HMNZS Fairmile Q404 in the Hauraki Gulf,HMNZS Fairmiles – Q401, Q 403 and Q 404 and others Q404HMNZS Fairmile Q404 crew
HMNZS Fairmile Q404 on patrol
Fairmile Q404 being overflown by a Harvard aircraft, 1943
Fate – Some confusion on this one – HMNZS Fairmile Q404/407?? – sold to P. Mason, became private Deborah Bay, ON 178433, Auckland. Sold 1963 and renamed Romanda in 1964, for private, later passenger use. To Fiji 1965 for tourist work, later laid up. Driven ashore in Bay of Islands, Suva during Cyclone Meli 27/3/79. Salvaged and repaired for inter-island trading. Sunk in Cyclone Raja, off Nairai Island, east of Levuka, Fiji 30/12/86, broke in two 1/87 and became a total loss.
First Fairmile built in NZ at Lidgard/Bailey boat builders St Marys Bay being launched ML 403 on 29/9/1942 All the materials where imported from the UK and boat builders where limited to 5% profit by NZGovernment. Date on caption on photo is incorrect.Many of them became work boats and ferries around Auckland after ww2. Fate – ML 403 was sold to R.T.R Williams of Tauranga who converted it into the fishing and ferry boat”Tiare”. By 1952 a victim of poor maintenance it deterioated badly. In 1955 was sailed to Raglan to have its engines and fittings removed. The hull lay empty and abandanded until 1957 when it was beached and rotted away.ML403’s launchingHMNZS Fairmiles – Q401, Q403 and Q404 and othersFairmile B class patrol craft ML403 underway during exercises with HMNZS Leander and RNZAF Harvard planes c1940s.An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q403 in the Hauraki Gulf. Port side view of a small warship, Q403 on the bow, crew fallen in abreast of the superstructure. There is a second warship in the background right. On the reverse are the notes “70” “Fairmile Q403” in pencil. Auckland, Circa 1943.HMNZS Fairmile Q403 at sea June 1943.Photograph: Fairmile Q403 underway in Rangitoto Channel, Auckland, circa 1943 Maker Collins, Tudor Washington (b.1898, d.1970) Production date 1943?Q403 Gunnery practiceFairmile B class patrol craft ML403 underway during exercises with HMNZS Leander and RNZAF Harvard planes c1940s.HMNZS Fairmile Q403 This special alloy CW engine remained in 2007, but had been removed by 2011
Fate – HMNZS Fairmile Q403 – sold 3/47 to RTR Williams, named Tiare, ON 178418, ferry and excursion fishing, Tauranga, 1947-52. Sold c. 1955, strippedat Raglan 1956-57, engines and fittings to the 27m yacht, Hamilton 1958. Hull beached at Paritata Point, Raglan Harbour, 1957 and abandoned.
An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q401 on the slip. Starboard bow view of a warship with the number Q401 on the side, on the slip. On the reverse are the notes “80F90” “Vessel type Fairmile Q401”. Circa 1940s. Maker Collins, Tudor Washington (b.1898, d.1970) Production date Circa 1940sAn original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q401 underway in the Hauraki Gulf.An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q401 underway in the Hauraki Gulf. Port side view of a small warship underway with Q401 on the bow. Crew sitting on deck abreast of the superstructure. Circa 1940sAn original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q401 in the Hauraki Gulf. One the reverse are the words “Fairmile ‘B’ type, ML401, Displacement 85 tons, Dimensions 112 x 17 x 4 feet, Guns 2 40 mm AA 2 DCT + 20DG. Machinery BHP 1200 = 17.7 knots Complement 16.” Auckland, 1943?Q401 “Mahurangi”Q401 “Mahurangi” Top left in photo – HMNZS Fairmile Q401 “Mahurangi” – Lost, Cook Islands 1954. No other information.
An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q400 in Rangitoto Channel, leaving the harbour, flying signal flags, crew fallen in on deck. On reverse “Auckland 1943” “65”An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q400 after disposal from the Royal New Zealand Navy, at Queen’s Wharf, Wellington. Starboard side view of a small warship alongside a wharf. Q400 is painted on the bow. Side of ship in left foreground with buildings and cranes in the background. There is a buoy in front of the ship. On the reverse are the notes “85%” “Q400”. Wellington, 1946?An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q400 in Calliope Basin. Port side view of 9 warships alongside in 3 groups. Other ships (left to right) HMNZS KIWI, HMNZS PHYLLIS, Q02 (MARISTELLA) with Q07 (TE RAUPARAHA) coming alongside T32 (WAIPU). Another castle class vessel, patrol launch and FAIRMILE (Q405?). On reverse “58” and list of ships as in Brief SummaryHMNZS Fairmile Q400Q400 – later“Dolphin / Sayandra”– Burned and sunk, Gt Barrier Is. 1980.
Fate – Q400 of the Royal New Zealand Navy –Renamed Dolphin and later Sayandra, wooden motor launch After catching fire when off Green Island, on the west coast of Great Barrier Island on 9 March 1980, the Sayandra was badly damaged before the fire was put out by the crew of a passing yacht. Two launches then towed the Sayandra to Rarohara Bay, Port Fitzroy, and beached her near Quoin Island, where she sank next day. She became at total loss, subjected to vandalism and pilfering. In 1982, the Marine Division, Ministry of Transport, Auckland, took steps to have the partly submerged vessel removed. Built at Auckland in 1942, the Sayandra was 34m long, 5.5m beam and powered by twin-screw diesel engines. Owned by Mr B.Pirret of Auckland. The Sayandra was originally the Fairmile anti-submarine patrol launch Q400 of the Royal New Zealand Navy and had been severely damaged twice before, by fire and stranding in the Solomon Islands in 1944, and in February 1947 when struck by the bow of the Picton ferry Tamahine at Queen’s Wharf, Wellington. Source: “New Zealand Shipwrecks 200 Years of Disasters at Sea” by Lynton Diggle, Edith Diggle and Keith Gordon. 2007.
