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Motor launch (naval)

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For other types of "launch", see Launch (boat).
Motor Launch ML 59
A WW I motor launch - ML 59
Class overview
Builders: Elco
Operators:  Royal Navy
Built: 1915–1918
In commission: 1915–1920s
Completed: 580
General characteristics ML.1–50 series
Type: Motor launch
Displacement: 34 t
Length: 75 ft (23 m)
Propulsion: Petrol engine
Speed: 19 kn (35 km/h)
Complement: 8
Armament:
General characteristics ML.51–550 series
Type: Motor launch
Displacement: 37 t
Length: 86 ft (26 m)
Propulsion: Petrol engine
Speed: 19 kn (35 km/h)
Complement: 6
Armament:
General characteristics ML.551–580
Type: Motor launch
Displacement: 37 t
Length: 80 ft (24 m)
Speed: 19 kn (35 km/h)
Complement: 8
Armament:
  • 1 × 13-pdr gun
  • later replaced with 1 × 3-pdr

A motor launch (ML) is a small military vessel in Royal Navy service. It was designed for harbour defence and submarine chasing. Similar vessels were used by the Royal Air Force for armed high-speed air-sea rescue. Some vessels for water police service are also known as motor launches. Motor launches were slower than motor torpedo boats and motor gun boats

World War I service[]

Although small by naval standards, it was larger than the preceding steam or diesel-engined harbour launches of 56 ft and coastal motor boats of 40 and 55 ft length. The first motor launches entered service in the First World War. These were five hundred and eighty 80-foot-long (24 m) vessels built by the US Elco company for the Admiralty, receiving the numbers ML-1 to ML-580. They served with the Royal Navy between 1916 and the end of the war, defending the British coast from German submarines.[1] Some of the earliest examples, including ML 1, also served in the Persian Gulf from June 1916. After the Armistice of 11 November 1918 a flotilla of 12 Royal Navy motor launches travelled down the Rhine performing duty as the Rhine Patrol Flotilla.[2] The only known surviving example of a World War I era motor launch is ML-286, which now lies in a poor condition on the banks of the River Thames.

World War II types[]

Fairmile B motor launches off Dover 1940–1941.

Royal Norwegian Navy Fairmile B motor launches off Dover 1940–1941.

Examples
Type Length Weight Speed Built Total Lost Designed for
Fairmile A motor launch 110 ft (34 m) 57 tons 25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph) 1939 12 Submarine chasing, later minelaying
Fairmile B motor launch 112 ft (34 m) 85 tons 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) 1940–45 1,284 Submarine chasing, many later roles including air-sea rescue
Harbour defence motor launch 72 ft (22 m) 54 tons 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) 1940–45 486 47 Defending harbours; anti-submarine
BPBC Type Two 63 ft high speed launch "Whaleback" 63 ft (19 m) 21.5 tons 36 kn (67 km/h; 41 mph) 1940–1942 70 RAF air-sea rescue downed aircrew, particularly in the English Channel

The BPBC Type Two was succeeded by the Type Three 68 ft "Hants and Dorset".

Post-war, many motor launches were taken on as pleasure boats. A number of them are on the National Register of Historic Vessels.[3]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Gardiner, p. 101
  2. ↑ Jeffrey Charles. "The Rhine Patrol Flotilla Part I: Establishment of the Flotilla". http://www.motorlaunchpatrol.net/history/post_war/rhine_patrol_flotilla/. 
  3. ↑ Gardiner and Chesneau, p. 71
  • Gardiner, Robert, Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 Conway Maritime Press, 1985. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Gardiner, Robert and Chesneau, Roger, Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946, Conway Maritime Press, 1980. ISBN 0-83170-303-2.

External links[]

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