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HMS 1082 & HMS 585

Printed From: BMPT Forum
Category: General Discussion
Forum Name: Where Are Those Boats Now
Forum Description: Tell everybody where those old boats are
URL: http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=170
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 7:55pm


Topic: HMS 1082 & HMS 585
Posted By: slashergreen
Subject: HMS 1082 & HMS 585
Date Posted: 19 June 2006 at 1:59pm
Hi,

Before he passed away recently, my father told me about his WWII experiences on 35' (HMS 1082) and 55' (HMS 585) coastal patrol boats operating out of Colombo, Ceylon during the period 1942-45. Dad was an ASDIC operator on these boats, having completed his ASDIC training at Dunoon. Regretably, Dad wasn't able to tell me more about these vessels (he referred to them by number, not name). For family reasons, I'd like to learn a little more about them and perhaps even locate some photographs. Can anyone on this forum provide me with some pointers to other useful sites or perhaps even identify the vessels by type and name.

Thanks



Replies:
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 20 June 2006 at 6:42pm

I was hoping someone would reply to this interesting question,the only suggestion I can come up with is that the 55-footers were Thornycroft-type CMBs like the pic.



Posted By: slashergreen
Date Posted: 20 June 2006 at 10:12pm

Response (and photo) appreciated - thanks Christian. I'll do some web research this evening to learn a little more about the Thornycroft CMBs.

A private BMPT response yesterday helpfully referred me to Lambert's two-volume Allied Coastal Forces of WWII as a good reference. Both volumes are currently available on amazon.com for US$75.54 (not a cent more or less!) so I'll put in an order today.

I haven't yet found a good web resource listing all Royal Navy ships. Maybe there isn't one? I'm aware of at least one book that lists RN vessels (Colledge, J 2003, Ships of the Royal Navy, Greenhill) so might try to find a copy in one of our larger libraries.

If it's any help, Dad's certificate of service lists the following postings covering the period he served in the Indian Ocean:

...
"Lanka" 27/8/42 to 6/3/43
[I'm assuming this was the shore establishment HMS Lanka in Colombo]
"Lanka (Hoxa)" 7/3/43 to 21/10/43
[maybe HMS Hoxa - a minesweeper not a launch]
"Highflyer (ML's)" 22/10/43 to 6/2/44
[I'm assuming this was the shore establishment HMS Highflyer in Trincomalee, Ceylon]
"Lanka - 1082" 7/2/44 to 12/12/44
...



Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 21 June 2006 at 9:35am
Can't recommend those volumes highly enough,they are excellent but will not help you in this quest because they do not deal with any boats under 70ft,although the pennant numbers you mention will relate to the MLs,1082 a 72ft HDML and 585 a 112ft Fairmile B.The pic above shows boats in Manila Bay so one could be the 55 footer in question,I suspect the 35 footer may have been a Fast Motor Boat or perhaps a locally requisitioned craft.



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