Q124

 

PTC 724 / HMCS ELK 724

 

Fairmile Motor Launch

 


 

Fairmile ML Q124

Source: Flickr photo collection of Don Gorham

 

Laid down: 08 Nov 1943

Launched: 04 Apr 1944

Delivered to the RCN: 30 June 1944

Removed from service: 1945

Re-acquired by RCN:

Renamed/re-designated: PTC 724

Renamed: HMCS Elk 724 in 1954

Paid off: 1956

Fate: Sold for private use, broken up after 2012

 

Built by Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., she was delivered to the RCN on 30 June 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).

 

Q124 was a Type "B" ML, Displacement: 79 tons, Length: 112 ft, Beam: 17 ft, Draught: 4.9 ft, Speed: 22 kts, Complement: 3 officers, 14 men, Armament: 3-20mm.

 

Paid off in 1945, she was re-acquired by the RCN and in 1954 renamed HMCS ELK. Removed from service and sold 1956, she became Teirrah in 1962, and later Pacific Gold in 1965. In 1997 she was sold to Greek owned "Zeus Cruises" and renamed Zeus II.  Zeus Cruises, later renamed "Variety Cruises" has confirmed that the Zeus II was broken up several years ago. Zeus II was last noted on a travel website in 2012.

 

From The Fairmiles - Canada's Little Ships "As listed in a naval call sign document dated June 8th, 1948 as HMC ML124 call sign CZDL. She became HMCS ELK in 1954, based on the West Coast with international call sign CZDL, pendant 724 and radiotelephone “Catapult A”. HMCS ELK was discarded in 1956. She was the only post World War II Fairmile to serve on the West Coast."

 


 

Photos and Documents          Crew photos

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt Eric Sidney Blanchet, RCNVR - 20 Jun 1944 - 17 Aug 1945

 

Bos'n Harvey John Andrews, RCN - 17 May 1945 - unk (PTC)

 

CPO Sid Dobbing, RCN

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

ML Q124

 

RCN photo # E-7280-1

 

Courtesy of the Comox RCAF Museum

 


 

PTC 724

From the album of Joseph Robert, RCNVR / RCN(R)

PTC 724 - 1949

From the collection of Sid Dobing

Courtesy of Brian Dobing

Admiral Mainguy boarding PTC 724 (HMCS Elk), commanded by CPO Sid Dobing, for an inspection - 1953

From the collection of Sid Dobing

Courtesy of Brian Dobing

Admiral Mainguy inspects PTC 724 (HMCS Elk) - 1953

From the collection of Sid Dobing

Courtesy of Brian Dobing

PTC 724

From the collection of Sid Dobing

Courtesy of Brian Dobing

PTC 724 on a dependants day cruise, Victoria Day, 1953. This must have been just after her re-designation from a motor launch as her kisby ring still shows ML 124

From the collection of Sid Dobing

Courtesy of Brian Dobing

PTC 724

From the collection of Sid Dobing

Courtesy of Brian Dobing

PTC 724

From the collection of Sid Dobing

Courtesy of Brian Dobing

PTC 724

From the collection of Sid Dobing

Courtesy of Brian Dobing

HMCS Elk at Pender Harbour, Dec 1954

From the collection of Sid Dobing

Courtesy of Brian Dobing

Pacific Gold

Photographer: Walter E. Frost

Source: City of Vancouver Archives

Pacific Gold - moored in Long Bay, Jan 1965

Courtesy of Dave Turner

 


 

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