Wooden Boat Construction in 1943

[Dave Homewood]

Fairmile motor launches of the Royal New Zealand Navy lying at their moorings between Pine Island and Greenhithe yesterday. These vessels returned recently from duty in the Solomons.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 22 AUGUST 1945

[davidd]

Another new one to me. I'd bet their appearance on arrival from the Solomons was a bit on the scruffy side, but that's what happens during a longish sea voyage. The boat on far left looks as though it might have a darker finish, but could just be a trick of the light.
Dave D

[Dave Homewood]

Here are some more on wooden boats built in New Zealand for the US Navy in WWII:

MASS LAUNCHING

EIGHT TOW-BOATS

USE BY AMERICANS

O.C. AUCKLAND, This Day.

Eight kauri motor tow-boats, which have been built for the United States Armed Forces by United Ship and Boatbuilders, Limited, will be launched by Mrs. Sullivan, wife of the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Supply, at Auckland on Saturday morning. Forty-five feet in length and powered by Diesel engines, these sturdy craft, which are really small tugs, are the first boats to be built in New Zealand for another country's Government. Additional craft will be constructed. Under the heading of reciprocal aid to the United States, or reverse lend-lease, New Zealand's 1943 Budget provides for a shipbuilding programme estimated at £2,000,000 for the South Pacific and South-west Pacific areas.

Although they will not be launched simultaneously the tow-boats will all be moving along the slipways at the same time. The ceremony of breaking bottles of wine over their bows will be performed by children.

The names of the new vessels are those of famous Maoris. They are Kahu, the discoverer of Lake Rotorua and son of Tamatekapua; Kawa, an abbreviation of Kawatapuarangi, an ancestor of King Koroki; Koroki, the present Maori King of the Waikato; Kupe, the discoverer of New Zealand about 950 A.D.; Kaihau, former member of Parliament for Western Maori; Korokai, a member of the Tohunga family, Arawa tribe, and the claimant in the lakes case against the Crown; Kiwa, one of the greatest navigators of Maori history, who ranks with Kupe but lived at a later period; and Kanapu, a celebrated chief of the Arawa tribe.

EVENING POST, 19 AUGUST 1943

[Dave Homewood]

GOOD JOB DONE

FAIRMILE LAUNCHES

RETURN FROM PACIFIC

PA. AUCKLAND, July 29.

After a tour of duty in the Pacific which lasted for nearly 18 months, 12 Fairmile motor-launches of the Royal New Zealand Navy returned recently to Auckland. The tour of duty began on February 6, 1944, when the first five Fairmiles left for the Solomon Islands. The other seven departed on March 25, 1944. Since then the flotilla has been engaged in patrols, escort, and antisubmarine work and has provided screens for vessels engaged in loading war materials at various places.

The officer in command of the base, H.M.N.Z.S. Kahu, from which the Fairmiles worked, was Lieutenant-Commander H. E. Cave, R.N., Gisborne. Senior officer of the flotilla was Lieutenant-Commander H. J. Ball D.S.C., R.N.Z.N.V.R., Auckland, and the commanders of the 12 ships at the close of the tour of duty were Lieutenants P. C. Stennard, Wellington, J. W. Ballinger, Rangiora, J. W. Mills, Invercargill, A. R. Joughlin, Auckland, K. H. Mackenzie Christchurch, G. M. Parker, Dunedin, J. C. Frankham, Auckland L. E. Newall, D.S.C., Wellington, E. T. F. Millet, Auckland, D. C. Algie, Auckland, R. P. W. Wills, Auckland, and G. C. Gerard, Wellington.

Each of the Fairmiles carried two officers, two petty officers and 12 ratings. At the base in the Solomons there were 10 officers and 53 ratings.

On his return to the Dominion Lieutenant-Commander Cave was enthusiastic in his praise of the work of the officers and men under his command. He expressed gratitude for the cooperation and assistance received from the United States navy. He said that since the Fairmiles had left New Zealand they had travelled a total distance of 380,000 miles. Though their work in the main had been monotonous, with no action by or against the enemy, it had been important, and the American naval authorities had been very appreciative of the manner in which it had been carried out.

"The Fairmiles stood up to the work very well, and I must congratulate the New Zealand builders of these little ships on their excellent workmanship," said Lieutenant-Commander Cave. He added that it was not at all the work for which the ships had been designed. They had been intended for short coastal patrols, but during the Pacific tour had taken part in convoys over hundreds of miles.

Ratings in one of the Fairmiles expressed gladness at being back in the Dominion after the tour of duty, which had been partly interesting and partly monotonous. They said food and conditions on the small ships had been very good, but they were pleased to taste fresh milk again. Asked if they had any complaints, they gave a unanimous. "No."

EVENING POST, 30 JULY 1945

[Dave Homewood]

TUGS AND LIGHTERS

BUILDING FOR U.S.A.

P.A. AUCKLAND, August 24.

Though the future of the American shipbuilding programme in New Zealand is now indefinite, work will be completed on those vessels already on the ways. Vessels now being built include seven 114 ft powered lighters, the last of the United States navy's order for 16, and five 75ft welded steel tugs which are in various stages of completion.

Four more of the steel tugs were to have been built, but till there have been negotiations between the New Zealand Government and Lieutenant-Commander A. C. Bushey, U.S.N., who is in charge of the Dominion's programme for the American navy, it is not known whether the contract will be completed or not. The cost of the vessels is borne by the New Zealand taxpayer through reverse lend-lease, and agreement on this matter will have to be reached between the two Governments.

Five of the 114 ft lighters are being built in Auckland and two others are on the stocks at Stevenson and Cook's works at Port Chalmers. The steel tugs are being built by Steel Ships, Ltd., Auckland, where 15 have previously been completed for the United States army.

EVENING POST, 25 AUGUST 1945

[Dave Homewood]

NAVAL EXERCISE

FAIRMILES AT SEA

NEW SUBMARINE CHASERS

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, June 21.

A flotilla of Fairmile submarine chasers of the Royal New Zealand Navy, for which they were built by Auckland shipyards, spent a week on operational exercises in the Hauraki Gulf. The ships practised individual and group attacks against a target ship which represented a submarine. They were only some of a number of Fairmiles which have been launched or are being built for use in harbour and coast defence.

Long trails of white wake showed that the Fairmiles were at speed and not long afterward they were approaching the target ship at 18 knots. Beautiful-looking ships, they drove on until the air was filled with the aeroplane-like roar of their twin petrol engines. As they came up with the target ship, their main features were immediately discernible. From their raked and flaring destroyer bows to the square and narrow transom stern, they looked compact, pocket warships. They mounted one gun forward and another aft, both being for use against air and surface craft, but their sting as anti-submarine vessels obviously lay in the two neatly-placed rows of depth-charges on either side of the deck aft of the squat funnel and engine-room casing. Some of the depth-charges are for release immediately over the side and others can be sent a much greater distance by the thrower just forward of the aft gun platform.

For several hours the flotilla made practice attacks against the inoffensive Phyllis, which was mildly playing the part of an enemy submarine, while a few members of her crew who were off-watch, placidly put out a spinner and trolled for fish. Either in groups or individually, the Fairmiles went through the drill which they might at any time have to put into offensive practice against a real submarine.

With white water thrown away from their sharp bows and more broken water boiling in their wakes, the Fairmiles picked up the submarine’s bearings, communicated with each other by Aldis lamp, signal flags, or radio-telephone, raced at the Phyllis, and roared past her bow and stern. As they approached, the captain of each Fairmile sounded the alarm which called his ship’s company to their battle stations and men appeared suddenly on the decks and rushed forward or aft to gun or depth-charge stations. Various attack formations were practised, and it was impossible not to be thrilled as ships charged and turned and manoeuvred.

The press, 22 June 1943

[Dave Homewood]

SHIP LAUNCHED

NEW ZEALAND-BUILT

NEW PATROL VESSEL

By Telegraph - Press Association) AUCKLAND. Tuesday

The first fighting vessel built in a New Zealand shipyard was launched today with an impressive ceremony, christened in traditional manner by Miss Pat Coates, daughter of the Minister of the Armed Forces and War Co-ordination, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. The vessel slid into the sunlit waters a picture of trim efficency. Prior to the launching the keel of similar vessel was laid, and still another is well on toward completion on the stocks.

The vessel is a Fairmile patrol ship. She will join the Royal New Zealand Navy for activities off the New Zealand coast.

The vessel is 100 ft. long and is engined by two petrol motors each of 600 horse power. No steel is used in the vessel's frame, which is of bakelised plywood made in England, and the hull is of New Zealand timber. The ship was constructed entirely by New Zealand workmen, employed by Associated Boatbuilders, Limited.

Rapid Construction
The main contractor, Mr Roy Lidgard, said today that although the standard time for production of these vessels was given as 40,000 working hours, this ship was built in 30,000 working hours.

Present at the ceremony were representatives of the fighting services and local bodies. The speakers were Mr Coates, the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr Hendry Luke, and the Mayor of Auckland, Mr J. A. C. Allum.

“Her job will be to sort out and destroy underwater vessels,” said Mr Coates. “We have men in this country capable and competent, and with a will to turn out work that will compare favourably with that done anywhere.”

Supply As Key To Victory
The adverse factors of our small size and lack of equipment could act as a spur to all of us in the task of war production. It was a most important job, as supply was the key to the ultimate defeat of the enemy. He urged New Zealanders to give thought to the danger that threatened. It was no time to allow political or personal feelings to interfere with our task. The little vessel that now rode on the Auckland harbour must be a symbol of our determination. With her launching another bar was placed in the enemy’s way.

“Split up we can’t do it. together we can. We will not be defeated. We will defeat the enemy and we will destroy him.” he concluded.

WAIKATO TIMES, 29 SEPTEMBER 1942

[emron]

Jul 9, 2019 0:11:58 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Fairmile motor launches of the Royal New Zealand Navy lying at their moorings between Pine Island and Greenhithe yesterday. These vessels returned recently from duty in the Solomons.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 22 AUGUST 1945

Related tenders:

“Evening Star” 20-January-1947.

WAR ASSETS REALISATION BOARD.
SURPLUS ASSETS FOR SALE.

--

TENDERS are invited for:-

(839) – CRADLE. Harbour Defence Motor Launch, 41ft x 15ft. Constructed
of steel base frame and three Oregon supports, complete with steel wire lifting
straps. Used. Held by Navy Office at end of Aotea Quay, Wellington (near bridge).
CLOSING DATE – NOON on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3.

(826) - “FAIRMILE” PATROL BOAT, “Q. 400” At Wellington.
CLOSING DATE - NOON on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10.

-

“Otago Daily Times” 24-March-1947.

WAR ASSETS REALISATION BOARD.
---
SURPLUS ASSETS FOR SALE.
---
TENDERS CLOSE noon on MARCH 31 for the following:-

(929) H.D. MOTOR LAUNCH Q1186. As it lies at Auckland. Length 72ft,
breadth 15ft 10in, depth 6.5ft. Two Gray Marine Diesel Engines.

-

“FAIRMILE” PATROL BOATS.

Eight (8) Fairmile Patrol Boats For Sale.
As they lie at Auckland. At a flat price of Pds1,255 each. Overall length
112ft; moulded breadth 17ft 10in; moulded depth 11ft 4in; draught 4ft 6in;
displacement about 80 tons. Hulls of first-class kauri; two skins, 5/8in and
3/4in, laid diagonally. Sleeping, messing, and washing accommodation for
15 persons. Twin sets Vee type Hall-Scott petrol engines; twin screws, twin
rudders; speed about 18-3/4 knots.

-

“Evening Star” 9-June-1947.

WAR ASSETS REALISATION BOARD.

SURPLUS ASSETS FOR SALE.

TENDERS CLOSE with Board’s Secretary NOON on 30th JUNE, 1947.

(1262) – ENGINES, “Hall Scott Defender,” 630 h.p. Petrol Marine. Quantity 14.
Used. At Auckland.

[pjw4118]

With the kauri , by 1941 it was already in short supply and I have read that the Government gave special permission to cut out a preserved block to supply the timber.

[oj]

When I was a small boy living at Opononi in the early 1950's, our house was just across the road from the beach and up a hill. Our front lawn had a great view of the Hokianga Harbour and Opononi wharf at that location.
Though I was only seven years old, I could easily recognise a Fairmile on their or its frequent visits to the Hokianga from the observational training of my father and elder brother.
This may have been by then a privately-owned Fairmile. I have no recollection of any markings or flags, just that it was white-hulled.

[Dave Homewood]

Not strictly RNZN, but lots of RNZN members served on these vessels, the Warfare podcast has an excellent episode about the "Spitfires of the Sea", the Fairmile and Vosper Motor orpedo Boats and Motor Gun Boats of the Royal Navy's coastal forces in WWII. Well worth a listen.

www.podbean.com/site/EpisodeDownload/DIR163C4FC6EN4NW

[Dave Homewood]

From the New Zealand Herald on the 21st of August 1940:

MIDGET NAVY

IDEA FOR DOMINION

MOTOR TORPEDO-BOATS

SCOPE FOR MEN AND PLANT

New Zealand has done very little in this war to make use of the large number of young men skilled in the ways of the sea, and already a great many yachtsmen who could be employed in helping to defend the coasts of the Dominion against possible enemy attack have gone overseas as infantrymen. The part already played by the motor torpedo boat in the narrow waters around Great Britain demonstrates the valuable work that a fleet of these speedy, aggressive little vessels could do in the defence of New Zealand's coastline. A number of these boats could be built for the cost of one submarine, and among other qualities they have the advantage of high speed in concentrating for an attack on an enemy coastal raiding force, should this occur at ail unexpected point.

In its boat-building industry Auckland has a large number of men skilled in the construction of vessels of this type, and in its kauri forests there is the timber that is possibly not equalled anywhere for the purpose. Motor torpedo boats of the most modern design are of the V-bottom type, with square bilge, and the construction has been simplified. This would make it possible, were it decided to build any large number of them, for the boat-builders to have the assistance of many of the large wood-working plants throughout the Dominion in pre-fabricating the frames. It would not only reduce the cost considerably, but would enable the boat-builders to concentrate on the skilled portion of the work.

Providing Equipment
There are very many men proficient in wood working who are ready to give their services on the mass production side of the scheme. While local engineering shops could provide and fit practically all metal equipment, with the exception of engines and armament, it was stated yesterday that it would be possible to couple three motor-car engines to each of the three shafts with which these vessels are fitted, thus gaining a total of approximately 900 horse-power.

One type of these boats built in England has three motors of 500 horse-power each and it was suggested that the Government might be able to make arrangements to import a number of these engines. As an alternative, it was proposed that New Zealand could help the British Government by building a large number of hulls, say, of the 60ft. type, shipping them to England in exchange for engines.

Need to Train Men
An important aspect is the need to train men in boats of this type. Those who discussed the matter yesterday said there was much work that such vessels could do in the present situation, and it was hinted that there might be even more important duties for them before the present war is brought to an end, and that New Zealand would do well to make a supreme effort to provide a large fleet of these useful craft. Given the boats there would be available all the men necessary to man them. It was pointed out that when the Government asked for applications for service in small vessels in various theatres of war more than 500 New Zealand yachtsmen offered, but so far as was known only 10 had been selected for R.N.V.R. commissions.