RML 497 (motor launch)
RML 497, then known as MV The Fairmile, sailing on Tor Bay approaching Torquay Harbour in 2014.
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 United Kingdom
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| Route: | Torquay – River Dart |
| Builder: | Southampton Steam Joinery Ltd |
| Launched: | 1941 |
| In service: | July 1942 |
| Refit: | 1947, 2009 |
| Status: | Operating in South Devon |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Fairmile B motor launch |
| Type: | Twin-Screw Motor Vessel |
| Tonnage: | 108 GRT |
| Length: | 111.9 ft (34.1 m) LOA |
| Beam: | 18.3 ft (5.6 m) |
| Draught: | 4.6 ft (1.4 m) |
| Decks: | 2 |
| Propulsion: | Twin Gardner 6LXB Diesels |
| Speed: | Originally 20 knots |
| Capacity: | 175 Passengers |
RML 497 (Rescue Motor Launch number 497) is a former Royal Navy Fairmile B motor launch from World War II. She was named Western Lady III on her entry to civilian service, as a passenger motor vessel for Western Lady Ferry Service. From 2009 to 2015, she operated as The Fairmile for Greenway Ferry on their day cruise route from Torquay and Brixham to Dartmouth and Greenway. In May 2013, she was returned to her original wartime appearance. Torbay's "ferry wars" forced her removal from service, and in December 2015, RML 497 was acquired by the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
The Fairmile is a wooden hulled passenger vessel. Her hulls-form is very fine for a vessel of her type; it is based on a destroyer hull, albeit much smaller, as her original speed was some 20 knots. The hull is split into watertight compartments, the midships compartment is the engine room, housing twin Gardner diesels, and an aft compartment contains the toilet facilities. The main deck has a forward open passenger deck. Aft of this, the forward deckhouse contains a chart room. In the centre of the main deck is a raised open deck area, surrounding the funnel, and with the open flybridge above the chartroom. Aft of the funnel is the main passenger lounge, originally the sick-bay, now named "Churchill's", in honour of Winston Churchill. The saloon is decorated with memorabilia of Churchill, including his profile etched on the side windows, and contains a bar. Both of the deckhouses are surrounded by an open passenger promenade deck. At the stern of the vessel, the former open deck has been enclosed with an awning.
RML 497 was built to the standard Fairmile B motor launch design, and was one of around 650 of the class built. The design was very adaptable, being fitted with pre-drilled rails for different uses – the Rescue Motor Launch (RML) type of which around 50 were built, including RML 497, were fitted with a sick-bay aft of the funnel – the present lounge.
RML 497 was built in 1941, and commissioned in July 1942. She was originally stationed with the 62nd ML Flotilla, based at Portland, Dorset, then in January 1944 was transferred to Kirkwall, in the Orkney Islands, being used for anti-submarine target towing. In August of the same year she was sent to Appledore, North Devon. She was later transferred to the 69th Flotilla at Felixstowe, before being decommissioned at the end of the war, and sold at Itchenor in Chichester Harbour.
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Wikipedia