Fairmile -ML401/Q401 Commissioned 20/12/43 Sold 1946-47.
The 80th Flotilla consisted of MLs 401 to 406 - The flotillas were based at Renard Sound in the Russell Islands.
ML 401 Built by Charles Bailey & Sons, renamed Mahurangi in ’47. Went to the Cook Islands for trading and was lost off Aitutaki February 1954.
The Class B Fairmiles were 112 feet (34 m) long, displaced 85 tons and had a complement of 16. Twin 12-cylinder petrol engines generated 630 hp (470 kW) on each of two shafts for a speed of 20 knots (37 km/h). They were armed with a 2-pdr (40 mm) gun, a 20 mm Oerlikon cannon, twin 0.303 in machine guns and 12 depth charges, and were fitted with ASDIC (sonar).
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| January 1944 – Fairmiles of 80th and 81st ML Flotillas R.N.Z.N. fitting out at Devonport (N.Z.) Naval Base prior to departure for Solomons. Copied from R.N.Z.N. Official photo. |
7 February 1944, five Fairmile 'B' Class patrol craft ML 401-404 and 406 departed Auckland for the Solomon Islands. They travelled via Whangaroa Harbour (to top up fuel), Norfolk Island, Noumea, Espiritu Santo before reaching their destination at Renard Sound in the Russell Islands.
The first group of four Fairmiles had already departed in January. The Fairmiles were organised into two six-craft flotillas the 80th ML (Motor Launch) and 81st ML under the operational control of the US Navy. The launches were used for anti-submarine patrols off Guadacanal, Tulagi and the Russell Islands. Additional duties included escorting vessels.
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