyllshire	14 September 1940	For disposal in April 1946.
ML 117	Lady Bee, Isleworth	26 October 1940	Sold in 1946, becoming yacht Savourna by 1959.
ML 118	Sussex Shipbuilding, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex	7 October 1940	Sold in 1946 as Marandis.
ML 119	Alexander Robertson, Sandbank.	12 September 1940	Lent to South African Navy 1945; for disposal later in 1945.
ML 120	Aldous Successors, The Shipyard, Brightlingsea	8 October 1940	Sold 1946 as Onetwenty.
ML 121	James A. Silver, Rosneath, Dumbartonshire	12 September 1940	Sold in Egypt ca. 1947.
ML 122	A. M. Dickie & Sons, Bangor, Gwynedd	16 October 1940	Lent to Royal Norwegian Navy from 13 December 1940 to 23 August 1941; for disposal in October 1945.
ML 123	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	May 1941	To Free French Navy as St Ronan from May 1941 to July 1942; sold 1946.
ML 124	A. M. Dickie & Sons, Tarbert, Argyllshire	13 November 1940	To Ship Target Trials in 1946; for disposal in October 1947.

Second batch (January 1940 orders)

The Admiralty placed a massive order for a second batch of Fairmile Bs - 120 vessels in total - on 8 January 1940. These were numbered ML 125 to ML 244. Of these, 37 were delivered by the end of 1940, another 77 during the first half of 1941, and the last 6 during the second half of 1941.

Name	Ship Builder	Completed	Fate
ML 125	J. S. Doig, Grimsby Docks	9 November 1940	Lent to Royal Norwegian Navy from 23 December 1940 to 23 August 1941; for disposal in October 1945.
ML 126	James N. Miller & Sons, East Shore, St Monance, Fife	19 September 1940	Sunk 27 November 1943 after torpedo attack by U-boat.
ML 127	Brooke Marine, Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft	7 November 1940	Mined on 22 November 1940 in the Thames Estuary.
ML 128	P. K. Harris & Sons, New Quay Dry Docks, Appledore, Devon	October 1940	Lent to Royal Norwegian Navy from 13 December 1940 to 23 August 1941; for disposal in January 1946.
ML 129	Mashford Brothers, Cremyll Yard, Cremyll, Plymouth, Devon	14 October 1940	Sunk by bombing on 22 March 1942 off Algeria.
ML 130	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	9 October 1940	Sunk off Malta on 7 May 1942 by gunfire from E-boats.
ML 131	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	12 December 1941	Sold in March 1947.
ML 132	Itchenor Shipyard	9 November 1940	Became constructive total loss by bombing on 21 March 1942 at Bone, Algeria, and interned on next day.
ML 133	Lady Bee, Isleworth	12 December 1940	Lost on 11 May 1943 by fire off west coast of Scotland.
ML 134	Solent Shipyard, Sarisbury Green	29 October 1940	For disposal in October 1946; became Egyptian Hamza.
ML 135	Dorset Yacht, Hamworthy	10 October 1940	Lent to South African Navy 1945; sold at Malta in November 1946.
ML 136	Alexander Robertson, Sandbank.	26 November 1940	Sold in Holland in March 1947, becoming Y861.
ML 137	Boat Construction Company, Falmouth, Cornwall.	26 November 1940	For disposal in October 1945.
ML 138	Aldous Successors, The Shipyard, Brightlingsea	19 November 1940	Lent to Royal Netherlands Navy from 10 November 1945 until 1953, then sold.
ML 139	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	17 December 1940	For disposal in October 1945.
ML 140	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	31 January 1941	For disposal in October 1945.
ML 141	Mashford Brothers, Cremyll Yard, Cremyll, Plymouth, Devon	23 December 1940	For disposal in October 1945.
ML 142	Brooke Marine, Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft	26 November 1940	Sold 1946, becoming Tregarth.
ML 143	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	13 February 1941	Lent to Royal Netherlands Navy from 10 November 1945 until 10 April 1946, then sold as Gay Tulip.
ML 144	Dorset Yacht, Hamworthy	12 November 1940	Sunk by mine on 22 September 1941 in the Channel.
ML 145	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	25 March 1941	Became ML1 from July 1945, sold 1946.
ML 146	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	1 March 1941	For disposal in October 1945.
ML 147	Brooke Marine, Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft	December 1940	Constructive tptal loss on 3 November 1944 off Portsmouth; for disposal in April 1945.
ML 148	Sussex Shipbuilding, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex	10 December 1940	Became ML2 from July 1945, sold 1946.
ML 149	Vosper & Company, Portsmouth	20 February 1941	Became ML3 from July 1945, sold 1946.
ML 150	Sheerness Dockyard	6 March 1941	Sold March 1948.
ML 151	Sheerness Dockyard	25 February 1941	For disposal in October 1945.
ML 152	P. K. Harris & Sons, New Quay Dry Docks, Appledore	18 December 1940	Became ML4 from July 1945, for disposal in June 1946.
ML 153	H. J. Percival, Horning, Norfolk	19 January 1941	For disposal in July 1946, becoming yacht Ginasal.
ML 154	James A. Silver, Rosneath, Dumbartonshire	5 November 1940	Became ML2154, then Squirrel in 1956, taken to pieces in June 1958.
ML 155	Woodnutt, Bembridge, Isle of Wight	11 December 1940	Became ML2155, sold 1961.
ML 156	Wallasea Bay Yacht Yard, Rochford, Essex	18 December 1940	Scuttled at St Nazaire on 28 March 1942, salved and became ML2156, sold 1951.
ML 157	John I. Thorneycroft & Company, Hampton, London	9 October 1940	Sold February 1946.
ML 158	John I. Thorneycroft & Company, Hampton	5 May 1941	Sold 27 February 1946.
ML 159	James N. Miller & Sons, East Shore, St Monance, Fife	23 November 1940	Sold February 1946.
ML 160	Alexander Robertson, Sandbank.	27 December 1940	Bombed on 6 May 1942 at Brixham.
ML 161	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	10 April 1941	To Royal Netherlands Navy from 4 January 1945 to 28 August 1946; sold in 1946.
ML 162	A. M. Dickie & Sons, Bangor, North Wales	3 December 1940	To Royal Netherlands Navy from 4 January 1945 to 10 April 1946; sold September 1946.
ML 163	Leo Robinson, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft	12 February 1941	Sold in 1947, becoming Armanda.
ML 164	Boat Construction Company, Falmouth, Cornwall.	18 December 1940	To Royal Netherlands Navy from 4 January 1945 to 10 April 1946; sold September 1946.
ML 165	Kris Cruisers, Riverside Yard, Isleworth, London.	10 December 1940	For disposal in October 1946.
ML 166	J. W. & A. Upham, Brixham	1 January 1941	To War Department as Hambledon in January 1945; for disposal in May 1947.
ML 167	J. W. & A. Upham, Brixham	January 1941	To War Department as Iffley in January 1945; for disposal in May 1947.
ML 168	William Weatherhead, Cockenzie	23 November 1940	For disposal in May 1946.
ML 169	William King, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex	27 November 1940	Lost by fire on 15 February 1942 at Gibraltar.
ML 170	Aldous Successors, The Shipyard, Brightlingsea	January 1941	For disposal in May 1946.
ML 171	Tough Brothers, Teddington	21 October 1940	To War Department as Richmond in June 1945; for disposal in May 1947.
ML 172	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	16 March 1941	For disposal in May 1946.
ML 173	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	17 January 1941	For disposal in May 1946.
ML 174	William Osbourne, Littlehampton	December 1940	For disposal in May 1946.
ML 175	James A. Silver, Rosneath, Dumbartonshire	20 January 1941	For disposal in May 1946.
ML 176	Solent Shipyard, Sarisbury Green	December 1940	For disposal in May 1946.
ML 177	Wallasea Bay Yacht Yard, Rochford, Essex	December 1940	Lost at St Nazaire on 28 March 1942.
ML 178	Leo Robinson, Tewkesbury	24 June 1941	Sold in 1946.
ML 179	J. W. & A. Upham, Brixham	16 February 1941	Sold in February 1946.
ML 180	Collins Pleasurecraft Company, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft	18 February 1941	Sold in 1948 as Matapan.
ML 181	John Sadd, Maldon, Essex	24 January 1941	Lent to Royal Netrherlands Navy in 1945, then sold to them in March 1947.
ML 182	Leo Robinson, Tewkesbury	2 August 1941	Free French Navy from 1 April 1942 to 12 August 1942, sold in February 1946.
ML 183	A. M. Dickie & Sons, Tarbert, Argyllshire	10 February 1941	Lost in collision with East Pier, Dieppe on 11 February 1945.
ML 184	P. K. Harris & Sons, New Quay Dry Docks, Appledore, Devon	10 February 1941	Sold in March 1946.
ML 185	James Taylor, Chertsey	20 May 1941	Sold in March 1946.
ML 186	Brooke Marine, Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft	28 January 1941	Sold in March 1946.
ML 187	Boat Construction Company, Falmouth, Cornwall.	11 February 1941	Sold 11 June 1947 at Singapore.
ML 188	A. M. Dickie & Sons, Tarbert, Argyllshire	25 March 1941	For disposal November 1945 at Freetown.
ML 189	Dorset Yacht, Hamworthy.	4 February 1941	Sold 11 June 1947 at Singapore.
ML 190	Solent Shipyard, Sarisbury Green	19 March 1941	For disposal in October 1945.
ML 191	Itchenor Shipyard	15 May 1941	To Burma RNVR in November 1945; for disposal in June 1946.
ML 192	Southampton Steam Joinery, Southampton	1 August 1941	To Free French Navy in 1942; lost at St Nazaire on 28 March 1942.
ML 193	H. J. Percival, Horning, Norfolk.	27 March 1941	Sold 11 June 1947 at Singapore.
ML 194	Johnson & Jago, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.	29 January 1941	Sold 11 June 1947 at Singapore.
ML 195	John I. Thorneycroft & Company, Hampton, London	21 January 1941	Sold March 1947.
ML 196	James N. Miller & Sons, East Shore, St Monance, Fife	1 February 1941	Became ML2196; to Norwich Sea Cadets in 1958 as Lord Nelson.
ML 197	Alexander Robertson, Sandbank.	24 February 1941	Sold 1946 as Cory 3.
ML 198	Woodnutt, Bembridge, Isle of Wight	18 March 1941	Sold 1946 as Cory 4.
ML 199	Tough Brothers, Teddington	19 December 1940	Sold in August 1946.
ML 200	James A. Silver, Rosneath, Dumbartonshire	22 February 1941	For disposal in January 1946 at Trincomalee.
ML 201	James A. Silver, Rosneath, Dumbartonshire	27 March 1941	Sold 11 June 1947 at Singapore.
ML 202	Lady Bee, Isleworth	15 March 1941	Sold in February 1946 at Trincomalee.
ML 203	James N. Miller & Sons, East Shore, St Monance, Fife	24 June 1941	For disposal in October 1945.
ML 204	Risdon Beazley, Northam Bridge	27 February 1941	To Burma RNVR on 1 November 1945; for disposal in 1946.
ML 205	James Taylor, Chertsey	28 June 1941	To Free French Navy as Ouessant from May to August 1942; for disposal 1946.
ML 206	Aldous Successors, The Shipyard, Brightlingsea	5 March 1941	Sold to Hampton Sea Scouts in October 1946.
ML 207	Johnson & Jago, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.	11 March 1941	Sold in March 1946.
ML 208	Risdon Beazley, Northam Bridge	12 March 1941	To Royal Norwegian Navy from 12 March 1941 until October 1942; for disposal in October 1945.
ML 209	James Taylor, Chertsey	25 August 1941	For disposal in November 1945 at Freetown.
ML 210	William Osbourne, Littlehampton	7 April 1941	To Royal Norwegian Navy from 5 April 1941; mined 15 February 1944 off Dieppe.
ML 211	Brooke Marine, Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft	3 March 1941	Sold 1947.
ML 212	A. M. Dickie & Sons, Bangor, North Wales	5 March 1941	Sold 1946, becoming yacht Yvonne II.
ML 213	Mashford Brothers, Cremyll Yard, Cremyll, Plymouth, Devon	11 April 1941	For disposal in November 1945.
ML 214	Kris Cruisers, Riverside Yard, Isleworth, London.	10 March 1941	Sold 11 June 1947 at Singapore.
ML 215	Cardnel Brothers, Maylandsea, Tilthorne, near Chelmsford.	7 May 1941	Sold 1947.
ML 216	Lady Bee, Isleworth	28 May 1941	Mined 19 September 1944 and foundered 28 September in the North Sea.
ML 217	A. M. Dickie & Sons, Tarbert, Argyllshire	May 1941	Became ML 2217, later to Nigeria as Sapele on 20 July 1959.
ML 218	William Weatherhead, Cockenzie	17 May 1941	For disposal in September 1945.
ML 219	William Osbourne, Littlehampton	December 1940	Grounded near Stornoway 21 November 1941, became Constructive Total Loss.
ML 220	Tough Brothers, Teddington	February 1941	Became ML 2220, to RNVR in December 1947, sold 20 August 1958.
ML 221	William King, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex	24 February 1941	Became ML 2221, to Connah's Quay Sea Cadet Corps in 1958.
ML 222	J. S. Doig, Grimsby Docks	20 April 1941	Became ML 2222, for disposal in 1956.
ML 223	Alexander Robertson, Sandbank.	May 1941	Became ML6002, later ML 2223; to Nigeria in July 1959 as Calabar.
ML 224	Bay Yacht, Wallasea.	13 March 1941	For disposaL in March 1946.
ML 225	Aldous Successors, The Shipyard, Brightlingsea	25 April 1941	To War Department in June 1945 as Maple Durham, but conversion not completed and disposed of in October 1945.
ML 226	Boat Construction Company, Falmouth, Cornwall.	8 April 1941	For disposal in November 1945 at Freetown.
ML 227	Austins of East Ham Ltd, Twinn Wharf, Barking	21 May 1941	Sold 1947 as Syrinx.
ML 228	Tough Brothers, Teddington	15 April 1941	For disposal in November 1945 at Freetown.
ML 229	Dorset Yacht, Hamworthy.	7 April 1941	For disposal in November 1945.
ML 230	Brooke Marine, Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft	28 March 1941	Sunk in collision in Indian waters on 17 August 1945.
ML 231	Sussex Shipbuilding, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex	19 May 1941	For disposal in November 1945 at Freetown.
ML 232	James A. Silver, Rosneath, Dumbartonshire	April 1941	To Greece in July 1945 on loan as Domakos; broken up in 1946.
ML 233	P. K. Harris & Sons, New Quay Dry Docks, Appledore, Devon	31 March 1941	Lent to Royal Norwegian Navy from 31 March to 23 August 1941; for disposal in October 1945.
ML 234	A. M. Dickie & Sons, Tarbert, Argyllshire	15 September 1941	To War Department in June 1945 as Marlow, but conversion not completed and disposed of in October 1945.
ML 235	A. M. Dickie & Sons, Bangor, North Wales	27 May 1941	Sold in 1946, becoming yacht Pauline.
ML 236	J. W. & A. Upham, Brixham	9 June 1941	For disposal in February 1946.
ML 237	J. W. & A. Upham, Brixham	22 May 1941	Became ML2237; sunk as gunnery target on 8 October 1952.
ML 238	Alexander Robertson, Sandbank.	14 November 1941	To Italian Navy 7 January 1946.
ML 239	Solent Shipyard, Sarisbury Green	22 May 1941	To War Department in June 1945 as Marsh, but conversion not completed and disposed of in October 1945.
ML 240	Thomson & Balfour, Victoria Saw Mills, Bo'ness	22 May 1941	To Italian Navy 7 January 1946.
ML 241	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	19 May 1941	For disposal in January 1945.
ML 242	Frank Curtis, Looe, Cornwall	28 May 1941	Constructive Total Loss by fire 29 November 1942 in West Africa.
ML 243	William Weatherhead, Cockenzie	26 May 1941	For disposal in January 1946.
ML 244	H. J. Percival, Horning, Norfolk	3 July 1941	To France on 16 August 1944 as V101.