AUSTRALIAN MILITARY R.A.N.

Fairmile motor launches were small, fast, highly manoeuvrable, lightly armed ships designed in the United Kingdom. They were originally intended to be used for coastal anti-submarine and convoy protection duties but soon proved to be vessels capable of much broader operational tasking.

In April 1941 the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) recognised the need for a vessel which could be built locally and used in the littoral waters of Australia, New Guinea, the Dutch East Indies and their surrounding islands. On 5 January 1942 the War Cabinet gave approval to construct Fairmiles in Australia; and between November 1942 and April 1944, 35 vessels were commissioned into RAN service. #110122RR  pp. 276,  ill., maps, ports., plans, facsims. ; 26 cm. First Edition (Prev ownership label on fep.)

Australia. Royal Australian Navy — History — World War