This Week in Sailing – 18th April 2024
“In January of 1942 The Volunteer Coastal Patrol became the Naval Auxiliary Patrol (NAP) of Little Ships. They were privately owned vessels no larger than those in our Marina today, and they were commandeered by the Royal Australian Navy for War service in harbours, ports, and estuaries right around Australia. A classic example of the active role the N.A. Patrols played in the war was seen on the night of Sunday, 31st May 1942 on Sydney Harbour. Japanese Midget Submarines had, by stealth, managed to get inside the harbour, and the patrol vessels went in pursuit of them with success. In Brisbane the N.A. Patrols involved a commitment by volunteers of some 90,000 man hours. The vessels in that fleet covered a total of 95,000 miles steaming on patrols during the war, all the time on the lookout and protecting the city. In the UK it was boats like these Little Ships that played a significant role in the evacuation of some 120.000 allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th, 1940.” “Lest we Forget”
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