Fairmile ML Q121 - For Posterity's Sake

Q121 / PTC 721

Fairmile Motor Launch

ML Q121 escorting U-889 into Shelburne, NS

Source: The Crowsnest Magazine

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

Laid down: 27 Jun 1943

Launched: 30 Mar 1944

Delivered to the RCN: 17 Apr 1944

Renamed: Jun 1948 to PTC 721

Removed from service: 1950

Fate: Broken up about 1972

Built by LeBlanc Shipbuilding Co. J.H., Weymouth, N.S., she was delivered to the RCN on 17 Apr 1944. While she flew the White Ensign, she was not commissioned into the RCN but instead was listed as a tender to HMCS Sambro, the depot ship for escorts (tenders were not commissioned vessels).

She was a "B" Type ML, Displacement: 79 tons, Length: 112 ft, Beam: 17 ft, Draft: 4.9 ft, Speed: 22 kts, Complement: 3 officers, 14 men, Armament: 3-20mm.

In Apr 1944 Q121 was listed as part of the 82 ML Flotilla. Retained after the war she was renamed PTC 721 in Jun 1948. she was intended to be transferred to HMCS CATARAQUI, but was removed from service in 1950 and sold in 1953 becoming Inshore Fisherman and later Denis D. She was scrapped in 1972 or soon there after.

Photos and Documents

Commanding Officers

Lt Ross Norton McDiarmid, RCNVR - 17 Apr 1944 - 09 Jan 1945

Lt John Gordon W. MacKenzie, RCNVR - 17 Apr 1945 - 26 Jul 1945

LCdr John Maxwell Todd, RCNVR - 27 Jul 1945 - 26 Aug 1945

Cdr H.K. Hill, RCN(R) - 1949

Lt Bob Montgomery - Jul 1949

In memory of those who have crossed the bar

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Buck, William W. - 1949

Carroll, Kenneth J. - 1949

Childs, K.H., - 1949

Chown, M. - 1949

Colvard, Roy R. - 1949

Edmunds, A.G. - 1949

Geizer, Arthur - 1949

Goldfinch, Garnet W. - 1949

Green, Edward A. - 1949

Hill, Kenneth M. - 1949

MacKey, John Conrad, Slt, RCNVR - 17 Apr 1944

Ormshaw, Alan - 1949

Phipps-Walker, E., Lt (E), RCN(R) - 1949

Thompson, Walter J. - 1949

Photos and Documents

	ML Q121 RCN Photo # HS-3355 Courtesy of the Comox RCAF Museum
	ML Q121 Courtesy of Kevin Joynt
	Q121 and Q116 alongside in Halifax From the collection of ERA Albert Baker, RCNVR Courtesy of Anne Baker
	ML Q121 - 05 Sep 1945 From the collection of Harry Seright Courtesy of Sam Seright
	PTC 721 Source: Flickr photo collection of Don Gorham
	PTC 721 dressed, off Brockville, Ont - circa 1948-50 Source: The Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes Research by: Richard Langlois
	Navy Fairmile Here For Yachting Race The Picton Gazette, 07 Jul 1950 Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2015

Newspaper articles on ML 121 at Picton, Ontario

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Article 4

Article 5

Article 6

Article 7

Article 8

(1) - Training Cruise For Local Unit - The Picton Gazette, July 20, 1949 (2) Navy Training On Fairmile At Picton - The Picton Times, May 28, 1949 (3) Navy Has Interesting Evening Of Training - The Picton Times, July 16, 1949 (4) Gold Cup Feature Of Monday's Regatta - The Picton Gazette, July 29, 1949 (5) Regatta Ripples - article on the Picton Regatta in which HMCS Portage and ML Q121 were present - The Picton Gazette, August 3, 1949 (6) Napanee RCN(R) Unit in Picton For Holiday Power Races - The Picton Times, Aug. 6, 1949 (7) Tow Fairmile to Kingston - The Picton Gazette, August 26, 1949 (8) Local Sailors Leave For Toronto Ex - Newspaper article on local RCNR members participating in the Toronto Ex on ML Q121; HMCS Portage mentioned in article - The Picton Gazette, September 2, 1949

Q121 Supports Landing Assault Exercise by "the Hasty Pees"

Article 9

Article 10

Article 11

(9) Trim Naval Craft Object Of Interest To 'Hasty Pees' - The Picton Times, November 3, 1949 (10) Northport Under Attack As Hasty P's Landed On County's North Shore - The Picton Times, November 3, 1949 (11) Reserve Unit Attacks Northport Via Navy Ships - The Picton Times, October 27, 1949

Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection

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