Postby John110547 » Mon Aug 31, 2026 11:35 am
Hi Brendan
The 20th ML Flotilla was formed in June 1941 and became fully operational in August 1941.
1st Division, 20th ML Flotilla boats (June 1941 to February 1942).
ML 192 was one of one hundred twenty Fairmile B-type Motor Launches (ML) ordered on 8 January 1940. A kit of component parts was prepared at Fairmile Marine’s factory in Cobham, Surrey, England & included the keel, stem pieces, stern pieces, deadwoods, bulkheads, transoms & planking, which
were packed into six bundles & shipped to one of the thirty-eight boatbuilders who assembled the kits using fixtures & fittings supplied by others under contract to the Navy. ML 192 was built by Southampton Steam Joinery, Southampton, Hampshire. The boat’s length was 112ft, the beam was 18ft 3ins, the draught was 4' 10" (fwd)/5' 0"(aft) & its displacement was 73 tons. The boat was designed to be powered by three Hall-Scott V12 600hp Defender Petrol Engines, but only two were fitted due to limited supply from America. This downgrade meant the boat could only reach 20 knots & its range was reduced to 600 miles. Armed with one Hotchkiss 3-pdr 1.85”/40 (47 mm) QF Mk I Gun, two 0.303”/78(7.7mm) Lewis Mk III Machine Guns, one Holman Illuminate Projector & twelve Mk VII Depth Charges. ML 192 was commissioned on 1 August 1941 as an anti-submarine escort & was assigned to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division) based at Portland, with a Royal Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks.
ML 262 was one of sixty-five Fairmile B-type Motor Launches (ML) ordered on 23 May 1940. A kit of component parts was prepared at Fairmile Marine’s factory in Cobham, Surrey, England & included the keel, stem pieces, stern pieces, deadwoods, bulkheads, transoms & planking, which were packed into six bundles & shipped to one of the thirty-one boatbuilders who assembled the kits using fixtures & fittings supplied by others under contract to the Navy. ML 262 was built by Collins Pleasure Craft Company, Oulton Broad, Suffolk. The boat’s length was 112ft, the beam was 18ft 3ins, the draught was 4' 10" (fwd)/5' 0"(aft) & its displacement was 73 tons. The boat was designed to be powered by three Hall-Scott V12 600hp Defender Petrol Engines, but only two were fitted due to limited supply from America. This downgrade meant the boat could only reach 20 knots & its range was reduced to 600 miles. Armed with one Hotchkiss 3-pdr 1.85”/40 (47 mm) QF Mk I Gun, two 0.303”/78(7.7mm) Lewis Mk III Machine Guns, one Holman Illuminate Projector & twelve Mk VII Depth Charges. ML 262 was commissioned on 18 June 1941 as an anti-submarine escort & was assigned to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division) based at Portland with a Royal Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks.
ML 267 was one of sixty-five Fairmile B-type Motor Launches (ML) ordered on 23 May 1940. A kit of component parts was prepared at Fairmile Marine’s factory in Cobham, Surrey, England & included the keel, stem pieces, stern pieces, deadwoods, bulkheads, transoms & planking, which were packed into six bundles & shipped to one of the thirty-one boatbuilders who assembled the kits using fixtures & fittings supplied by others under contract to the Navy. ML 267 was built by Solent Shipyard, Sarisbury Green, Hampshire. The boat’s length was 112ft, the beam was 18ft 3ins, the draught was 4' 10" (fwd)/5' 0"(aft) & its displacement was 73 tons. The boat was designed to be powered by three Hall-Scott V12 600hp Defender Petrol Engines, but only two were fitted due to limited supply from America. This downgrade meant the boat could only reach 20 knots & its range was reduced to 600 miles. Armed with one Hotchkiss 3-pdr 1.85”/40 (47 mm) QF Mk I Gun, two 0.303”/78(7.7mm) Lewis Mk III Machine Guns, one Holman Illuminate Projector & twelve Mk VII Depth Charges. ML 267 was commissioned on 25 July 1941 as an anti-submarine escort & was assigned to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division) based at Portland with a Royal Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks.
ML 268 was one of sixty-five Fairmile B-type Motor Launches (ML) ordered on 23 May 1940. A kit of component parts was prepared at Fairmile Marine’s factory in Cobham, Surrey, England & included the keel, stem pieces, stern pieces, deadwoods, bulkheads, transoms & planking, which were packed into six bundles & shipped to one of the thirty-one boatbuilders who assembled the kits using fixtures & fittings supplied by others under contract to the Navy. ML 268 was built by Dorset Yacht Company, Hamworthy, Dorset. The boat’s length was 112ft, the beam was 18ft 3ins, the draught was 4' 10" (fwd)/5' 0"(aft) & its displacement was 73 tons. The boat was designed to be powered by three Hall-Scott V12 600hp Defender Petrol Engines, but only two were fitted due to limited supply from America. This downgrade meant the boat could only reach 20 knots & its range was reduced to 600 miles. Armed with one Hotchkiss 3-pdr 1.85”/40 (47 mm) QF Mk I Gun, two 0.303”/78(7.7mm) Lewis Mk III Machine Guns, one Holman Illuminate Projector & twelve Mk VII Depth Charges. ML 268 was commissioned on 17 July 1941 as an anti-submarine escort & was assigned to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division) based at Portland with a Royal Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks.
1st Division, 20th ML Flotilla boats (March 1942 to July 1942).
ML 182 in March 1942 was reassigned from the 10th ML Flotilla to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division), based at Portsmouth, with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat SEIN.
ML 205 in March 1942 was reassigned from the 1st ML Flotilla to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division), based at Portsmouth, with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat MOLENE.
ML 269 in March 1942 was undergoing repairs at Inverness when it was transferred from the Training Unit at Fort William to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division), based at Portsmouth, with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat BENIQUET.
ML 303 in March 1942 was undergoing repairs at Oulton. Whilst undergoing repairs, ML 303 was transferred to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division), based at Portsmouth, with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat OUESSANT.
2nd Division, 20th ML Flotilla boats (June 1941 to July 1942).
ML 123(1) in June 1941 was transferred from the 8th ML Flotilla to the 20th ML Flotilla (2nd Division), based at Portland, with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat ‘SAINT RONAN '.
ML 245 was one of sixty-five Fairmile B-type Motor Launches (ML) ordered on 23 May 1940. A kit of component parts was prepared at Fairmile Marine’s factory in Cobham, Surrey, England & included the keel, stem pieces, stern pieces, deadwoods, bulkheads, transoms & planking, which were packed into six bundles & shipped to one of the thirty-one boatbuilders who assembled the kits using fixtures & fittings supplied by others under contract to the Navy. ML 245 was built by H. M. Dockyard, Sheerness, Kent. The boat’s length was 112ft, the beam was 18ft 3ins, the draught was 4' 10" (fwd)/5' 0"(aft) & its displacement was 73 tons. The boat was designed to be powered by three Hall-Scott V12 600hp Defender Petrol Engines, but only two were fitted due to limited supply from America. This downgrade meant the boat could only reach 20 knots & its range was reduced to 600 miles. Armed with one Hotchkiss 3-pdr 1.85”/40 (47 mm) QF Mk I Gun, two 0.303”/78(7.7mm) Lewis Mk III Machine Guns, one Holman Illuminate Projector & twelve Mk VII Depth Charges. ML 245 was commissioned on 14 July 1941 as an anti-submarine escort & was assigned to the 20th ML Flotilla (2nd Division) based at Portland with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat ‘SAINT GUENOLE'. Prior to commissioning in September 1940, ML 245 was dispatched to Chatham as a training boat to train crews.
ML 246 was one of sixty-five Fairmile B-type Motor Launches (ML) ordered on 23 May 1940. A kit of component parts was prepared at Fairmile Marine’s factory in Cobham, Surrey, England & included the keel, stem pieces, stern pieces, deadwoods, bulkheads, transoms & planking, which were packed into six bundles & shipped to one of the thirty-one boatbuilders who assembled the kits using fixtures & fittings supplied by others under contract to the Navy. ML 246 was built by H. M. Dockyard, Sheerness, Kent. The boat’s length was 112ft, the beam was 18ft 3ins, the draught was 4' 10" (fwd)/5' 0"(aft) & its displacement was 73 tons. The boat was designed to be powered by three Hall-Scott V12 600hp Defender Petrol Engines, but only two were fitted due to limited supply from America. This downgrade meant the boat could only reach 20 knots & its range was reduced to 600 miles. Armed with one Hotchkiss 3-pdr 1.85”/40 (47 mm) QF Mk I Gun, two 0.303”/78(7.7mm) Lewis Mk III Machine Guns, one Holman Illuminate Projector & twelve Mk VII Depth Charges. ML 246 was commissioned on 21 July 1941 as an anti-submarine escort & assigned to the 20th ML Flotilla (2nd Division) based at Portland, with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat ‘SAINT YVES’. Prior to commissioning in December 1940, ML 246 was dispatched to Chatham as a training boat to train crews.
ML 247 was one of sixty-five Fairmile B-type Motor Launches (ML) ordered on 23 May 1940. A kit of component parts was prepared at Fairmile Marine’s factory in Cobham, Surrey, England & included the keel, stem pieces, stern pieces, deadwoods, bulkheads, transoms & planking, which were packed into six bundles & shipped to one of the thirty-one boatbuilders who assembled the kits using fixtures & fittings supplied by others under contract to the Navy. ML 247 was built by J. W. & A. Upham, Brixham, Devon. The boat’s length was 112ft, the beam was 18ft 3ins, the draught was 4' 10" (fwd)/5' 0"(aft) & its displacement was 73 tons. The boat was designed to be powered by three Hall-Scott V12 600hp Defender Petrol Engines, but only two were fitted due to limited supply from America. This downgrade meant the boat could only reach 20 knots & its range was reduced to 600 miles. Armed with one Hotchkiss 3-pdr 1.85”/40 (47 mm) QF Mk I Gun, two 0.303”/78(7.7mm) Lewis Mk III Machine Guns, one Holman Illuminate Projector & twelve Mk VII Depth Charges. ML 247 was commissioned on 19 July 1941 as an anti-submarine escort & assigned to the 20th ML Flotilla (2nd Division) based at Portland with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat ‘SAINT ALAIN’. Prior to commissioning in December 1940, ML 247 was dispatched to Chatham as a training boat to train crews.
In November 1941, the 20th ML Flotilla (2nd Division) was renamed the 40th Division of the 20th ML Flotilla, known locally as the 40th ML Flotilla.
The following is a summary of the 20th ML Flotilla activities from June 1941 to July 1942, when the 20th ML Flotilla boats were returned to Royal Navy crews and & their French crews were transferred to the 23rd MTB Flotilla.
Hope this helps, and I would be interested in any information you may have on the 20th ML Flotilla’s 450 sorties.
Best regards
John
Summary of activities of the 20th ML Flotilla.
•MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN, 262 (20th ML Flotilla) on 3 August 1941 were at Portland.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN, 262 (20th ML Flotilla) on 17 August 1941 were at Weymouth.
• MLs 192, 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN, 262, 267, 268 (20th ML Flotilla) on 31 August 1941 were at Portland.
• ML 247/St ALAIN in September 1941 collided with an underwater object, which damaged the underside of the boat.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 192, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN, 262, 267, 268 (20th ML Flotilla) on 14 September 1941 were at Portland.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 192, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN, 262, 267, 268 (20th ML Flotilla) on 28 September 1941 were at Weymouth.
• ML 247/St ALAIN from October to December 1941 was undergoing repairs at Poole
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 192, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 262, 267, 268 (20th ML Flotilla) on 12 October 1941 were at Weymouth.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN & 246/St YVES (20th ML Flotilla) on 26 October 1941 were at Portsmouth.
• MLs 192, 245/St GUNOLF, 262, 267, 268 (20th ML Flotilla) on 26 October 1941 were at Weymouth.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN on 9 November 1941 were renamed the 40th Division of the 20th ML Flotilla & based at Portsmouth.
• MLs 192, 262, 267, 268 (1st Division, 20th ML Flotilla) on 9 November 1941 were based at Weymouth.
• ML 268 in December 1941 was undergoing repairs at Poole.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES (40th Division, 20th ML Flotilla) in December 1941 were at Portsmouth.
• ML 262 on 21 December 1941 was at Poole.
• MLs 267 & 192 (1st Division, 20th ML Flotilla) on 21 December 1941 were at Weymouth.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES (40th Division, 20th ML Flotilla) in January 1942 were at Portsmouth.
• MLs 262, 267, 268 (20th ML Flotilla) in January 1942 were at Weymouth.
• ML 192 in January 1942 was undergoing repairs at Brixham.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN (40th Division, 20th ML Flotilla) on 1 February 1942 were at Portsmouth.
• MLs 192, 262, 267, 268 (20th ML Flotilla), MLs 156, 160, 177, 270 (7th ML Flotilla), MLs 298, 306, 307, 341, 443, 446, 447, 457 (28th ML Flotilla), MTB 074(2) & MGB 314 in February 1942 were selected with the three destroyers HMS CAMPBELTOWN, ATHERSTONE & TYNDALE to participate in Operation Chariot. The operation was conceived to put the Normandie dry dock at St Nazaire, France, out of commission & thus deny the enemy access to the only Atlantic seaboard dock capable of taking battleships & battlecruisers. The operation was planned to take place on 28 March 1942, & command of it was entrusted to Commander R.E.D. Ryder for the naval forces & Lieutenant Colonel A.C. Newman from the Essex Regiment, attached to No 2 Commando for the military force. To ensure the security of the operation, all Coastal Forces vessels participating were referred to collectively as the 10th Antisubmarine Striking Force. This naval force consisted of eighteen vessels, including HMS CAMPBELTOWN, the blockship that would ram the Normandie dry dock gates before exploding, rendering the dry dock unusable. The Headquarters boat for the 10th Antisubmarine Striking Force was MGB 314 (No.0 boat). The 1st Flotilla of the 10th Antisubmarine Striking Force was to land and retrieve commandos at the Old Entrance of St Nazaire & consisted of MLs 192 (No.1 Boat), 262 (No.2 Boat), 267 (No.3 Boat), 268 (No.4 Boat), 156 (No.5 Boat), 177 (No.6 Boat), 270 (No.7 Boat – Portside led) & 160 (No.8 Boat– Starboard led). The 2nd Flotilla of the 10th Antisubmarine Striking Force was to land and retrieve commandos at the Old Mole of St Nazaire & consisted of MLs 447 (No.9 Boat), 341 (No.10 Boat), 457 (No.11 Boat), 307 (No.12 Boat), 443 (No.13 Boat), 306 (No.14 Boat), 446 (No.15 Boat - reserve boat carrying no commandos) & ML 298 (No.16 Boat - reserve boat carrying no commandos). MTB 074(2) (No.17 boat) was the backup vessel for HMS CAMPBELTOWN. The destroyers HMS ATHERSTONE & TYNEDALE would accompany the raiding force to St Nazaire but would not enter the Loire River. In March 1942, the 10th Antisubmarine Striking Force MLs arrived at one of three boatyards (Southampton, Poole, or Appledore) to undergo modification. These modifications included fitting two 500-gallon fuel tanks to the upper decks of the boats, extending their range to 450 miles & enabling them to participate in Operation Chariot. These upper-deck fuel tanks would be filled with seawater before the raid commenced. Additionally, each ML underwent other modifications to enhance protection & to ensure it had the appropriate armaments suitable for the boat mission. These included two twin Lewis guns, two stripped Lewis guns fitted with anti-aircraft sights & oversized magazines holding 97 rounds, and two 20mm Oerlikon cannons, which were to be positioned in the starboard column behind HMS CAMPBELTOWN. Note: For security reasons, rumours were initiated around Southampton, Poole & Appledore that these boats were being modified to be ships out to the Far East.
• ML 123(1)/St RONAN on 15 February 1942 was undergoing repairs at Portsmouth, which were completed on 28 February 1942.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN (40th Division, 20th ML Flotilla) on 1 March 1942 were at Portsmouth.
• ML 182 in March 1942 was reassigned from the 10th ML Flotilla to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division), based at Portsmouth, with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat SEIN.
• ML 205 in March 1942 was reassigned from the 1st ML Flotilla to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division), based at Portsmouth, with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat MOLENE.
• ML 269 in March 1942 was undergoing repairs at Inverness when it was transferred from the Training Unit at Fort William to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division), based at Portsmouth, with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat BENIQUET.
• ML 303 in March 1942 was undergoing repairs at Oulton. Whilst undergoing repairs, ML 303 was transferred to the 20th ML Flotilla (1st Division), based at Portsmouth, with a French Navy crew of two officers & fourteen other ranks. They named the boat OUESSANT.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES (40th Division, 20th ML Flotilla) on 6 March 1942 arrived at Ramsgate.
• ML 123(1)/St RONAN on 12 March 1942 arrived at Portsmouth.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN (40th Division, 20th ML Flotilla) on 15 March 1942 were at Portsmouth.
• ML 123(1)/St RONAN (20th ML Flotilla) on 29 March 1942 was undergoing temporary repairs at Dover.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN (40th Division, 20th ML Flotilla) in April 1942 were at Portsmouth waiting to be joined by MLs 182, 205, 269, 303 (1st Division, 20th ML Flotilla).
• ML 182/SEIN in April 1942 completed repairs at Falmouth.
• ML 269/BENIQUET in April 1942 was undergoing repairs at Inverness.
• ML 303/OUESSANT in April 1942 was undergoing repairs at Oulton, which were completed in early June 1942
• ML 205/MOLEN in April 1942 was undergoing repairs at Yarmouth.
• ML 123(1)/St RONAN (20th ML Flotilla) on 12 April 1942 was undergoing repairs at Brightlingsea, which were completed at the end of May 1942.
• ML 269/BENIQUET on 4 May 1942 completed repairs at Inverness.
• ML 205/MOLEN on 5 May 1942 departed Yarmouth.
• ML 246/St YVES on 5 May 1942 departed Portland.
• ML 269/BENIQUET on 9 May 1942 departed Inverness.
• ML 182/SEIN on 10 May 1942 was at Falmouth.
• ML 245/St GUNOLF on 10 May 1942 was at Portland.
• MLs 246/St YVES & 247/St ALAIN (20th ML Flotilla) on 10 May 1942 were at Weymouth.
• MLs 205/MOLEN & 247/St ALAIN (20th ML Flotilla) on 24 May 1942 were at Weymouth.
• MLs 205/MOLEN & 246/St YVES (20th ML Flotilla) on 26 May 1942 departed Portland for Weymouth.
• MLs 205/MOLEN & 246/St YVES (20th ML Flotilla) on 27 May 1942 departed Weymouth for Portland
• MLs 205/MOLEN & 246/St YVES (20th ML Flotilla) on 29 May 1942 arrived at Portland.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 182/SEIN, 205/MOLEN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN, 269/BENIQUET, 303/OUESSANT (20th ML Flotilla) on 2 June 1942 were at Portland.
• ML 123(1)/St RONAN on 6 June 1942 departed Harwich for Southend & arrived on the same day.
• ML 123(1)/St RONAN on 7 June 1942 was at Brightlingsea for repairs.
• ML 246/St YVES in June 1942 was undergoing repairs at Poole.
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 182, 205/MOLEN, 245/St GUNOLF, 247/St ALAIN, 269/BENIQUET (20th ML Flotilla) on 21 June 1942 were at Portland
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 182, 205/MOLEN, 245/St GUNOLF, 247/St ALAIN, 269/BENIQUET (20th ML Flotilla) on 5 July 1942 were at Portland
• MLs 123(1)/St RONAN, 182/SEIN, 205/MOLEN, 245/St GUNOLF, 246/St YVES, 247/St ALAIN, 269/BENIQUET, 303/OUESSANT (20th ML Flotilla) in July 1942 were returned to the Royal Navy & their French crews were transferred to the 23rd MTB Flotilla.