Norman Tyldesley – MTB 91, ML 245 and ML 246

[colinwhowantstoknow]

Does anyone know anything of my uncle Frederick Norman Tyldesley of MTB 91 & later ML 245 246. Doing family research. I do hold some 1994 letters from some Free French comrades, which tells me some stuff, but does anyone remember him? It was a long time ago I know. Or how I may find out more.

[Admin]

As you may already be aware, Telegraphist Frederick Norman Tyldesley was awarded the Croix de Guerre, though it appears the award was not announced in the London Gazette, so there is no ready way of knowing precisely what it was awarded for, beyond the work that MTB 91 was involved in, having been transferred to the Free French Navy.

[Brian Holmes]

The reason for the Croix de Guerre is because individual RN telegraphists were assigned to join the French crews and the French awarded the medal to them.

MTB_91 Harland and Wolff, Belfast 12/10/42
For service in French MTBs
CdeG Tel Frederick Norman Tyldesley P/JX228668
CdeG Tel Padraig Seosarn Walsh P/JX154664

Known Crew
Tel Frederick Norman Tyldesley P/JX228668
Tel Padraig Seosarn Walsh P/JX154664

Wartime Activities
11/42 Free French
Handed over at HMS Hornet followed by work up at HMS Bee (Weymouth)
23rd MTB Flotilla Based at HMS Cicala (Dartmouth)
7-8/5/44 MTB 91, MTB 92, MTB 227 and MTB 239 are on patrol off Jersey.
2359 A convoy of two cargo vessels (3000 – 3500 tons) escorted by eight patrol boats is sighted. MTB 91, MTB 92, MTB 227 and MTB 239 start to move to the stern of the convoy to attack from down moon. The convoy alters course to enter St Peter Port.
Two boats are sent to make a noisy approach on the up moon side as a diversion whilst the other two attack. Four torpedoes are fired. One cargo vessel SS Bizon (ex Belgian, 750 GRT) is hit, explodes and sinks. Shore batteries on Guernsey open fire. MTB 227 is damaged MTB 227 is damaged by boats of Second Vp-Flotilla but evades. In MTB 227, the twin 0.5” turret is out of action and there is a fire in the engine room with one engine out of action. MTB 91, MTB 92 and MTB 239 make a second attack. Four more torpedoes are fired and one hit is claimed

Post War Fate
1946 Returned RN
21/9/48 Sold

[Brian Holmes]

I presume he was in this one before MTB 91

ML_245 Sheerness Dockyard 14/7/41

Operation Neptune - for bravery and enterprise in safeguarding the passage of convoys during the invasion in Normandy
MID POMtrMch Arthur Ralph Fuller P/MX99525

Known Crew
TLt J Winthorpe-Young RNVR (Commanding Officer)
POMtrMch Arthur Ralph Fuller P/MX99525

Wartime Activities
7/41 Free French = St Guenole
1/7/41 20th ML Flotilla assembling at Portland
ML 123, ML 192, ML 245, ML 246, ML 247, ML 262, ML 267 and ML 268
2nd Division 20th ML Flotilla (Based on Portsmouth)
Convoy escort in English Channel
4/42 20th ML Flotilla (Based on Weymouth)
Convoy escort, patrols and Air Sea Rescue
8/42 Returned to Royal Navy Crew transferred to 23rd MTB Flotilla (Free French)
7th ML Flotilla
ML 131, ML 136, ML 152, ML 154, ML 182, ML 245, ML 248, ML 303, ML 347, ML 594, ML 599 and ML 904
Based on Portsmouth
Operation Neptune Invasion of Normandy
Navigation leader at Gold Beach
Paid Off
9/44 Recommissioned after major refit
13th ML Flotilla
22/10/44 Flotilla departs Pembroke Dock for the Far East
18/2/45 Flotilla reaches Bombay
Operations off the Arakan coast
11/5/45 Flotilla arrives in Rangoon

Post War Fate
2/46 Sold at Trincomalee
Burmese Navy
11/6/47 Sold at Singapore

[Brian Holmes]

ML_246 Sheerness Dockyard 21/7/41

Known Crew
Lt N Hunt (Commanding Officer)
TSLt William John Baker RNVR
TSLt John Campbell Barry RNVR (3/6/44 - ) Served in HMS Howe as an ordinary seaman before being commissioned in 1944 and joining Coastal Forces Served in ML 222. First Lieutenant ML 246 1/5/44. 10th ML Flotilla and voyage to Bombay 10/44.
Ord Thomas Harris Davies D/JX302998 Died cause unknown 5/3/43 Age 36 Husband of Mary Catherine Davies, of Flint. Buried in Flint (St. Mary) Churchyard Extension Sec. D. Line 10. Grave 5

Wartime Activities
7/41 Free French = St Ives
1/7/41 20th ML Flotilla assembling at Portland
ML 123, ML 192, ML 245, ML 246, ML 247, ML 262, ML 267 and ML 268
2nd Division 20th ML Flotilla (Based on Portsmouth)
Convoy escort in English Channel
4/42 20th ML Flotilla (Based on Weymouth)
Convoy escort, patrols and Air Sea Rescue
8/42 Returned to Royal Navy Crew transferred to 23rd MTB Flotilla (Free French)
19/8/42 Operation Jubilee - Raid on Dieppe
SGB 5 (Grey Owl) ,SGB 9
MGB 50, MGB 51, MGB 312, MGB 315, MGB 316, MGB 317,MGB 320, MGB 321, MGB 323, MGB 326
ML 120, ML 123, ML 189, ML 190, ML 193,ML 194, ML 230, ML 246, ML 292, ML 309, ML 343, ML 344, ML 346, RML 513
6/44 Operation Neptune Invasion of Normandy
20th ML Flotilla Based on Portsmouth
Operation Neptune - Invasion of Normandy
ML 123, ML 146, ML 147, ML 151, ML 198, ML 205, ML 246, ML 247, ML 269, ML 297, ML 902 and ML 903
Navigation Leaders at Juno Beach
14th ML Flotilla
Arakan

Post War Fate
11/45 Burma RNVR
1/46 For disposal

[colinwhowantstoknow]

Well thankyou very much, to you all. Very interesting, I can take this on to the rest of the family. Its a shame how people forget. Its a credit to the RNCFV. I'll now have to research his 3 brothers. Not sure what they served in but all RN.
Thanks again. Anyone else with anything, please let me know.
Regards
Colin.

[Popeye]

Was Norman Tyldesley on ML245 or 246 in 1945?

The book '13th & 14th Fairmile Flotillas in Burma' tells the story of these two flotillas plus the 34th flotilla and their voyage from Pembroke Dock to Burma. It shows ML 245 in the 34th flotilla rather than the 13th. ML 245 came from the 7th ML flotilla to join the 34th, and ML246 came from the 20th flotilla to the 14th, both having served in UK waters since 1941.

It seems that the 34th flotilla sailed with the 13th and 14th as far as Trombay, near Bombay, and stayed there until Operation Zipper and sailed with Operation Zipper A from Trincomalee in Ceylon, and ML 245 reached Singapore after the Japanese surrender and was there until December 1945, was then in reserve until it was sold to Thailand in June 1947.

The 14th flotilla, including ML 246, took part in Operation Dracula which was the liberation of Rangoon on 2nd May 1945. 246 and 247 took part in Operation Roundwood on 6th September 1945, taking the surrender of the Japanese on Mergui Island, off the coast of southern Burma.

My father was a gunner on ML 246 from October 1944 onwards.

[colinwhowantstoknow]

I think he was on ML 245, with the Free French as stated before.
Thanks for your interest, and great information.
What a fantastic site this is.
Colin H

[graham reed]

Hello

Looking through some old family photographs I found some photographs of boats labelled ML245 and other numbers, out of interest I googled this number and came across this website. I have no idea which family member took the photograph, but in the album there were quite a lot of photographs of boats!!

Hopefully I have attached the photograph below!!

Best

Graham Reed

[Admin]

Hello Graham

Thank you for your post to the forum. Sorry for the slight delay in getting it approved, a temporary measure in the light of recent spamming of the board. I believe the MLs shown here are actually First World War era boats, manufactured by the American company Elco. There were several hundred of these built and used for patrol and anti-submarine work. This leads to some confusion at times since they were all sold off at the end of that conflict, and when the Admiralty revived their use of the motor launch again in the Second World War, they looked to the British company Fairmile for their construction, and pretty much duplicated the full range of numbers used by the earlier boats. The WW1 Elco boats are distinguished by their shorter length — compared to the later Fairmile 'B' — and stepped deck design, with the wheelhouse raised above the level of the rear deck, while on the WWII launches the decks are flush from bow to stern.

Regards
Admin

[Admin]

I thought it might be useful to provide a visual comparison between the motor launches of the First and Second World Wars

First World War Elco Motor Launch


WWI Elco Motor Launch ML 516 © IWM (Q 63064)IWM Non Commercial Licence


WWI Elco Motor Launch © IWM (Q 63063)IWM Non Commercial Licence

Second World War Fairmile B Motor Launch


WWII Fairmile 'B' Motor Launch ML 469 © IWM (FL 25076)IWM Non Commercial Licence


WWII Fairmile 'B' Motor Launch © IWM (A 23190)

[colinwhowantstoknow]

Hello All,
Sorry I've been away for so long, but I have had others to research.
I recently went back home, and took a photo of the Coastal Forces Memorial in Bury. I'm sure many members know of this, but not sure how many had seen it. So here it is...I hope this works.[/img]

[Folowingdad]

Dear Colin,
I have just started following up my dad's service records.
My dad William Perfitt joined ML 246 as acting able seaman on 03 April 1944 and went out to Burma with her.
I am pleased to find some one else with a connection.
I have some photos of him and some of the crew, a number of tails but no real date reference.
he did tell of a WT operator who was in dads words capable of takin down more code in his sleep.
regards Bill

[colinwhowantstoknow]

Dear Bill, Folowingdad,
Its been along time since I visited the site, sorry I missed you. Well I know not much at all about my relative Frederick Norman, or Norman as everyone called him. It seems they were on the same ML. I to have old photocopies of photographs, but in such poor quality its hard to see anything. I never followed up on his service records, maybe I should do that. No I will do that.
Norman was known as the father figure of one of his boats, as he was already married, so settled, and a little older than most of his crew mates.
Regards
Colin

[Folowingdad]

Hi Norman.
sorry I have bean away from the sight for so long. a few more bits of memory from what my dad Bill Perfitt told me.
they may not be in exact order, but do my best! I
at some point during training he was in Plymouth billeted on the Cornwall side of the Tamar in Nisan huts they had to go into Plymouth to do anti looting patrols.

he joined ML246
03 Apr 1944 as Acting Able Seaman

When in Portsmouth before D Day they were in the solant and passed a mine sweeper that signaled them to back off with a large amount of (as dad called it) "navel terminology" his skipper ignored it and seconds later the mine sweeper blew up.
they stopped to rescue survivors, then when they thought they had identified everyone this chap popped up in a big bubble. he had gone down with the heads (toilet) it then burst under the pressure and he shot shot back to the surface in the bubble it created.

During D Day they had escorted landing craft across the channel then finding themselves without any orders dad and a mate saw dead fish floating so they found a boat hook and a bucket and started hooking fish out of the water until an officer saw them calling out " what do you think you are doing Perfitt" "fishing sir" dad replied. the officer told them to find something better to do There is a war on.
after D day they were sent to recover bodies from a landing craft that had been sent back to Portsmouth with injured troops and had got separated and the men drowned in it after bad weather swamped it.

Following D Day they were then sent to the Burma campaign, as he put it the scenic route not Piggy back on a ship. 11Dec 1944 he was in GINDA Eritrea on the Red Sea then HMS Chinthe Rangoon.
I will come back with some more soon.

[John110547]

Hi Bill

The following is some data on ML 246 from April 1944 to January 1946. Hope you find it helpful.

Best regards
John

• ML 246 on 16 April 1944 was undergoing repairs at Portland.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 146, 147, 151, 198, 205, 247, 269, 297, 902, 903 (20th ML Flotilla) on 28 April 1944 with the 1st Coastal Forces Flotilla, the 1st ML Flotilla, three boats from the 5th ML Flotilla & two boats from the 149th Flotilla were with other warships which were placed under the command of the Eastern Task Force J Commander, Commodore G N Oliver as part of Operation Neptune (Invasion of Normandy) which was planned to take place in early June 1944. This would be the initial assault stage of the broader Operation Overlord & the liberation of Northwest Europe.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 138, 139, 146, 147, 151, 185, 198, 203, 205, 222, 247, 269, 297, 450, 571, 902, 903, MTBs 328, 344, MBGs 312, 316, 317, 324, 326, 330, HDMLs 1393, 1407 & CMB 103 on 1 May 1944 were ordered to join other Allied warships to act as a protection screen for Exercise Fabius 3 following the disaster on 28 April 1944 (Operation Tiger) when convoy T4 that consisted of eight USN tank land ships & was carrying men of the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division was attacked by three German E-boats attacked whilst that were taking part in a full-scale rehearsal that simulated the assault landing on Utah Beach; the outcome was the loss of two LSTs with another badly damaged & 638 men killed & 89 wounded. Exercise Fabius 3 was the full-scale rehearsal for the simulated assault landings on Juno Beach by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division between the 2nd & 7th of May 1944. Exercise Fabius 3 ships would depart from the Gosport & Southampton area for landing exercises at Bracklesham Bay.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 146, 147, 151, 198, 205, 247, 269, 297, 902, 903 (20th ML Flotilla) on 2 May 1944 were ready for Exercise Fabius 3, but the exercise was postponed for 24 hours due to bad weather.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 146, 147, 151, 198, 205, 247, 269, 297, 902, 903 (20th ML Flotilla) on 3 May 1944 departed to join the Naval Assault Force J & Exercise Fabius 3. NAF J were departing Southampton & Portsmouth en route to the beaches of Bracklesham Bay with the 3rd British Infantry Division to rehearse the landing in preparation for Juno Beach & D-Day.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 146, 147, 151, 198, 205, 247, 269, 297, 902, 903 (20th ML Flotilla) on 4 May 1944 was on Exercise Fabius 3 with the Naval Assault Force J & the 3rd British Infantry Division to rehearse the landing at the beaches of Bracklesham Bay in preparation for Juno Beach & D-Day.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 146, 147, 151, 198, 205, 247, 269, 297, 902, 903 (20th ML Flotilla) on 25 May 1944 received sealed orders regarding their role on D-Day, but not the date of D-Day. Their role in Operation Neptune was to escort assault convoys to the Juno Beach assault anchorages.

• ML 246 on 1 June 1944 was undergoing repairs at Portsmouth.

• ML 246 on 4 June 1944 was undergoing repairs at Portsmouth.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 205, 247, 269 in August 1944 were transferred from the 20th ML flotilla to the 14th ML Flotilla & sent for a refit for service overseas.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) in September 1944 were undergoing a refit as gunboats for services in Southeast Asia. The refit of each boat included several structural changes to both above & below deck to cater for an increase in crewing from sixteen to twenty-three, the fitting of 2,000-gallon fuel tanks to the upper deck, & the rearming of the boat. The armaments included on the foredeck a 6-pounder gun (4.5"/19 (11.4 cm) 8cwt QF Mark I) on a Mark VII mounting, two twin 0.303"/78(7.7mm) Vickers machine guns fitted on either side at the rear of the bridge, on the quarterdeck was a 40 mm/70 Bofors Mark III on Mark XII mounting & one twin 20mm/70(0.79”) Oerlikon Mk II Cannon on Mark XII mounting on the afterdeck. Also, the boat carried two depth charges & a 2” rocket launcher on the starboard side.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) on 1 October 1944 were at Pembroke Docks, Pembrokeshire, Southwest Wales, after undergoing refits as gunboats, which included fitting fuel tanks to the upper decks & preparing to depart for Akyab, Burma. The Flotilla would sail nearly 10,200 miles & would stop every two to four days for supplies, refuel & repairs if necessary. Their stopover ports were Gibraltar (HMS Iskra), Algiers (HMS Razorbill), Bizerte (HMS Hasdrubal), Valletta (HMS Mosquito III), Benghazi (Libya), Alexandria (HMS Mosquito), Port Said (HMS Mosquito II), Port Tewfik (Egypt), Port Sudan (Egypt), Massawa (HMS Bull), Aden (HMS Sheba), Mukalla (Oman), Masirah Island (Oman), Karachi (HMIS Monze), Bombay (HMIS Cheetah I), Cochin (HMIS Vendurthy), Colombo (HMS Lanka), Trincomalee (HMS Highflyer), Madras (HMIS Adyer), Vishakhapatnam (HMIS Circars) & Calcutta (HMIS Hooghly) for supplies, refuelling & repairs if necessary. Note: It was also planned that the boats of the 14th ML Flotilla would undergo a refit on arrival at HMIS Cheetah I.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) on 7 October 1944 departed Pembroke Docks en route to Gibraltar with the 34th ML Flotilla & led by a destroyer. Each Flotilla took its base engineering staff with them & distributed the engineers among their boats.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 8 to 11 October 1944 were en route to Gibraltar. Due to the overcrowding caused by transporting the base engineering staff & their equipment, the voyage was becoming very distressing.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 12 October 1944 arrived at Gibraltar.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 13 to 15 October 1944 were at Gibraltar. During this period, the Flotilla’s base staff & their equipment were disembarked & they continued their trip to Bombay & HMIS Cheetah I on a troopship.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 16 October 1944 departed Gibraltar for Algiers, Algeria.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 17 October 1944 were en route to Algiers.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 18 October 1944 arrived at Algiers.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 19 to 20 October 1944 were at Algiers.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 21 October 1944 departed Algiers for Bizerte, Tunisia.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 22 October 1944 were en route to Bizerte.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 23 October 1944 arrived at Bizerte.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 24 October 1944 departed Bizerte for Valletta, Malta.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 25 October 1944 arrived at Valletta.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 26 to 29 October 1944 were at Valletta.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 30 October 1944 departed Valletta for Benghazi, Libya.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 31 October 1944 were en route to Benghazi.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 1 November 1944 arrived at Benghazi.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 2 November 1944 departed Benghazi for Alexandria, Egypt.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 3 November 1944 arrived at Alexandria.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 4 to 9 November 1944 were at Alexandria.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 10 November 1944 departed Alexandria for Port Said, Egypt.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 11 November 1944 arrived at Port Said.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 12 November 1944 were at Port Said.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 13 November 1944 departed Port Said for Port Tewfik, Egypt & arrived the same day.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 14 November 1944 departed Port Tewfik for Port Sudan, Sudan.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 15 to 16 November 1944 were en route to Port Sudan.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 17 November 1944 arrived at Port Sudan.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 18 November 1944 were at Port Sudan.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 19 November 1944 departed Port Sudan for Massawa, Eritrea.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 20 to 21 November 1944 were en route to Massawa.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 22 November 1944 arrived at Massawa.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 23 to 29 December 1944 were at Massawa.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 30 November 1944 departed Massawa for Aden, Aden Colony.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 1 December 1944 were en route to Aden.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 2 December 1944 arrived at Assab, Eritrea, to take shelter from a storm.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 3 December 1944 departed Assab for Aden.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 4 December 1944 arrived at Aden.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 5 to 8 December 1944 were at Aden.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 9 December 1944 departed Aden to Mukalla, Yemen.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 10 December 1944 arrived at Mukalla.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 11 December 1944 departed Mukalla for Masirah Island, Oman.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 12 to 14 December 1944 were en route to Masirah Island.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 15 December 1944 arrived at Masirah Island.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 16 to 17 December 1944 were at Masirah Island.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 18 December 1944 departed Masirah Island for Karachi, India.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 19 to 20 December 1944 were en route to Karachi.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 21 December 1944 arrived at Karachi.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 22 to 27 December 1944 were at Karachi.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 28 December 1944 departed Karachi for Bombay, India.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla from 29 to 30 December 1944 were en route to Bombay.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 34th ML Flotilla on 31 December 1944 arrived at Bombay.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) from 1 January to 27 February 1945 were at Bombay undergoing refits, including the removal of the upper deck fuel tanks.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 28 February 1945 departed Bombay for Cochin, India.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla from 1 to 2 March 1945 were en route to Cochin.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 3 March 1945 arrived at Cochin.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla from 4 to 6 March 1945 were at Cochin.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 7 March 1945 departed Cochin for Colombo, Ceylon.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla from 8 to 9 March 1945 were en route to Colombo.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 10 March 1945 arrived at Colombo.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla from 11 to 22 March 1945 were at Colombo.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 23 March 1945 departed Colombo for Trincomalee, Ceylon.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 24 March 1945 were en route to Trincomalee.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 25 March 1945 arrived at Trincomalee.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 26 March 1945 were at Trincomalee.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 27 March 1945 departed Trincomalee for Madras, India.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 28 March 1945 were en route to Madras.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 29 March 1945 arrived at Madras.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla from 30 March to 12 April 1945 were at Madras.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 13 April 1945 departed Madras for Vishakhapatnam, India.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 14 April 1945 were en route to Vishakhapatnam.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) with boats from the 13th ML Flotilla on 15 April 1945 arrived at Vishakhapatnam.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) from 16 to 21 April 1945 were at Vishakhapatnam.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) on 22 April 1945 departed Vishakhapatnam for Kyaukpyu, Burma.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) from 23 to 24 April 1945 were en route to Kyaukpyu.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) on 25 April 1945 arrived at Kyaukpyu.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) on 26 April 1945 were at Kyaukpyu with boats from the 145th, 146th & 147th ML Flotillas to participate in Operation Dracula with one of the five assault convoys (Baker, Charlie, Dog, Easy & Fox) in the invasion of Rangoon, Burma. The boats from the 14th ML Flotilla were assigned to accompany the assault convoy Charlie.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) from 27 to 28 April 1945 were at Kyaukpyu.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) on 29 April 1945 departed Kyaukpyu on the four hundred passage to Rangoon as part of Operation Dracula with the assault convoy 'Charlie' which included the sloops HMIS CAUVERY, SUTLEJ, the coastal forces depot ship HMS BARRACUDA, the landing craft depot ship BARPETA, the landing ship NITH, the store ships EMPIRE RANI, RISALDAR, WING SANG, the tankers EMPIRE DOMBEY, EMPIRE MULL, the landing craft Headquarters (101, 267, 317) & ten landing craft Infantry, large (121, 125, 166, 177, 180, 249, 266, 295, 305, 310).

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) on 30 April 1945 were en route to Rangoon (Operation Dracula) with convoy 'Charlie' when LCH 317 broke down & had to be taken in tow by the sloop HMIS CAUVERY. Convoy Charlie arrived at the assembly anchorage before midnight.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269, 591, 905 (14th ML Flotilla) on 1 May 1945 were at the mouth of the Yangon River when at 02.30hrs, the two assault groups W1 & W2 started to form up. Assault Group W1, which consisted of the two landing ships (Infantry) PERSIMMON & BARPETA, carrying troops from the 71st Indian Infantry Brigade, the landing craft (Headquarters) 317, nine landing craft (Tank), three landing craft (Gun) & four Landing Craft (Infantry) & Assault Group W2, which consisted of three landing ships (Infantry) SILVIO, GLENROY & PRINCE ALBERT, carrying troops from the 36th Indian Infantry Brigade, the landing craft (Headquarters) 101, eight landing craft (Tank), two landing craft (Gun) & ten landing craft (Infantry). Early that day, eight squadrons of B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, four squadrons of B-25 Mitchell medium bombers & two squadrons of P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers from the 2nd Air Commando Group, United States Army Air Forces, bombed & strafed various Japanese defence positions south of Rangoon. At 05.45hrs, one hundred & fifty-four troops from the 2nd/3rd Gurkha Parachute Battalion & a detachment from Force 136 (SOE) successfully dropped near Elephant Point, as the two assault groups, supported by the MLs & the HDML, moved into positions. At 07.00hrs, assault group W1 landed on the west side of the Yangon River, while assault group W2 landed on the east side of the Yangon River. Note: ML 269 was one of only three coastal forces boats (MLs 269, 303 & 904) to be hit by German & Japanese gunfire during WW2 while on active service on opposite sides of the world.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269 on 11 May 1945 of 14th ML Flotilla arrived at Rangoon, Burma.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269 (14th ML Flotilla) from the 12 May 1945 until 17 June 1945 with the 13th, 59th & 146th ML Flotillas began operations in the Delta, east of the Kokawa, Hlaing, Bawle, China Bakir rivers & the Irrawaddy up to Henzada. Their first objective was to cut off Japanese escape routes; the second objective was to impress the Burma National Army & local inhabitants; the third objective was to assist to re-establish some form of local administration & civil government. Boats from these flotillas would also be tasked to undertake individual operations within this period.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269 (14th ML Flotilla) on 17 June 1945 with the 13th, 59th & 146th ML Flotillas discontinued their operations in the Delta, east of the Kokawa, Hlaing, Bawle, China Bakir rivers & the Irrawaddy up to Henzada, when the rivers were rising, river banks disappearing & navigable channel disappearing due to the monsoon. The operation had been a success, with eleven Japanese boats destroyed, over one hundred Japanese killed & ten captured.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269 (14th ML Flotilla) on 15 August 1945 were at Rangoon, Burma.

• MLs 246, 123(1), 191, 205, 247, 269 (14th ML Flotilla) on 31 October 1945 were transferred to the Burma RNVR.

• ML 246 on 1 January 1946 was returned to the Royal Navy & placed on the disposal list before being & sold in Singapore in 1946.