19th MTB, 30th and 118th ML Flotillas

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   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.

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Sid Guttridge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 September 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sid Guttridge Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 19th MTB, 30th and 118th ML Flotillas Posted: 29 September 2007 at 12:35pm
	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.

Pioneer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pioneer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 September 2007 at 7:10pm
	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?
	Pioneer - Forum Moderator

Sid Guttridge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 September 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sid Guttridge Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 October 2007 at 12:54pm
	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.

Pioneer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pioneer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 October 2007 at 1:16pm
	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 Edited by Pioneer
	Pioneer - Forum Moderator

johnk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 March 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1355	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 October 2007 at 2:13pm
	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

Pioneer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pioneer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 October 2007 at 9:09am
	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 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' Edited by Pioneer
	Pioneer - Forum Moderator

johnk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 March 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1355	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 October 2007 at 11:20am
	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

Sid Guttridge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 September 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sid Guttridge Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 October 2007 at 11:46am
	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.

adethetrade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 21 December 2010 Location: cannock Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote adethetrade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 December 2010 at 11:19pm
	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

Roger P Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 06 May 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 46	Post Options Post Reply Quote Roger P Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 March 2011 at 9:52pm
	'adethetrade', Hello from OZ, I would like info on the 30th ML Flotilla. Did the flotilla include MLs 370 & 371? We have a Fairmile Assoc member in Melbourne, Australia who served on both MLs in the West Indies. My e-mail is -- debrogerp@hotmail.com Thanks.
	Roger Pearson. Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. "Roger's Little Ships". Modelling Allied Light Coastal Forces 1914-1945.