HMNZS Fairmile Q409 later Maori, later Iris Moana

HMNZS Fairmile Q409 later Maori – left, being fitted out

HMNZS Fairmile Q409 – Castle Class Minesweepers in background

HMNZS Fairmile Q409 with HMNZS Killegray T174 background

HMNZS Fairmile Q409 later Maori and background HMNZS Thomas Currell (T11)

Poss HMNZS Fairmile Q409 later Maori, in background HMNZS Aroha (T24)

Q409
Fairmile ML Q409 departs for The Solomons
RNZN Fairmiles in the Solomons
On 14 January 1944, Admiral Halsey, Commander South Pacific, informed the New Zealand Naval Board that the “current employment of Japanese submarines and estimates of their future employment indicate immunity from the submarine menace in New Zealand waters”. He proposed that the New Zealand Fairmile motor launches should be employed in the Solomon Islands, relieving American destroyers and patrol vessels for duty elsewhere.
The twelve Fairmiles were refitted for service in tropical waters and formed into the 80th and 81st Motor Launch Flotillas. The 80th Flotilla consisted of MLs 401 to 406 and the 81st Flotilla of MLs 407 to 411. The flotillas were based at Renard Sound in the Russell Islands. The base was named Kahu and for administrative purposes ML400 was commissioned on 1 April 1944 as HMNZS Kahu. During the seventeen months of their service in the Solomons, from March 1944 until June 1945, the twelve Fairmiles logged 380,000 miles (610,000 km) on anti-submarine screen patrols and on escorting ships.[9] They had no encounters with Japanese forces.[10]
RNZN Fairmiles post war
All the fairmiles returned to Auckland in July 1945. In 1946-47 all but Q 411 (Kahu) were sold to private buyers who used them for passenger and/or cargo service or as pleasure craft. Q 411 (Kahu) was sold in 1965. Q 409 was repurchased by the navy in 1953 and resold in 1963 to become the Auckland-Waiheke ferry Iris Moana. Two other former fairmiles were renamed the Ngaroma and the Colville and used as the main ferries between Auckland and Great Barrier Island. They were skippered by Len Sowerby and his son Lester.

An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q409 in the Hauraki Gulf. Port bow view of a small warship underway, Q409 on the bow, flying pennants. Land in the background. On the reverse are the notes “79” “Q 409” and the stamp “Copyright Brian Collins, 54 Covil Avenue, Te Atatu”. Auckland, Circa 1943.

Fairmile Q409 in Rangitoto Channel, Auckland, circa 1943
Maker
Collins, Tudor Washington (b.1898, d.1970)
Production date
Circa 1943

An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q409 in Rangitoto Channel. Port bow view of a small warship underway, Q409 on the bow, pennants flying. Land in the background. On the reverse are the notes “77” in blue pen, “Q409″ and a stamp with Copyright by Brian Collins, 54 Covil Avenue, Te Atatu”. Auckland, circa 1943.

HMNZS Fairmile Q409 Recommissioned from 1953 to 1963 as HMNZS Maori. In 1963 became the Auckland ferry Iris Moana.

HMNZS Maori (P3570)
Career (New Zealand) Royal New Zealand naval ensign
Laid down: 1942
Commissioned: 1953
Decommissioned: 1963
General characteristics
Class & type: Fairmile B class motor launch
Displacement: 85 tons
Length: 112 ft (34 m)
Beam: 18 ft 3 in (5.56 m)
Draught: 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m)
Propulsion: Twin petrol engines totaling 1,200 bhp
Speed: 20 knots
Range: 1500 miles at 12 kt
Complement: 16
Sensors and
processing systems: ASDIC
Armament:
1 x 3-lb Mk I gun 1 x twin 0.303-in Machineguns
12 depth charges
Armour: Wheelhouse plated
HMNZS Maori (P3570) was a Fairmile B Motor Launch of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Originally commissioned on 20 December 1943 with pennant number Q 409, she was part of the 80th Motor Launch Flotilla. Early in 1944 she went to the Solomon Islands where she served under the operational control of COMSOPAC. After the end of the war she was sold.
In 1953 she was repurchased and recommissioned as HMNZS Maori (P3570).[1]
In 1963 she was sold again and became the Auckland-Waiheke ferry Iris Moana.

HMNZS Fairmile Q409 -As Ferry Iris Moana. Contracts were awarded in 1941 to four Auckland boatyards to construct a total of 12 Fairmile Class B anti-submarine motor boats. Plans and prefabricated keel framing were provided by the British Admiralty and the hull, decking and superstructure were to be completed with local timber. The stem and sternposts were formed from Pohutukawa and the hull was two layers of Kauri planking. Engines, ordnance and many fasteners and fittings used in their installation were also imported from UK. The first Fairmile was finished in Oct-42 and the last by Dec-43 and along the way there were delays in shipping of components and obtaining sufficient Kauri that prevented the project being completed sooner. During this time the vessels began coastal patrols with six based in Auckland, four in Wellington and two from Lyttelton.
However by the end of 1943 there was little further threat of enemy attack in the vicinity and in January 1944 it was agreed to deploy all the Fairmiles to the Solomon Islands and under the control of US Navy. They sailed in three groups during late February via Noumea and arrived together at Russell Islands in early March organised as the 80th ML and 81st ML flotillas. They commenced anti-submarine patrols in the Guadalcanal, Tulagi and Russell Islands area. The launches added to the existing RNZN presence in the Campaign as the 25th Minesweeping flotilla had already seen much action there .The NZ Army 3rd Division were also deployed nearby as were squadrons of RNZAF aircraft. The Fairmiles continued on patrol and escort duties in the region until they were withdrawn in July-45 and although there had been operational accidents they never engaged in battle with Japanese forces. Consequently all 12 returned to NZ and except for Q411 were soon up for tender.
Q400 – 402 Built by Chas Bailey & Son.
Q403 – 406 Associated Boatbuilders.
Q407 – 409 Shipbuilders Ltd.
Q410, 411 P.Vos Ltd.
BRIEF POSTWAR HISTORY:
Q400 “Dolphin / Sayandra”– Burned and sunk, Gt Barrier Is. 1980.
Q401 “Mahurangi” – Lost, Cook Islands 1954.
Q402 “Ngaroma”; Hauraki Gulf Ferry on Gt Barrier service – Sold Sri Lanka 1992.
Q403 “Tiare”; Tauranga Ferry – Abandoned Raglan 1957.
Q404 Named “Wailana”.
Q405 “Marlyn” – Severely damaged in Wahine storm, Burnt in Marlborough Sounds 1969.
Q406 “Motunui”; Hauraki Gulf Ferry on Waiheke service – Converted to Motel at Waitomo 2006.
Q407 “Deborah Bay”; Once owned by Sir Dove-Myer Robinson.
Q408 “Karamana II / Colville”; Gulf Ferry on Gt Barrier service – last reported Fiji 1985.


Q409 “Iris Moana” ; Returned to Navy as HMNZS Maori P3570 1953-63. From then Gulf Ferry on Waiheke service – Sold to Sri Lanka 1992, beached and abandoned during civil war action 1995.
Q410 “La Reta” – Sunk Vanuatu 1977.
Q411 “Kahu”; Retained by Navy as HMNZS Kahu P3571 1947-65. From then as backup Gulf ferry in storage. Subsequently sold to private owners – At Whangarei for refit 2016.
Many of the Fairmiles were a familiar sight on Auckland Harbour and provided reliable public transport for decades after their military service was over. Generations of Aucklanders enjoyed the excursions on them around the islands of the Gulf. I haven’t yet found mention about the fate of Q404 and Q407 nor if Q402 and Q408 are still afloat. I’m looking forward to any news about their recent history and current status. But it appears that only Q406 and Q411 remain in NZ.
Kahu may hold the last chance for preservation. Alas, she has been dismantled.

Waiheke ferries Iris Moana ex ML409 and Ngaroma ex ML402 (underway) at Auckland’s ferry terminal 1980’s.Both ships were sold to Singapore between 1987 and 1992.I assume Ngaroma still survives,but Iris Moana,on a voyage to Shri Lanka was captured and subsequently sunk by the Tamill Tiger separatists.

Fate of HMNZS Fairmile Q409

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