Motor Launch ML-286 is a First World War submarine chaser built by Elco, that saw action with Royal Navy. It is also listed as one of the Little Ships that were used in the 1940, Dunkirk evacuation. It is currently in a very poor condition and lies on the banks of the River Thames at Isleworth Ait. ML-286 is the last surviving Royal Naval 'Motor Launch' of the more than 550 that served in the First World War.[1]
Motor Launch of the same type drawn by Lieutenant Geoffrey Allfree
The first motor launches entered service in the First World War. These were 580 80-foot-long (24 m) vessels built by the US Elco company for the Admiralty, receiving the designations ML-1 to ML-580. They served between 1916 and the end of the war with the Royal Navy defending the British coast from German submarines. Her first commander was the War artist, Lieutenant Geoffrey Allfree (1889–1918)[2]
Dunkirk and post-war conversion to a house boatedit
After the War ML286 was sold off by the Ministry and was given the name Cordon Rouge and then later, in 1930 she became Eothen which was her name at Dunkirk.[3] She returned to Ramsgate and towed to Teddington. She was requisitioned for service as an auxiliary patrol vessel in the Thames but found to be unsuitable, and later was returned to her owners in August 1940.[4]
Current conditionedit
Currently, Eothen (ML-286) lies in a very poor condition on the banks of the River Thames. It is being monitored and recorded by volunteer members of the Thames Discovery Programme (TDP) based at Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA).[5]
^"Isleworth Ait submarine chaser: The Eothen". MOLA.org. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
^"Geoffrey Allfree 1889–1918". thamesdiscovery.org. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
^Brann, Christian (1 November 1989). The Little Ships of Dunkirk. Collectors Books. ISBN0946604029.
^"Eothen". Association of Dunkirk Little Ships Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
^Firth, Antony. "ML 286 – A Little Ship with a Big History". fjordr.com. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
Further readingedit
Gordon S. Maxwell; Donald Maxwell (1920). The Motor Launch Patrol. J.M. Dent and Sons.
W. W. Nutting (1920). Cinderellas of the Fleet.
External linksedit
"The Movies" – The Ships and Men of the Royal Navy Motor Launch Patrol, 1914–1919
World War 1 at Sea – list of Motor Launches or ML's built by Elco in World War 1
Forgotten Wrecks of the First War
January 01, 1970
motor, launch, first, world, submarine, chaser, built, elco, that, action, with, royal, navy, also, listed, little, ships, that, were, used, 1940, dunkirk, evacuation, currently, very, poor, condition, lies, banks, river, thames, isleworth, last, surviving, ro. Motor Launch ML 286 is a First World War submarine chaser built by Elco that saw action with Royal Navy It is also listed as one of the Little Ships that were used in the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation It is currently in a very poor condition and lies on the banks of the River Thames at Isleworth Ait ML 286 is the last surviving Royal Naval Motor Launch of the more than 550 that served in the First World War 1 Motor Launch of the same type drawn by Lieutenant Geoffrey AllfreeClass overview BuildersElco Operators Royal Navy Completed580 General characteristics ML 1 50 series TypeMotor Launch Displacement37 tons Length80 ft 24 m Draft4 ft 1 2 m Propulsion2 220hp 4cyl petrol engine Speed19 kn 35 km h Complement8 Sensors and processing systemsHydrophone Armament1 13 pdr later replaced with 1 3 pdr depth charges Contents 1 World War I service 2 Dunkirk and post war conversion to a house boat 3 Current condition 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksWorld War I service editThe first motor launches entered service in the First World War These were 580 80 foot long 24 m vessels built by the US Elco company for the Admiralty receiving the designations ML 1 to ML 580 They served between 1916 and the end of the war with the Royal Navy defending the British coast from German submarines Her first commander was the War artist Lieutenant Geoffrey Allfree 1889 1918 2 Dunkirk and post war conversion to a house boat editAfter the War ML286 was sold off by the Ministry and was given the name Cordon Rouge and then later in 1930 she became Eothen which was her name at Dunkirk 3 She returned to Ramsgate and towed to Teddington She was requisitioned for service as an auxiliary patrol vessel in the Thames but found to be unsuitable and later was returned to her owners in August 1940 4 Current condition editCurrently Eothen ML 286 lies in a very poor condition on the banks of the River Thames It is being monitored and recorded by volunteer members of the Thames Discovery Programme TDP based at Museum of London Archaeology MOLA 5 See also editCoastal Motor Boat Torpedo boat Harbour Defence Motor Launch Coastal Forces of the Royal NavyReferences edit Isleworth Ait submarine chaser The Eothen MOLA org Retrieved 19 December 2018 Geoffrey Allfree 1889 1918 thamesdiscovery org Retrieved 17 December 2018 Brann Christian 1 November 1989 The Little Ships of Dunkirk Collectors Books ISBN 0946604029 Eothen Association of Dunkirk Little Ships Association of Dunkirk Little Ships Retrieved 17 December 2018 Firth Antony ML 286 A Little Ship with a Big History fjordr com Retrieved 8 January 2020 Further reading editGordon S Maxwell Donald Maxwell 1920 The Motor Launch Patrol J M Dent and Sons W W Nutting 1920 Cinderellas of the Fleet External links edit The Movies The Ships and Men of the Royal Navy Motor Launch Patrol 1914 1919 World War 1 at Sea list of Motor Launches or ML s built by Elco in World War 1 Forgotten Wrecks of the First War Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Motor Launch ML 286 amp oldid 1088870100, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
