First Fairmile built in NZ at Lidgard/Bailey boat builders St Marys Bay being launched ML 403 on 29/9/1942 All the materials where imported from the UK and boat builders where limited to 5% profit by NZGovernment. Date on caption on photo is incorrect.Many of them became work boats and ferries around Auckland after ww2. Fate – ML 403 was sold to R.T.R Williams of Tauranga who converted it into the fishing and ferry boat”Tiare”. By 1952 a victim of poor maintenance it deterioated badly. In 1955 was sailed to Raglan to have its engines and fittings removed. The hull lay empty and abandanded until 1957 when it was beached and rotted away.ML403’s launchingHMNZS Fairmiles – Q401, Q403 and Q404 and othersFairmile B class patrol craft ML403 underway during exercises with HMNZS Leander and RNZAF Harvard planes c1940s.An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q403 in the Hauraki Gulf. Port side view of a small warship, Q403 on the bow, crew fallen in abreast of the superstructure. There is a second warship in the background right. On the reverse are the notes “70” “Fairmile Q403” in pencil. Auckland, Circa 1943.HMNZS Fairmile Q403 at sea June 1943.Photograph: Fairmile Q403 underway in Rangitoto Channel, Auckland, circa 1943 Maker Collins, Tudor Washington (b.1898, d.1970) Production date 1943?Q403 Gunnery practiceFairmile B class patrol craft ML403 underway during exercises with HMNZS Leander and RNZAF Harvard planes c1940s.HMNZS Fairmile Q403 This special alloy CW engine remained in 2007, but had been removed by 2011
Fate – HMNZS Fairmile Q403 – sold 3/47 to RTR Williams, named Tiare, ON 178418, ferry and excursion fishing, Tauranga, 1947-52. Sold c. 1955, strippedat Raglan 1956-57, engines and fittings to the 27m yacht, Hamilton 1958. Hull beached at Paritata Point, Raglan Harbour, 1957 and abandoned.
HMNZS Fairmile Q402 slides into the water after her launching at Auckland, 18 August 1943.Fairmile Q402 leaving Auckland Harbour, Auckland, Circa 1943 Maker Collins, Tudor Washington (b.1898, d.1970) Production date Circa 1943An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q402 turning at speed, starboard quarter view, wake in foreground, islands in background. On the reverse is the note “402” in pencilNgaroma ex ML402/Q402MV Ngaroma ex Q402 – possible Training Jetty, HMNZS PhilomelEx – HMNZS Fairmile Q402 – First Fiji Race – MAY 1956 – Aboard “Ngaroma” as Escort Vessel “Ngaroma” was an ex-navy fairmile owned by Jim Lawler, at the time the Commodore of the RAYC. Picnic at Nukulau Island http://aucklandfiji.co.nz/our-first-race-to-fiji/MV Ngaroma (foreground) & MV Motonui (left background), Auckland 1980’s.Fate – 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.
HMNZS Fairmile Q402 “Ngaroma”; Hauraki Gulf Ferry on Gt Barrier service –
An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q401 on the slip. Starboard bow view of a warship with the number Q401 on the side, on the slip. On the reverse are the notes “80F90” “Vessel type Fairmile Q401”. Circa 1940s. Maker Collins, Tudor Washington (b.1898, d.1970) Production date Circa 1940sAn original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q401 underway in the Hauraki Gulf.An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q401 underway in the Hauraki Gulf. Port side view of a small warship underway with Q401 on the bow. Crew sitting on deck abreast of the superstructure. Circa 1940sAn original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q401 in the Hauraki Gulf. One the reverse are the words “Fairmile ‘B’ type, ML401, Displacement 85 tons, Dimensions 112 x 17 x 4 feet, Guns 2 40 mm AA 2 DCT + 20DG. Machinery BHP 1200 = 17.7 knots Complement 16.” Auckland, 1943?Q401 “Mahurangi”Q401 “Mahurangi” Top left in photo – HMNZS Fairmile Q401 “Mahurangi” – Lost, Cook Islands 1954. No other information.
An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q400 in Rangitoto Channel, leaving the harbour, flying signal flags, crew fallen in on deck. On reverse “Auckland 1943” “65”An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q400 after disposal from the Royal New Zealand Navy, at Queen’s Wharf, Wellington. Starboard side view of a small warship alongside a wharf. Q400 is painted on the bow. Side of ship in left foreground with buildings and cranes in the background. There is a buoy in front of the ship. On the reverse are the notes “85%” “Q400”. Wellington, 1946?An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q400 in Calliope Basin. Port side view of 9 warships alongside in 3 groups. Other ships (left to right) HMNZS KIWI, HMNZS PHYLLIS, Q02 (MARISTELLA) with Q07 (TE RAUPARAHA) coming alongside T32 (WAIPU). Another castle class vessel, patrol launch and FAIRMILE (Q405?). On reverse “58” and list of ships as in Brief SummaryHMNZS Fairmile Q400Q400 – later“Dolphin / Sayandra”– Burned and sunk, Gt Barrier Is. 1980.
Fate – Q400 of the Royal New Zealand Navy –Renamed Dolphin and later Sayandra, wooden motor launch After catching fire when off Green Island, on the west coast of Great Barrier Island on 9 March 1980, the Sayandra was badly damaged before the fire was put out by the crew of a passing yacht. Two launches then towed the Sayandra to Rarohara Bay, Port Fitzroy, and beached her near Quoin Island, where she sank next day. She became at total loss, subjected to vandalism and pilfering. In 1982, the Marine Division, Ministry of Transport, Auckland, took steps to have the partly submerged vessel removed. Built at Auckland in 1942, the Sayandra was 34m long, 5.5m beam and powered by twin-screw diesel engines. Owned by Mr B.Pirret of Auckland. The Sayandra was originally the Fairmile anti-submarine patrol launch Q400 of the Royal New Zealand Navy and had been severely damaged twice before, by fire and stranding in the Solomon Islands in 1944, and in February 1947 when struck by the bow of the Picton ferry Tamahine at Queen’s Wharf, Wellington. Source: “New Zealand Shipwrecks 200 Years of Disasters at Sea” by Lynton Diggle, Edith Diggle and Keith Gordon. 2007.
On 19 June 1943, the U.S. Navy transports Hunter Liggett (APA-14), American Legion (APA-17), Crescent City (APA-21), and George Clymer (APA-27), comprising Transport Division 8, sailed from Wellington Harbour, New Zealand, for an amphibious exercise at Paekakariki, on the west coast north of Cook Strait. The Royal New Zealand Navy antisubmarine escort (and control craft) for this exercise, codenamed “Manavex,” was made up of the auxiliary minesweeper HMNZS Rata, a converted coastal steamer, and the Fairmile motor launches ML400 and ML403. While the submarine risk was considered low, it is now known that three Japanese boats had previously passed through Cook Strait, the last being I-10 in mid February 1943.1
The landing force comprised elements of the 2nd Marine Division, then based at Mackays Crossing (now Queen Elizabeth Park) between Paekakariki and Paraparaumu. The objectives were to give experience in boat work and shore landing without any subsequent tasks ashore. Following the Division’s movement from Guadalcanal to New Zealand, it was deemed that the Marines needed to refresh their amphibious warfare skills. Once initial proficiency was obtained, full-scale opposed landings involving the live firing of machine guns and field artillery were planned to follow. Air support for the landings on 20 June was to be provided by four squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, with P-40 Kittyhawk fighters, Vickers Vincent light bombers, T-6 Harvard trainers, and Hawker Hind army cooperation aircraft.2
Everything went wrong with the exercise right from the start. The weather on 20 June was miserable, with cold rain and gale-force winds. There was a heavy swell, and the sea temperature was only 40degrees. The beach party from the American Legion was first away in LCVP (landing craft, vehicle, personnel) PA17-6, but this grounded 100 feet from shore. The beach at Paekakariki deepens gradually, and the tide was going out. When the beach party finally made it ashore, they “were cold, numb, wet and in a very foul mood.”3 Things only got worse as another 34 LCVPs ended up on the beach with propellers stuck in the sand. These 34 LCVPS eventually were returned to the water with the assistance of a local civilian contractor who provided bulldozers and other heavy equipment.
The beach party was the last to leave on the incoming tide, but by then the motor on LCVP PA17-6 was dead. Another LCVP attempted to tow the stricken landing craft, but the 1-inch line kept snapping with the heavy load. It was another two hours before an LCM (landing craft mechanized) arrived with an 8-inch hawser and proceeded to tow LCVP PA17-6 stern first back to the American Legion through waves 8 to 10 feet high. About200 feet from shore, the LCVP was hit by a large breaker and the landing craft took on water. Attempts were made to signal the LCM to slow down, but these were not received. Some five to seven minutes after the tow commenced, LCVP PA17-6 capsized when hit by another breaker at 2317. It wasn’t until the LCM came alongside the American Legion with the upside-down LCVP still in tow (which immediately sank) that it was realised what had happened. The exercise was immediately canceled with a general alarm sounded for all available boats to be launched to search for survivors.
Chief Bosun’s Mate Mulcahy and Signalman Frank Zalot Jr. ended up in the water together, and as Zalot came up for a second time Mulcahy yelled, “Hang on, Zalot—we’ll make the beach.”4 All around them they could hear men screaming, “Help! Help! I can’t swim!”5 Mulcahy and Zalot struggled to get to shore, but the now-outgoing tide was too strong and they found themselves drifting out to sea. It wasn’t until midnight that Mulcahy and Zalot were rescued from the frigid water. Mulcahy was subsequently to be awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for saving Zalot’s life. Ten men were to drown that night: Ensign Herbert C. Winfrey, Boatswains Mate First Class Alva L. Skoog, Seamen First Class Howard J. Britton, Dale G. Cox, Joseph P. Lorbietski, William D. Roundtree, Kenneth G. Snow, Aiden P. Thatcher, Charles F. Vetter, and Walter J. Yanghis. The body of Seaman Thatcher was never recovered. On 8 May 2012, a memorial was unveiled at Queen Elizabeth Park to mark this tragedy. Among those who attended the ceremony was Frank Zalot Jr.
A board of inquiry subsequently was formed on board the American Legion to investigate the incident. The board chairman pressured Zalot to place all the blame on the lieutenant (junior grade) who had been the officer in charge of the beach party. Zalot insisted that the lieutenant was not responsible. The inquiry’s findings concluded that no one person in particular was responsible for the disaster; rather, it had just been a series of events where everything went wrong. One positive outcome from the inquiry was that, in the future, all members of a beach party had to wear life jackets while in the LCVP. In hindsight, the responsibility for the tragedy lies with the unknown officer who authorized “Manavex” in such poor weather and sea conditions.
After the exercise, U.S. Navy Captain G. B. Ashe wrote to the New Zealand Naval Board, “The Commander of Transport Division 8 reported that the new Zealand boats had performed in a most satisfactory manner—acted as control vessels for boat groups in several landing exercises, reacted correctly to changes in schedules, been prompt responding to signals and kept good positions on patrol—all indications of small, efficient, well-run and well-commanded ships.”6
Subsequent amphibious exercises were to be conducted in Hawke Bay on the more sheltered east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. And what was the point of these exercises? Exactly five months after “Manavex,” the 2nd Marine Division stormed ashore on a small island in the Central Pacific called Tarawa.
Based on data & some images, from Daniel Michael’s input, on Facebook, with modifications & additions by Ken Ricketts. Other images ex Ken R. & Google – KEN R
Q406, is the last Fairmile (to D.M’s. knowledge) left in NZ.
She was used during WW2, as a N.Z. coastal patrol boat, & later used in the Solomons.
Once she and the other Fairmiles, returned back to Auckland, in 1945, they were decommissioned.
Q406 was offered as a tender, and purchased by Rodney Farry, who fitted 2 x Graymarine marinised, GM Detroit 6-71 diesel engines, and converted her into a passenger ship.
She operated around the Otago harbour, until she ran aground on a sandbar, causing Rodney to lose interest in the concept.
She was renamed New Venture in 1949, & sailed back to Auckland, under command of a temporary crew.
While sailing back, she struck a violent storm off the Castlecliff Coast, with the inexperienced sailors clinging near the coast.
In 1950, she was sold to Waiheke Shipping Co., & had her name changed to Motunui and was used as a passenger ferry, transporting people to & from Auckland to Waiheke, Great Barrier & Motuihi Islands.
When Waiheke shipping was sold to North Shore Ferries Ltd. Motunui would continue operating under them until 1984, when she was sold into private ownership.
Over the next 20 years she would switch ownership multiple times, one of these being to the late Ken Brown, an old friend of Ken R., who converted her to pleasure craft use, in the 1980s, & kept her at the bottom of his garden, on the water’s edge, in the Tamaki River, (Image attached).
There were plans in 1997 to have her brought to survey standards in time to be used as a sightseeing boat, for the America’s Cup.
This was abandoned, when relations between the joint owners, (& several suppliers) soured. Even though much work was done by then (including fitting an original wheelhouse taken from Fairmile Kahu).
She was sold again in 2001, and 2006, when she took one final voyage to Tauranga, so her machinery could be removed, along with her superstructure.
Her final owner was Barry Woods, who operated Woodlyn Park Motel, at Waitomo.
Motunui was hauled onto land, and converted into a motel, now advertised as the “Waitanic.”
As Q411, (Kahu), was scrapped last year, she seems to be the last Fairmile left in New Zealand, built during WWII., according to Daniel M. – KEN R
