Harbour Defence Motor Launch 1321 (HDML 1321) is known for her extraordinary service during WW2 behind enemy lines with Z Special Forces. During the 1950's HDML 1321 was used as a training ship and renamed Rushcutter. In 1971 she was sold to a private owner. HDML 1321 sank at her moorings in Darwin Harbour at 7.55am 19 October 2016 and efforts to save her for future generations is underway.

Showing posts with label weapons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weapons. Show all posts

Saturday, 26 November 2016

The Real Weapons on HDML 1321


On Board HDML 1321 "You can see one of the soldiers boots as he sleeps next to the guns base (20mm Oerlikon canon), those on the bridge are my father (Ernie Palmer) and one of the Officers" Bro Palmer
On Board HDML 1321 "On Board HDML 1321 "You can see one of the soldiers boots as he sleeps next to the guns base (20mm Oerlikon canon), those on the bridge are my father (Ernie Palmer) and one of the Officers" Bro Palmer
photo taken by Ron Reynolds HDML 1321's radio operator

Initial armament was purportedly a Hotchkiss 2 1/2 pound quick firing canon. The QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss is pictured below.


The Hotchkiss was replaced with a 37mm T9 canon from the Bell Aircobra.
Read more »
at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, 25 November 2016

Motor Launch 1321 Armament

Only a wooden hull stood between the ship and the enemy but that didn't mean HDML 1321 was defenceless.

According to Wikipedia the HDML 1321 was fitted with the following.

37mm Vickers autocannon aka: pom pom

37mm Vickers autocannon aka: pom pom
By Andrew Gray - Flickr http://flickr.com/photos/shimgray/2403357396, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3905050

Read more »
at 2 comments:
Labels: , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)