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ADF Serials Message Board > General Discussion > Raaf Boat Thread

Posted by: Aardvark Apr 15 2012, 10:38 AM

Remember the SAR Boats the RAAF operated out of several ports, Newcastle & Townsville. On holidays in Tasmania at Port Arthur Histroical Site on Thursday 12 when one motored in and tied up at the public jetty. There seems to be some more additions added since its RAAF time, good to see the owners dispaly its origins on the side.

Posted by: Luig Apr 15 2012, 11:09 AM

The internet would have a lot more information and here is one example: https://www.ozatwar.com/books/raafmarinesection.htm “MARINE SECTION” the Forgotten Era of MEN & VESSELS By Leslie R. Jubbs

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 15 2012, 12:02 PM

There is another example of the same 02 type currently based at Port Of Sale in Victoria This photo was taken in the early 90s at Lakes Entrance Note dummy machine gun on forward deck

Posted by: herkman Apr 15 2012, 04:48 PM

Bet the thirsty Hall Scots were removed and turned into anchors. Great engines but but did they used to drink fuel Regards Col

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 15 2012, 05:52 PM

The Victorian example has a pair of 6 cylinder Detroit deisels, still guzzles!

Posted by: Rod Farquhar Apr 15 2012, 10:33 PM

Had a ride in one at Townsville in 1971, we went around Magnetic Island. I thought I had a pic but all I can find is a view of the wake with the Island in the background. Rod.

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 07:06 PM

This one looks a little smaller Stationed Papua New Guinea c 1944/45

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 07:09 PM

from the other side

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 07:12 PM

and smaller again! (I guess if the Navy can have aircraft the RAAF can play with boats!)

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 07:23 PM

A couple more. I wonder just how many are still being used today 1960: RAAF ASR depot opposite submarine base HMAS PLATYPUS in Neutral Bay - Michael Melliar-Phelps. 1144. The boat in the foreground, 02-109, was formerly the Navy's HMAS AIR VIEW, transferred in the 1950s. The black hull and buff tops are traditional for ASR vessels. Photo: Michael Melliar-Phelps, it appears in Ross Guillett's book, 'Warships of Australia' [Rigby Australia, 1977] phot section, starting p160.

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 07:29 PM

Circa 1972-73: The RAAF crash boat 02-109, formerly HMAS AIR VIEW, in the Ross River at Townsville - Photo Geoff Green (This boat is also in the photo above)

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 07:33 PM

...another survivor, this one was offered for sale for $65,000

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 07:35 PM

I was wondering if this is the same boat that I pictured above "PT060" Although at the same location it is another example

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 07:45 PM

This boat was made by Slazengers during the war using tennis raquet technology

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 07:47 PM

Of course you had to get out to the flying boats

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 08:00 PM

Some in Newcastle Harbor 25/09/1950 EDIT See post 19/04/2019 for more information on these boats

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 18 2012, 08:12 PM

they are still out there This ad is currently on gumtree http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/bendigo-surrounds/boats-jet-skis/raaf-crash-boat-/1001329638 A 38 foot RAAF Double Planked Wooden WW2. Crash Boat in Original Unrestored Condition. The Hull is basically sound. The upper works need complete rebuilding. The Original Number and RAAF Roundels are still scratched into the hull and are still visible. Was built by Halvorson NSW.1942. No Engines but original Copper Fuel Tanks, Steering gear and Mufflers are still there. Great project for someone with the money and the time. There is a model of this craft at the Point Cook Museum if you wish to see what they looked like.

Posted by: Brendan Cowan Apr 19 2012, 03:05 PM

Martin, Thats a great collection of runabouts that you've assembled here in this thread. BC

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 19 2012, 03:08 PM

Another example from the Phantom A ketch flying the flag of the Royal Australian Air Force? It might look odd to some people but the ketch formerly known as the Yalata was taken over by the RAAF from the Navy in Adelaide, redesignated RAAF Ketch 06-11 and was attached to No.52 Operational Base Unit in June 1944 as a general purpose "launch"

Posted by: justiniantd May 21 2012, 11:15 PM

Here are two more Crash boats that have survived the 48ft 02-14 and the 63 ft Air View 02-109 in Westernport Victoria.

Posted by: justiniantd May 21 2012, 11:20 PM

02-109 converted to a cruiser in 1985

Posted by: justiniantd May 21 2012, 11:33 PM

Here is a shot of the 03-18 a 38ft crash boat built by Halvorsens Shipyard in1942.This particular boat has been shedded near Bendigo for the last 25 years .Unfortunately years out of the water have taken their toll.

Posted by: Martin Edwards May 23 2012, 11:28 AM

Hi Justiniantd, welcome aboard our humble messageboard. It would appear that the RAAF boats have quite a reasonable survival rate and probably a higher percentage are still in use than some RAAF aircraft of the era. I wonder if the boat pictured in Bendigo is the same example that is advertised above?

Posted by: justiniantd May 23 2012, 08:37 PM

Thanks Martin,yes it is the same boat as in the advertisement . Travelled to Bendigo to have a look at her.A sad state however she is still here.Really fascinated by the Marine Section that operated in WW2 and post.The 02-14 was instrumental last year in the discovery of the "TSS Coramba" that was lost in1934 with the loss of all hands. Attached is another photo of 02-14 "Action". PS the there are two boats one in Port of Sale and the other for sale in Paynesville,both are of the 46ft class. Cheers Justin

Posted by: justiniantd May 23 2012, 08:46 PM

"Action " off Phillip Island.

Posted by: justiniantd May 23 2012, 08:54 PM

Here is a nice pic of RAN Air View 923 latter to become 02-109 taken in Darwin in 1944.These versatile little ships saved many lives during and after the war. 20 were delivered to Australia in 1944 .The Miami Class boats were 63ft .The Australian crash boats were built locally.Know of only four of the American Miami's that are still afloat. The attached pic is from the AWM

Posted by: justiniantd Mar 21 2013, 10:12 PM

View of the 02-109 under restoration 2013

Posted by: Warhawk Mar 22 2013, 11:28 AM

I can see a murmering of a start to doc the histories of these boats on ADF-Serials! "Don't look at me" Maybe one day all of the Acco 4x4s and Series 11A Landrovers? Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Best Gordy Per attached,..heres a start. Did you know some of them were named? O17-18 was named Camden pictured here under a wing of a Mariner at Milne Bay It's IR Card thereunder Want the cards? How about the Camo Specs per RAAF Boats? We gottem

Posted by: Warhawk Mar 22 2013, 11:36 AM

O2-109 Drawing per 1951 Cammo Neato eh? Best Gordy

Posted by: Martin Edwards Mar 22 2013, 03:13 PM

QUOTE I can see a murmering of a start to doc the histories of these boats on ADF-Serials! "Don't look at me"  Maybe one day all of the Acco 4x4s and Series 11A Landrovers?  Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Best Gordy Sorry Gordy but you are a little late, someone's beaten you to it http://www.remlr.com/index_ARNs.html (Thanks to the Phantom for that info)

Posted by: Warhawk Mar 24 2013, 08:05 PM

We'll I'll be !! Neato Man!!! Lookin for my long lost buckets!!! Gordy

Posted by: justiniantd Jun 19 2013, 09:31 AM

Two barn find Hall Scotts.These 630hp V12's powered the 63ft Miami Class Boats .

Posted by: Dave Masterson Feb 14 2014, 10:42 AM

here is another. This one is on the Clyde River at Batemans bay. Not the clearest photo as I took it with my mobile phone. This boat sounds very powerful when its going...lots of growl from the engines and a distinct smell of diesel fuel

Posted by: Dave Masterson Feb 14 2014, 10:44 AM

...and another picture

Posted by: Martin Edwards Feb 15 2014, 11:32 PM

If anyone is really into these boats these photos are currently offered on ebay http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WW2-1943-6-PHOTOS-RAAF-CRASHBOAT-02-15-RAAF-FIREFLOAT-020-3-WILLIAMSTOWN-Y33-/161125630387?pt=AU_Militaria&hash=item2583d601b3

Posted by: exbirdy Jun 22 2014, 11:40 AM

QUOTE (Warhawk @ Mar 22 2013, 11:36 AM) O2-109 Drawing per 1951 Cammo Neato eh? Best Gordy Gordy I am interested in building a model of a crash boat. I have a drawing which shows the RAF version. I was wondering if you had a higher resolution scan of your drawing I could get a copy of. It would help with the differences between the versions Thanks John

Posted by: Luig Jun 22 2014, 11:58 AM

One of those 'classic' SAR boats at Neutral Bay above is likely to have rescued the Sea Venom pilot in Sydney Harbour back in whenever. I'll post some text... Barry Riley knew the captain of the SAR Boat from Point Cook I think? I'll look that up also.... Dear Ed [Slipstream Magazine, FAAA, April 2000, Vol.11 No.2] QUOTE "I have had my copy of 'Flying Stations' for several months, but only recently have I done more than flick through it looking at the photographs. I have still not read much of the book, but am impressed, with one exception, by what I have read so far. The exception is the account (page 144) of the 'Checkmates' collision over Sydney Harbour in 1962, which leaves the reader with the impression that the team was performing at low level over, or dangerously close to, a populated area. According to the text 'the crashed pilot' said, 'I steered clear of the houses before ejecting'. I was the pilot; I said no such thing! Despite the interposition of many years and several other traumatic experiences, I remember, I believe, the events of 02 October 1962 quite clearly: 'The sortie started badly with No.3 (Barry Roberts) going unserviceable on start-up. The other three of us departed on time, with me flying in No.3 position on the starboard wing, instead of my accustomed position 'in the box'. I was very worried about this because although I had flown formation aeros on the starboard wing before, I had not done so for over a year, and never in a display. However, a few minutes after take-off, Barry's aircraft became serviceable and he chased after us, joining the formation as we approached Botany Bay. I thankfully slid back into the box. We used to fly a very tight formation with the aircraft's wingtips overlapping and the two wingmen stepped up a little, their cockpits adjacent to the leaders tail. In the box I flew stepped down, with my cockpit adjacent to the tails of the wingmen. Arriving over Sydney harbour we found a fine warm day with 3 to 4 eighths of cloud at about 3000 feet, a bit low for our purposes, but we elected to continue, looping through the clouds. However, the atmosphere below the cloud was very turbulent, making the necessary tight rolls very difficult for the wingmen. The formation was rather rough, and one of them, I can't remember which, complained. Our leader (Roley Waddell-Wood) elected to abbreviate the display, performing no further rolling manoeuvres. He briefed us over the air that we would perform only the bomb-burst and go home. The 'bomb-burst' was performed by flying a loop, but on reaching the vertical position at the back of the loop the leader continued the loop. The two wingmen rolled ninety degrees to the left and right respectively, and the man in the box performed an aileron turn and pulled out in the opposite direction to the leader. This resulted in the aircraft flying off in separate directions at ninety degrees to each other. This time we reached the vertical dive position at 2500 to 3000 feet, under about 90% power accelerating through about 250 knots. Because of the weather conditions, I suppose we were all relieved when we heard the 'Break' order. On hearing 'Break', I saw Barry Orr, on the port wing, roll and start to move off. Quickly, I glanced 'up' and right, couldn't see Barry Roberts and thought he must have already gone, so rolled hard right using full aileron and full right rudder. As I reached the reciprocal course, my windscreen was suddenly full of Sea Venom. For an instant I was shocked to the point of inaction, then for an instant I was relieved, thinking that it was a near miss, but I was given no time to relax. My aircraft shuddered, I thought it was from hitting the jet wash, then flicked back to the left and began rapidly rotating anti-clockwise. I didn't know what was wrong, embarrassedly thinking that perhaps I had stalled the ailerons, which was possible in a Venom if it was too roughly handled. Just then I heard the voice of the Observer (Dave Innes) in the lead aircraft calling, 'Are you alright number three?' I had a flash of irritation at this - I was number four, and anyway, I was too busy to answer. Glancing at the Air Speed Indicator I read 110 knots. This didn't make sense, but I decided that I was in a spin. The ejection seat fitted to the Sea venom had a limitation of 5,000 feet in a dive or a spin and we were already below that. With the words 'five thousand feet ... five thousand feet' running through my brain I commenced spin recovery procedure - but the aircraft did not respond to any control movement. Approaching 1,000 feet, I once again heard Dave Innes' voice, 'Are you alright number three - I think you've lost your left rudder!' I then realised that Barry Roberts was also in trouble, but didn't have time to think about the cause. At that altitude, with the Rate of Descent Indicator on the bottom stop, I realised that even should I recover control of the aircraft I was not going to recover from the ensuing dive. A quick mental debate followed -, Eject? - What's the use? - Eject? - YES! - Transmit? I put my thumb on the transmit button and decided NO - there was no time. I thought, ' so this is what it is like to be killed!' I ejected the canopy and pulled the ejection handle without taking the time to sit back correctly. I felt each of the ejection seat's three cartridges go off individually, and the seat cushion reverberating as I struggled futilely to sit back in my seat. I felt a severe pain in my back, but didn't notice that my right foot had hit the instrument panel until later when it became bruised and sore. I felt deceleration as the seat's drag chute opened, and then a rush of air in my face as I was toppled forward out of my seat. I was waiting to feel my parachute open, when, to my surprise, I hit the water quite firmly on my back and went under. Either the ejection or the water impact knocked the breath out of me and I was totally spatially disoriented; I had no idea which way was up, or which way I was moving. I struggled to hold my breath but was unable to do so, feeling froth bubbling around my mask I thought I was gasping in water. I heard myself say, 'Mae West, Mae West', and hastily inflated my lifejacket. To my relief, I soon found myself on the surface. I was still wearing my pressure breathing mask and realised that I had not been breathing water, but 100% oxygen from the small parachute pack bottle. I took off the mask and released the parachute, my dinghy was no longer attached to my lifejacket but I stopped looking for it when I saw a RAAF crash boat approaching at high speed. The water felt good and the harbour looked beautiful. The superbly handled boat stopped dead within a boat-hook's length of me and I was hauled aboard and taken to Garden Island - probably less than five minutes had elapsed from the time I had hit the water to being rescued. Still trying to piece together what had happened, I enquired about Barry Roberts and was told that he was okay and on his way back to Nowra. I was told that we had collided, but when asked about the impact, I could only say that I hadn't felt it. FOICEA, who had observed the accident, and later on the media, both asked the question as to when I had decided to eject. My reply was, 'when I was sure the aeroplane was going into the water', that is when I was sure that it was going to crash. The display was performed over the harbour; there was never any possibility of the aircraft crashing on land. The team performed together several times after this accident, but we never discussed the collision amongst ourselves. I did not hear the evidence of the other witnesses, nor was I ever informed of the findings of the Board of Inquiry. It would be interesting to hear of Barry Roberts' recollection of the incident. I write in the hope that the disputed statement will be corrected in the event of the book being reprinted. Albert Riley

Posted by: exbirdy Aug 2 2014, 02:07 PM

QUOTE (Warhawk @ Mar 22 2013, 11:36 AM) O2-109 Drawing per 1951 Cammo Neato eh? Best Gordy Gordy Is it possible to get a higher resolution scan of this drawing. I wish to build a model of one of these boats and the drawings I have show the earlier version. Thanks John

Posted by: Barneyb Jan 2 2015, 12:19 PM

Just noticed HMAS airwatch up for sale. http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/mango-hill/motorboats-powerboats/ww2-aircraft-rescue-vessel-63-miami-class-hmas-airwatch-/1062689525

Posted by: Martin Edwards Sep 21 2015, 12:31 PM

A recent photo of the ex-RAAF rescue boat that resides at Sale, Vic. Photo by the current owner Harry Bowman

Posted by: Dave Masterson Sep 24 2015, 03:11 PM

Very nice....very nice indeed.

Posted by: Luig Jan 16 2018, 02:41 AM

“SEA/AIR RESCUE VESSELS Ray Robertson of Gladstone Qld, kindly provided the photograph. It shows Air Mercy (925), Air Trail (916) and Air Speed (910) putting on a show for the camera....” SLIPSTREAM Oct 1992 https://www.faaaa.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Slipstream-Vol-3-4-Oct92.pdf UNABLE TO UPLOAD JPG - 800 pixels wide & 540 high @ 84Kb file size in IE 11 in Windows 10 etc.... Cannot upload with EDGE.... OR with FireFox.... ERROR MSG: "The requested file upload failed. This is either because it was not in the correct format, or the file size was larger than that allowed. Please check the file you wish to upload and try again."

Posted by: Martin Edwards Aug 3 2018, 05:59 PM

RAAF Crash boat 08-12

Posted by: Martin Edwards Aug 3 2018, 06:03 PM

The Sandringham Flying boats needed another vessel to "rough up" smooth water on the take off route so it could break the surface tension. In the photo below rescue boat CA-15 (now there is a famous number!) appears to be an ex-RAAF 08 series crash boat as in the photo above.

Posted by: Martin Edwards Aug 3 2018, 06:05 PM

RAAF 08-10 crash boat This has a different arrangement of front cabin windows to both 08-12 and 08-13 shown above I would suggest that the solid front with two circular portholes was a later modification and was far stronger in rough sea conditions. Notice the Martin Mariners in the background.

Posted by: Martin Edwards Aug 3 2018, 06:07 PM

A larger boat this time 02-10

Posted by: Luig Aug 3 2018, 07:49 PM

QUOTE (Martin Edwards @ Aug 3 2018, 06:03 PM) The Sandringham Flying boats needed another vessel to "rough up" smooth water on the take off route so it could break the surface tension. In the photo below rescue boat CA-15 (now there is a famous number!) appears to be an ex-RAAF 08 series crash boat as in the photo above. Martin, do you have a reference for the 'crash boat roughs waters for Sandringham take off' please. The boat would go up the takeoff lane to clear the way and warn ne'er do wells to 'cough' IIRC.

Posted by: Luig Aug 4 2018, 08:25 PM

QUOTE (Shep @ Aug 4 2018, 08:07 AM) David Embry Jones, "Wings on the River" (2007) [78]. Thanks for reply. I'm not likely to buy the book just for that quote. Does the quote mention 'chopping the waters' applied only to the placid Brisbane River? If that is where the flying boat took off sometimes. I see Redlands Bay is more ocean frontage which is likely to have similar conditions to Sydney Harbour with some kind of 'chop' most of the time.

Posted by: Martin Edwards Aug 4 2018, 08:46 PM

I don't have a good reference source but I do recall reading about this practice sometime in the past The photo was from our Facebook page and attracted the replies shown below.

Posted by: Luig Aug 5 2018, 01:16 AM

Thanks Martin. I'm not on facebook to see that. Lake Boga could be calm & placid with nil wind inland, unlikely to see those conditions on the coast.

Posted by: Luig Aug 5 2018, 01:09 PM

OUTSTANDING Shep, Thanks very much for that search/info. Yes IF we don't learn something new every day.... DID not know that about surface tension.

Posted by: Martin Edwards Aug 5 2018, 06:40 PM

I'm glad that you two guys sorted that out. Sometimes I know something to be true but proving it to the skeptics can be difficult. Well done.

Posted by: Luig Aug 5 2018, 11:15 PM

Your statement needed qualification/context and it has that now.

Posted by: Martin Edwards Aug 22 2018, 10:21 AM

Another view of the boats on Ross Creek at Townsville Photo from Townsville Library I can think of many a worse way to spend your time.

Posted by: Invader26 Aug 22 2018, 11:07 AM

I was OIC boats for a period when based at TVL. A NAVEX to Dip Reef was a great way to spend a day - not to mention great fishing..

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 19 2019, 02:45 PM

‎Teresa Charchalis‎ to Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Community Noticeboard #throwbackthursday #historylesson ☺️❤️ This is what your local ferry MV Tea Gardens looked like in 1944. Originally commissioned as a bomb scow for the RAAF Marine Section, she was used to transport munitions to Catalina flying boats. As part of the war effort during WWII, Slazengers (the tennis people) built a shipyard at Putney on the Parramatta River, and went into the ship building game, with local shipwright Bill Fisher overseeing the project. Slazenger’s was the first plant in Australia to use creosote in the construction of timber vessels - a treatment that prevents teredo worm (enemy number one of timber vessels). The hull of MV Tea Gardens was designed for massive tidal variations; it’s made of Australian hardwood and has a very shallow draught (1.6m). When the tide goes out it will sit safely on the bottom without heeling over. The RAAF commissioned Slazengers to build 26 of these bomb scows, though they only completed 16 before the war ended in 1945. A number of scows were sent up to New Guinea, they were also used to transport munitions from Newcastle harbor down to Rathmines on Lake Macquarie. In 1948 she was converted into a ferry by Atlas Engineering, and was purchased by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company. She’s a rustic old thing, but reliable as the day is long. Wishing you a happy and safe Easter, see you on the merry-go-round soon.

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 19 2019, 02:58 PM

Same vessel in 2019 Photo Stephen Brown

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 21 2019, 12:23 PM

Well Shep, terrific reply as usual. I bow to your superior knowledge of all naughty things, sorry nautical things and I totally agree with your findings This thread has just passed its seventh anniversary so I feel time has come for me to put its contents towards the creation of a page dedicated to the RAAF Marine Section. In an earlier post I had mentioned Slazengers as the builders of the 011 class of boats, Does your book agree with that?

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 21 2019, 12:35 PM

http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-air-spray was one of 21 air/sea rescue vessels originally built in the USA and Canada between 1943 and 1945, and transferred to the RAN under the Lend-Lease Agreement. These vessels were originally designed as anti-submarine craft but their high speed and manoeuvrability made them ideal as search and rescue vessels. In this role, their hulls were painted black and their upper decks and superstructure painted bright yellow. One vessel, HMAS Air Sprite, was built locally in 1960 to an almost identical design. She was transferred to the RAAF in 1949. She was returned to the RAN in 1965 and was listed as a miscellaneous auxiliary allocated to HMAS Cerberus. She was sold on 28 August 1969.

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 21 2019, 12:42 PM

Back to bomb scows RAAF Type 010 Bomb Scow AWM 3878982

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 21 2019, 12:45 PM

BRISBANE, QLD. BOMB SCOW, RAAF TYPE 010-, AT TOP SPEED (10 KNOTS BEING ATTAINED IN SMOOTH WATER)

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 22 2019, 05:48 PM

Slazengers building boats, that's a bit of a racquet

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 22 2019, 05:58 PM

OK back to seriousness. I think that Teresa Charchalis the author of the Tea Gardens post was confused by this listing of RAAF boat types on Wikipedia Confusingly class 15 was a bomb scow but also included requisitioned vessels and cargo vessels which is what 015-71 was. This list also helps to understand why there are differences in boats carrying the same prefix such as the 48ft 02-14 and the 63 ft Air View 02-109 Vessel classifications 01 - Armoured Target Launch 02 - Rescue Launches 03 - Torpedo Recovery Launch 04 - Refueling Barge 05 - Refueling Barge 06 - Store Vessels, Large Ketches and Lighters 07 - Small Cabin Launch Tender & General Work Boat 08 - Crash Boat 09 - Aircraft Maintenance Scows 10 - Bomb Scows 11 - Open Hull Work Boat 12 - Whaler 13 - Pulling Dinghy 14 - Sailing Dinghy 15 - Requisitioned Vessels, Cargo Vessels and Bomb Scows EDIT; This s incorrect it should be 015 Cargo Vessels 56 feet, Gray Marine Diesel 180hp, 8 knots. Used as inter island cargo boats. Had two masts and sails. 16 - Supply Craft 17 - Work Boat for General Duties 18 - Powered Landing Barge 19 - Small Lighter with a loading Derrick/Dumb Barge 20 - Fire Boat 21 - Refrigerator Freezer Barge

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 22 2019, 06:00 PM

I'm not sure if I would like to be crew on a Class 01 Armoured Target Launch Description C.1942. ARMOURED TARGET LAUNCH 01-5, SHOWING HULL AND ARMOUR PLATING. THESE LAUNCHES WERE USED AS TARGETS FOR BOMB AIMING PRACTICE FROM RAAF AIRCRAFT. (DONOR: P. E. ANDREAS)

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 22 2019, 06:02 PM

It seems sanity prevailed C.1942. TARGET LAUNCH 01-6. THIS IS AN ARMOURED TARGET LAUNCH 01-5 MODIFIED. THE ARMOUR HAS BEEN REMOVED AND CABIN CONSTRUCTED. RAAF BOMB AIMING IS DIRECTED AT A SPRAY TARGET TOWED AT SOME DISTANCE BEHIND THE CRAFT. THIS LAUNCH PROVED TO BE MUCH FASTER THAN THE 01-5 AND COULD BE USED SATISFACTORILY AS A CRASH LAUNCH. (DONOR: P. E. ANDREAS)

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 26 2019, 11:59 AM

A2-1022 with 016-100 off Newcastle in a photo dated 3rd August 1973. Photo RAAF Williamtown Official via Kym Manuel collection.

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 26 2019, 12:13 PM

This list is from “MARINE SECTION” The Forgotten Era of MEN & VESSELS by Leslie R. Jubbs Type Description 01. Armoured Target Launch, 40 feet long, three 100hp Meadow engines, 20knots. Later towed targets on a long cable. 02. Rescue Launches, 46 feet long, Chrysler Royal engines, 17 knots. Some were armed with machine guns. Note: The 02. "Air Boats" ASR 63 feet, 33 knots would later be allocated this Type number. 03. Torpedo Recovery Launch, 60 feet, with three Chrysler Royal Marine engines giving 12 knots. Also used as A.S.R. 04 Refueling Barge, 2600 gallons 05 Refueling Barges powered by Ford V Eight engines, 38 feet long. 1500 gallons. 06 Motor Lighters, 122 feet, 350 ton displacement, 2 Diesel engines, 9 knots Note: Large Ketches (06.11 "Yalata", 06.9 "Betty Joan") and large Schooners (06.8 "Wynana" and 06.10 "Ena") would be re-numbered from the 015 Type. 07 Small Cabin Launch Tender & General Work Boat 08 Crash Boat, 38 feet, Chrysler Royal 8 engine 20 knots. Also used to lay flarepaths and accompany flying boats during take off and landings. 09. Aircraft maintenance Scows, 33 foot long. 010 Bomb Scows, open hull, 32 feet,Chapman 10hp engine or Grey Sea Scout 011 Open Hull Work Boat to ferry Air Crews, as tugs, with a 6 Cylinder Chrysler engine 25 foot long. 012 Whaler 27-foot long, no engine 013 Pulling Dinghy 014 Sailing Dinghy 015 Cargo Vessels 56 feet, Gray Marine Diesel 180hp, 8 knots. Used as inter island cargo boats. Had two masts and sails. 016 Supply Craft 60/80 foot with Gardner Diesel 017 Work Boat for General Duties, 40 feet, had Diesel or Petrol engine. 018 Powered Landing Barge, 60 feet, Gray Marine or Ford V 8 engines 019 Small Lighter with a loading Derrick, also a Dumb Barge which had to be towed 020 Fire Boat. 021 Refrigerator Freezer Barge

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 26 2019, 01:24 PM

Returning to bomb scows for a moment. This is a photo from the UK however it does show the clearance needed to fit under the wing of flying boat. In this case loading a 450lb depth charge into a Short Sunderland of No 10 Squadron RAAF at Pembroke Dock, May 1941.

Posted by: Invader26 Apr 26 2019, 08:26 PM

Martin's pic of 21st Apr looks like mail bags being loaded into a Dornier DO-24K of 41 Sqn..

Posted by: Martin Edwards Apr 28 2019, 02:36 PM

Invader 26 you are absolutely correct

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