Concept
Coastal Forces of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Related concepts (4)
Coastal Forces of the Royal Canadian Navy
The Coastal Forces of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) was a specialized naval force of well-armed, small and fast motor launch (ML) and motor torpedo boat (MTB) flotillas, primarily manned by members of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR). Tasked with escort, coastal defence, anti-submarine, minesweeping and search and rescue duties, the Coastal Forces of the RCN contributed to securing Allied sea lines of communication off the coasts of Canada and Britain during the Second World War.
Coastal Forces of the Royal Australian Navy
Coastal Forces was a division of the Royal Navy established during World War II. It consisted of small coastal defence craft such as Motor Launches, submarine chasers, air-sea rescue launches, Motor Gun Boats and Motor Torpedo Boats. It did not include minesweepers, trawlers or landing craft. This article is about the equivalent boats used by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It included the following types of coastal defence craft: 31 Harbour Defence Motor Launches (HDMLs) and 35 Fairmile B Motor Launches entered service from October 1942.
Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy
Coastal Forces was a division of the Royal Navy initially established during World War I, and then again in World War II under the command of Rear-Admiral, Coastal Forces. It remained active until the last minesweepers to wear the "HM Coastal Forces" cap tally were taken out of reserve in 1968. On 21 May 2020, ministerial approval for the change in name from 1st Patrol Boat Squadron to Coastal Forces Squadron was given. It encompasses the Archer-class patrol vessels and the Batch 1 River-class offshore patrol vessels and are responsible for UKEEZ Protection and Patrol.
Fairmile B motor launch
The Fairmile B motor launch (often abbreviated to 'ML') was a large class of motor launch built by British boatbuilder Fairmile Marine and others during the Second World War to meet the Royal Navy's coastal operation requirements. While the Type A motor launch had been designed entirely by Fairmile, the Type B design had come from Bill Holt, head of the Admiralty's DNC Boat Section. The hard-chine hull of the Type A had exhibited seakeeping and handling limitations, but Holt's round-bilged design for the Type B was a far more seaworthy form.