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| RAN Harbour Defense Motor Launch 58 Tons 80' Length x 16' Beam Initial Armament 37mm cannon 20mm cannon 4 x .50 cal MG Bren LMG 1945 Armament 1 x 40mm Bofors 1 x 20mm cannon 2 x Twin machine guns 2 x Vickers 7.7mm MG  RAN 1945  AWM April 11, 1945  AWM May 1945  AWM c1946 |
Ship History Built by Purdon & Featherstone in Hobart, Tasmania. Ordered May 24, 1943 as a Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML) for use as a patrol boat powered by two Buda 390hp diesel engines with a maximum speed of 12 knots and a range of 3,000 miles at 9 knots. While under construction, HDML 1321 and HDML 1327 were selected for "special service" with the Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB). Commissioned November 11, 1943 in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as HMAS HDML 1321 with a crew of twelve. Also known as Motor Launch (ML) 1321. Wartime History Assigned to Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB) and modified with changes in the configuration. Instead of an after steering position, a four berth deck house nicknamed the "dairy" for the barn appearance was added for extra accommodation. Instead of the standard armament, the depth charges were removed and a small engine for ventilation and ability to carry extra fuel drums, an echo sounder and camouflage netting. The main armament 3 pounder gun was substituted with a U.S. Army 37mm cannon and added an extra .50 caliber machine gun on each wing of the bridge plus a single Bren gun atop the "dairy", Oerlikon 20mm cannon over the wardroom and a twin Browning .50 caliber water cooled machine gun aft. On January 19, 1944 departs Brisbane bound for Milne Bay and operated in New Guinea. On April 11, 1945 "Operation Copper" (originally code named "Operation Ash") eight Australian Army Z Special Unit (Z Force) commandos were embarked in Aitape Harbor. The commandos include: Lt. Alan R. Gubbay, Lt. Thomas J. Barnes, Sgt Malcolm F. M. Weber, L/Cpl Spencer H. Walklate, Sig Michael S. Hagger, Sig John R. Chandler, Pte Ronald E. Eagleton, Spr Edgar T. Dennis. Overnight, motors near Muschu Island allowing the commandos to deploy four folboats and paddle ashore. Strong currents pushed them southward and swamped and capsized some of the boats causing them to loose equipment. The force makes landfall near Som Point and wait until morning. Ashore, their mission was to capture a Japanese soldier for interrogation and to make a beach reconnaissance for a perspective landing area. Also, reconnoiter the island's defenses and locate two concealed naval guns, then use their folboats to rendezvous with HDML 1321. Over the next two days, seven of the eight commandos were killed. The sole survivor Spr Edgar T. Dennis managed to escape and successfully swam to friendly lines. During the June 1945 the vessel had a refit at Brisbane. The armament was changed with the 37mm cannon replaced by a 40mm Bofors plus 20mm cannon and 2 x twin browning machine guns and two Vickers machine guns. Postwar During 1946, HDML 1321 returned to Australia and was renamed Seaward Defence Boat 1321 (SDB 1321) and operated in Sydney Harbor. In 1953 renamed and recommissioned as HMAS Rushcutter (ML 1321) and used as an unarmed training vessel for Royal Australian Navy Reserve cadets until 1970. Today During August 1971, sold to a private owner who converted it the vessel into a cruise ship, MV Rushcutter. During 2006, sold to Tracy Geddes who intended to restore the vessel to her World War II configuration and based at Darwin Harbor. In 2016, moved from a mooring in Cossack Creek to the Small Boat Anchorage between Stokes Hill Wharf and the East Arm Wharf. During April 2016, offered for sale. On October 19, 2016 at 7.55am, the ship sank in six meters of water in the Small Boat Anchorage of Darwin Harbor. Afterwards, a fund raiser was started to raise the vessel and restore it. A small group of volunteers formed the Save Motor Launch 1321 and purchased the boat for $2. During June 2018 the ship was raised using SCUBA divers, air bags and pumps. Ashore, the ship was placed into a cradle then placed into storage at East Arm wharf in the ship lift development area. During May 2024, a letter from the Northern Territory Infrastructure and Planning Logistics Department stated the ship would be disposed if not moved by July 10, 2024. The future of the ship is unknown. References NAA "HDML [Harbour Defence Motor Launches] 1321 - Alteration in armament" page 2 (NAA: MP981/1, 603/297/646) NT News "Boat used in WWII sinks in Darwin Harbour" by Phillippa Butt October 22, 2016 GoFundMe.com "Save 1321 - Our Military Heritage" The Guns of Muschu (2006) mentions this vessel The Guns of Muschu - HDML1321 Found! via Wayback Machine January 25, 2014 Fairmile Ships of the Royal Australian Navy Volume II (2005) pages 166-173 ABC News "MV Rushcutter: World War II boat rescued from watery resting place in Darwin Harbour" by Felicity James July 16, 2018 ABC News "MV Rushcutter: World War II boat back on dry land in Darwin but future remains uncertain" by Dijana Damjanovic November 20, 2016 ABC News "Historic WWII commando craft needs a lift out of harm's way on Darwin Harbour" by Conor Byrne February 1, 2022 ABC News "Ambitious plan to save Tasmanian-built Huon pine warship HDML1321 from slow death in Darwin" by Georgie Burgess May 15, 2024 ABC News "NT government says it intends to 'dispose of' historic Hobart-built Huon pine WWII warship" by Georgie Burgess July 10, 2024 Contribute
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