Sterling Admiral engines. Summer 1943. Construction of Q112 at J.J.Taylor Shipyard, Toronto, Ontario. Jim Taylor collection
Engineroom, showing electrical work
Engineroom, showing both engines
Engineroom, general view looking forward
Engineroom,showing starboard side
Engineroom, showing 24 volt generator
Engine room. General view looking aft
HMCS PRESERVER
Served primarily as a Fairmile base supply during WW2 and was based at various Newfoundland ports.
Built by Marine Industries Ltd. , Sorel, Quebec, for $756,470.
Commissioned December 1, 1942. Length: 78.0 m, Beam: 13.1 m, Speed: 9 knots.
Eng. : 2 Fairbanks Morse 1150 H.P.
Sold January 4, 1946 for $275,000 by WAC to Marine Industries, Sorel, Quebec.
Resold in 1946 for $350,000 by MIL to Peruvian Navy and renamed Mariscal Castilla then Cabo Blanco.
Scrapped in 1961.
1942, HMCS Preserver. Origin unknown
Royal Canadian Navy collection (O-3006)
1943, Cornerbrook Nfld. Lieut. Rabbit and Jean-Paul Charest (coder). Base supply ship HMCS Preserver and three of the six Fairmiles of the 78th flotilla. Jean-Pierre Charest collection
HMCS PROVIDER
Served primarily as a Fairmile base supply during WW2 based at Halifax and served as such in the Caribbean when there was a shortage of escorts there.
Built by Marine Industries Ltd. , Sorel, Quebec, for $724,055.
Commissioned July 12, 1942. Lenght: 81.8 m, Beam: 13.4 m, Speed: 9 knots.
Eng. : 2 Fairbanks Morse 1150 H.P.
Owner 1950: Lunham & Moore Ltd. Montreal, Quebec. and renamed Maruba (#179191).
Sold to Peruvian Navy in 19??.
Owner 1970-92 : Empresa Petrolera Fiscal, Lima, Peru and renamed Olaya. O.N. 179191
December 1942, Halifax, Royal Canadian Navy collection (H-5870)
Jan. 19-23, 1943. Arriving in Halifax after a gale. Author collection
March 1943, Key West, Florida. Captain Joseph Heenan aboard the support vessel HMCS Provider as the Commanding Officer from December 1, 1942 to May 4, 1943. Author collection
Royal Canadian Navy collection (H-4399)
January 1943, view looking forward to bridge of HMCS Provider. Royal Canadian Navy collection (H-4400)
Royal Canadian Navy collection (HS-0309-2)
Royal Canadian Navy collection (HS-0309-3)
Summer 1943. Bridge of HMCS Provider, providing protection. Royal Canadian Navy collection (HS-0309-4)
Mechanics at work in the machine shop on board the Provider. Royal Canadian Navy collection (GM-1247)
Royal Canadian Navy collection (H-4389)
Royal Canadian Navy collection (GM-1242)
Royal Canadian Navy collection (H-4386)
Armament
Forward Gun Position, Single 20mm Oerlikon Mk IV. Royal Canadian Navy collection (GM-0015)
Quarterdeck, Single 20mm Oerlikon Mk IV. Royal Canadian Navy collection (HS-0268-12)
Quarterdeck, O.M.L. “Y” Gun Mk III. Royal Canadian Navy collection (HS-0268-14)
Quarterdeck, Oerlikon Mk IV and “Y” Gun Mk III. Royal Canadian Navy collection (HS-0268-11)
O.M.L. “Y” Gun Mk III. H.W. Patterson collection
February 6, 1943, “Y” Gun depth charges aboard Fairmile (Q052,62 or 63?) manned by The Free French Naval Forces. Library and Archives Canada / PA-107009
Gunner Roy Woodruff at Oerlikon aboard Q074. Roy Woodfuff /Naval Museum of Quebec collection
February 9, 1943, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Rating manning Oerlikon 20mm aboard unidentified Fairmile transferred to the French Naval Forces. Library and Archives Canada / PA-106350
December 1943, Q079 on patrol duty, Halifax. Nice view of depth charges and “Y” gun. Royal Canadian Navy collection (GM 1265)
Smoke generator, origin unknown
Spring/Summer 1944, patrolling among icebergs, from HMCS Preserver, Straits of Belle-Isle. Royal Canadian Navy collection (Z-349)
January 21, 1944, Mousetrap, Experimental ” Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar installation aboard Fairmile. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Library and Archives Canada / PA-114736
Alarm bell , amidships, origin unknown
July 2, 1942. Old style 3-pounder Hotchkiss gun replaced later by Oerlikon 20mm. Newreel cameraman-Lucien Roy. Library and Archives Canada / E 296
Early 1942, Q074. Gunner Roy Woodruff at 3-pounder Hotchkiss gun. Roy Woodruff /Naval Museum of Quebec collection
September 13, 2002. (60 yrs later), Roy Woodruff and his wife on visit in Quebec City. Naval Museum of Quebec collection
Q092, close view of 3- pounder Hotchkiss gun. Origin unknown
Summer 1943, 3- pounder Hotchkiss gun, Q109 during construction at Hunter Boats Shipyard, Orillia, Ontario. John Mackenzie collection
Roy T. Cardy collection
3-pounder Hotchkiss gun, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax, Nova-Scotia
Autumn 1943, Q112, after Oerlikon gun crew. J.J.Taylor Shipyard, Toronto, Ontario. Jim Taylor collection
Autumn 1943. Looking forward from bridge,showing Oerlikon gun ramp. J.J.Taylor Shipyard, Toronto, Ontario. Jim Taylor collection
Kathy Cullen collection
Kathy Cullen collection
Kathy Cullen collection
Kathy Cullen collection
David Carriere collection
David Carriere collection
For Posterity’s Sake collection
Flotillas
Composition of M.L. flotillas. as of February 24, 1944.
To the above list, add to the 82nd flotilla:
M.L.116 commissioned July 12, 1944.
M.L. 121 commissioned April 17, 1944.
Also M.Ls. 52, 62 & 63 transferred to Free French Navy.
Total 66
Halifax, Nova-Scotia, 6 MLs of the 72nd flotilla standing by as a striking force that could be dispatched at a few minutes notice. Mike Heenan collection
May 1945, Bermuda. 70th flotilla. Jay Fisher collection
May 1945, Bermuda. 70th flotilla. Jay Fisher collection
May 8, 1945, VE day, 70th flotilla at Bermuda. Mike Heenan collection
1944-45. 70th flotilla entering St-Georges Channel, Bermuda. Mike Heenan collection
November 24, 1943, the 70th flotilla (Q104 to109) leaving Halifax for Bermuda. Lieut. J.J. McLaughlin R.C.N.V.R. senior officer of flotilla, flotilla escorted by HMCS Lathbridge. Mike Heenan / Royal Canadian Navy collection (L-411S)
June 1943, 78th flotilla during exercises in Gulf. Library and Archives Canada / PA-173355
July 2, 1942, Fairmiles at sea on the West Coast, Esquimalt, B.C. Roy Denny / Library and Archives Canada / PA-173328
May 1943, 73th flotilla leaving an eastern port for patrol duties. Library and Archives Canada/ PA-190570
1942, Gaspé, Québec. Royal Canadian Navy collection (GM-0097)
Flotilla off Gaspé, Québec. Origin unknown
Halifax?. James D. Frost collection
St-John, New-Brunswick patrol. Origin unknown (252-12)
Surplus decommissioned MLs for disposal by War Assets Corporation at Sorel, Quebec, 1945. Paul Carpentier/ Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, E6,S7, SS1, P26888
Surplus decommissioned MLs for disposal by War Assets Corporation at Sorel, Québec, 1945. Paul Carpentier/ Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, E6,S7, SS1, P26892
HMCS Sambro, Halifax 1941.Laithwood D. Leigh collection
David Carriere collection
Fairmiles in Halifax. From left, Q106, 82 and 121. Harry Seright collection
Life on Board
Left, Lieutenant John Joynt and Sub-Lieutenant John Dobbs on the bridge. Middle, Jack Leroux on lamp with Johnny Downs, spring 1945. Right, crew of Q072, summer 1944. Kevin Joynt collection
Ship’s bell Q072. Origin unknown
At wheel of Q074. Roy Woodruf f / Naval Museum of Quebec collection
Life aboard Q074. Roy Woodruff / Naval Museum of Quebec collection
!943, aboard Q074. Roy Woodruff / Naval Museum of Quebec collection
Gaspé, Québec, June 1943, chart table in a Fairmile. Origin unknown
Mess deck Q127-Kathy Cullen collection
May 10, 1943. An unidentified petty officer at the wheel of the fairmile Q078 at sea. Library and Archives Canada / PA-201798
February 9, 1943, Halifax, N.S. Rating in wheelhouse of unidentified Fairmile transferred to the Free French Naval Forces. Library and Archives Canada / PA-106347
June 10, 1943, St-John’s, Newfoundland. Sailors playing cards aboard Fairmile Q078. Library and Archives Canada / PA-173319
The tiny galley of a Fairmile has enough room and equipment to enable Cook-Steward R.J. Urquhart from Baddeck, Cap Breton to turn out a hot and satisfying meal for the crew. Royal Canadian Navy and Mike Heenan collection (R-802)
1943. Cook-Steward R. Kennedy of Calgary-Fairmile galley. Royal Canadian Navy collection (R-779)
Royal Canadian Navy collection (H-4387)
May 1943, Halifax, Nova-Scotia. Fairmile engine-room. From left, Chief Motor Mechanic J. Buchan, RCNVR of Toronto. Leading Stoker J.L. Hill, RCNVR of Hollyburn, British Colombia and Stoker G. Coughlin, RCNVR of Chaplin, Saskatchewan. Royal Canadian Navy collection (GM-0096)
Seaman’s mess of a Fairmile. Royal Canadian Navy collection (O-1608)
Chief Motor Mechanic E. Vye of Vancouver, British Columbia and Leading Seaman E. Singer of Regina Saskatchewan swap snapshots from home in their cabin in a Fairmile. Royal Canadian Navy collection (R-785)
The table in the tiny messdeck of a Fairmile is used for a friendly game of cards. Left to right are, Ordinary Seaman M. Hines of Vancouver, Telegraphist T. Goldie, Cape Breton, Leading Seaman H. Doucet of Nova Scotia, Ordinary Seaman, A. Nicholson of Vancouver, Ordinary Seaman W.Parker of Regina and Signalman R. Gifford of Windsor, Ontario. Royal Canadian Navy collection ( R-778)
Messdeck of a Fairmile. Royal Canadian Navy collection (R-781)
February 6, 1943. Cook of unidentified Fairmile manned by the Free French Naval Forces. Library and Archives Canada ( PA-107022)
May 1943, Sub-Lieutenant Gavin Clark (Q085) with Lucy McCall on return from patrol off coast of Labrador. Origin unknown (GM-1290)
Sub-Lieutenant Gavin Clark of Toronto aboard the Q085. Origin unknown
Officer’s cabin Q112. R.C. Denny collection
Royal Canadian Navy collection (NP-1121)
Q083, Royal Canadian Navy collection (NP-109
Kathy Cullen collection
Life aboard Q104. Jay Fisher collection
Kathy Cullen collection
Kathy Cullen collection
Kathy Cullen collection
Kathy Cullen collection
Dec. 1944, Christmas on Q117. Gary Penelton collection
WT cabin, RN Fairmile B. Origin unknown
Construction
Origin unknown
Summer 1941. Star Shipyard, New-Westminster, British-Colombia. H.W. Patterson collection
Midland Boat Works, Midland, Ont. 1942, Pitchell family collection
Midland Boat Works, Midland, Ont. 1942, Pitchell family collection
Midland Boat Works, Midland, Ont. 1942, Pitchell family collection
Spring 1942. Construction at Midland Boat Works, Midland, Ontario. Origin unknown
Spring 1942. Construction at Midland Boat Works, Midland, Ontario. Origin unknown
Construction of a Fairmile in a Canadian shipyard. Royal Canadian Navy collection (O-1176)
Building of the wheelhouses at Greavette Boats, Gravenhurst, Ont. Muskota Boat and Heritage Center collection
Fairmile during construction in a Canadian shipyard. Royal Canadian Navy collection (O-1168)/Collection Musée maritime du Québec
The wheelhouse of a Fairmile under construction. The Financial Post, May 29, 1943
Q062 and Q063 construction, Mac-Craft Shipyard, Sarnia, Ontario, 1941.
Mann Historical Files collection.
Q062, layout on floor
Q062, framing tailes shape
Q062 ready for launching, December 1942
November 1941, Q063 ready for launching
Mac-Craft workers aboard the Q063
Mac-Craft Shipyard, Sarnia, Ontario. Mark Harisson collection
Boating Magazine, January-February 1943
October 18, 1942, Trenton, Ontario. Origin unknown
During construction at Hunter Boats, Orillia, Ontario. Origin unknown
Q102 during construction at Mac-Craft Shipyard, Sarnia, Ontario. Origin unknown
About July 1943, Q108 during construction at Midland Boat Works Shipyard, Midland, Ontario. Origin unknown
Summer 1943, Q109 being built at Hunter Boats Shipyard, Orillia, Ontario. John Mackenzie collection
Summer 1943, construction of Q112 at J.J.Taylor Shipyard, Toronto, Ontario.
Jim Taylor collection
Crew’s quarters, showing mess traps, blackout curtains around Asdic and heads
Crew’s quarters, looking forward on port side and showing heads for the crew
Crew’s quarters. Looking aft to Number nine bulkhead
Wardroom. Starboard side showing table.
Wardroom. View of forward end. Key cupboard behind the pole on left and buzzer for the steward on bulkhead on right
Wardroom heads
Wardroom pantry. Not for cooking , just for serving
Tiller flat. Showing electric refrigerator and vegetable bins
Quarters for Petty Officer and Coxswain
Galley, showing oil burning range.
W.T. room. Unit made by Canadian Marconi, model FR12.
Wardroom. Looking aft and showing tiller flat and stores locker.
Wheelhouse, looking forward
Wheelhouse. Looking aft and showing folding chart table, sten gun locker, recognition light holder and ladder and door to bridge.
Q055 under construction at Greavette Boats, Gravenhurst, Ont. Roy T. Cardy collection
October 13, 1943. Explosion on board Q116 during construction at Hunter Boats Shipyard. Origin unknown
Q055 under construction at Greavette Boats, Gravenhurst, Ont. Roy T. Cardy collection
Q055 under construction at Greavette Boats, Gravenhurst, Ont. Roy T. Cardy collection
055 under construction at Greavette Boats, Gravenhurst, Ont. Roy T. Cardy collection
Groundings
Q082 aground on Bell Point, Prince Edward Island November 28, 1942-December 11, 1942.
Ashore 4 miles west of Wood Island Harbour, Lieutenant Strange RCNVR in command. Vessel was successfully salvaged and towed to Pictou Nova Scotia on December 11, 1942 by HMCS Milltown where she was repaired and placed in service again.
James N. Craik collection
November 28, 1942, Q082 aground on Bell Point, Prince Edward Island. Mike Heenan collection (H 5526)
November 28, 1942, Q082 aground on Bell Point, Prince Edward Island. Mike Heenan collection (H 5530)
November 28, 1942, Q082 aground on Bell Point, Prince Edward Island. Mike Heenan collection (H 5594)
Q082 under tow behind HMCS Miltown. Mike Heenan collection (H-5563)
. September 7, 1944, Q082, damage caused by explosion, Gaspé, Quebec. Library and Archives Canada / PA-137794
Grounding of the Q083, Cape Gaspé, Quebec. Origin unknown
Rescue of the Q083, Cape Gaspé, Quebec. Origin unknown
Grounding of the Q064. Origin unknown
