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| RAN Harbour Defense Motor Launch 58 Tons 80' Length x 16' Beam Initial Armament 3 pounder gun 20mm cannon 1945 Armament 1 x 40mm Bofors 20mm cannon  RAN June 5, 1945 |
Ship History Built by McFarlane & Son in Adelaide. Ordered June 27, 1942 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 May 29, 1944 in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as HMAS HDML 1327 with a crew of twelve. Also known as Motor Launch (ML) 1327. Wartime History Assigned to Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB) and operated in the Solomon Islands. One of the crew was Lt A. R. "Reg" Evans, RANVR who previously was a coastwatcher in the Solomons and was responsible for the rescue of Lt. John F. Kennedy after the sinking of PT-109. During March 1945 at Tulagi Harbor, the 3 pounder became unservicable and was replaced by a 40mm Bofors. Afterwards, ten days of sea trials were conducted to assure the stability of the ship with the new armament. On June 5, 1945 photographed at sea off Hobart. Postwar In 1951, placed into reserve in Sydney Harbor and redesignated as Seaward Defence Motor Launch (SDML) 1327. In 1958, sold to the Philippine Navy. Ultimate fate unknown. References Note, some sources list the builder as Purdon incorrectly. NAA HDML [Harbour Defence Motor Launches] 1321 - Alteration in armament (NAA: MP981/1, 603/297/646) pg 9 Fairmile Ships of the Royal Australian Navy Volume II (2005) pages 166-173 Medusa Trust - HDML 1327 Contribute
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