I have not been able to find anything substantial on 19th MTB Flotilla, 30th ML Flotilla and 118th ML Flotilla, which were based in Trinidad during the war.

I would like to know the dates of their deployments there and the numbers of the boats subordinate to each, and would appreciate any leads.

I also understand that many of their crews were mixed RN and Trinidad Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and would appreciate any information on this aspect of manning as well.

As it stands, apart from the flotilla numbers I only know that MTBs 338, 342 and 349 were apparently on strength with 19th MTB Flotilla.

Many thanks,

Sid.

Hello Sid

Welcome aboard.

As you say -not too much is known about these obscure Flotilla's. I shall dig down and try to come up with something - meanwhile, hopefully someone may come up with some gems?

Hi Pioneer,

Thanks very much.

My source for what little I have given above is "The U-Boat War in the Caribbean" by Gaylord T. Kelshall. (Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 1994).

It seems from two of their numbers that the MTBs were of a Canadian type possibly not used by the RN outside the Caribbean.

Cheers,

Sid.

Hello again Sid

Although not directly in answer to your query - here is a link to a Trinidadian's (if that is a correct term ) experiences in the Royal Trinidad Navy Volunteer Reserve.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/75/a9020675.shtml - http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/75/a9020675.shtml

Just read the link with the chap from Trinidad, very interesting, especialy bit about South Africa, as West Indians they could be served as they were not black South Africans!. Was at VT shipyard in Portsmouth a few weeks back and they are building new patrol boats for the defence force there, which has grown from a few launches to them now having thier first Admiral appointed a few years ago, I think I read all this in Navy News a while back.

JohnK

Hello again Sid (and thank you John for your input)

After some 'asking around' and digging - 'Christian' replied with the following -

Re Trinidad

The MTBs were some of the ones taken over by the RN Technical Mission (from the RCN; they were going to be Canadian MTBs 1-12) in Canada, they were 70ft Power whalebacks modelled on PV70 but with Packards instead of Merlins. They are mentioned in Fast Boats and Flying Boats, plus a couple of photos of them in build. That's about all I can offer, like you though I have my ear to the ground for more! There are more photos of similar craft mentioned on Al Ross discussion group, with a link to the relevant Canadian website;,,,

Recently I noticed that the "Library and Archives of Canada" have 9

digital photographs dated 24 April 1941 available on the web showing 70-foot MTBs under construction.

Go to:

http://search-recherche.collectionscanada.ca/index.html - http://search-recherche.collectionscanada.ca/index.html

Choose English

Choose Archives

Search for "Canadian Power Boat".

This will give 15 hits of which 9 have a digital photograph attached.

Still not yet the complete answer Sid, but the 'ear is still to the ground' 

Just had a look at the Canadian site and phots, very interesting, very clean and efficient looking yard, albeit I guess they are formal shots for publication?

JohnK

Hi Pioneer and johnk,

Many thanks for the leads.

As a matter of off-thread information, the "invasion" the TRNVR volunteer refers to is that of Malaya. After the European war ended, the TRNVR was left with a large number of minesweeping vessels, many of them tugs and former Norwegian whalers. It was decided to send a complete flotilla of TRNVR-manned whalers to the Indian Ocean to support the invasion of Malaya. They had only got to South Africa when Japan surrendered - hence his anecdote.

Cheers,

Sid.

Hi if you need help on the 30th ml  flotilla my father was in this if you have the book little ships it mentions them on page 12

Gents,

For information on the British boats at Trinidad you can also study the WAR DIARY of the U.S. Naval Operating Base Trinidad B.W.I. at http://www.fold3.com/ - www.fold3.com .

The first ML’s of the 30th ML flotilla arrived at HMS BENBOW (Trinidad) on January 13^th 1943 at 12.00.

See: http://www.fold3.com/image/#1|268319408 -