120ft Motor Lighter


The 120ft Motor Lighter was a class of lighters designed by the Australian Shipbuilding Board during World War II and built for the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Navy and the US Army.

Design

The lighters were in length, depth and breadth and cost about $120,000 each to build.

Operators

Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy ordered three refrigerator, two stores and nine water variants.
ShipBuiltBuilderServiceNotes
MRL 251
MRL 252
MRL 253Johnson's Shipyard, MelbourneRenamed HMAS Gayundah in 1969.
MRL 254Order cancelled
MRL 255Order cancelled
MSL 251Tulloch Limited, RhodesLoaned to Department of External Territories, sank during a storm on 23 June 1950, with 17 lives lost.
MSL 252State Dockyard, Newcastle1946–1973Converted to a survey vessel in 1958, renamed HMAS Paluma. Paid off on 30 March 1973, and sold in 1974.
MWL 251Renamed HMAS Gunga Din.
MWL 252Order cancelled.
MWL 253
MWL 254Broken up at Homebush Bay.
MWL 255State Dockyard, Newcastle
MWL 256State Dockyard, NewcastleRenamed HMAS Lonsdale, later HMAS Gunga Din II.
MWL 257Sold for scrapping in 1985.
MWL 258Order cancelled.
MWL 259Order cancelled.

Australian Army

Thirty one vessels were ordered by the Australian Army.
ShipBuiltBuilderServiceNotes
AV 2050 Elspeth
AV 2051
AV 2052Johnson's Shipyard, Melbourne1945For auction in 1948.
AV 2053
AV 2054
AV 2055
AV 2056 Evelyn
AV 2057
AV 2058
AV 2059
AV 2060
AV 2061
AV 2062
AV 2063
AV 2064
AV 2065
AV 2066 EllenTransferred to Royal Navy as MSL 41
AV 2067 EndeavourTransferred to Royal Navy as MSL 42
AV 2068For auction incomplete in 1948.
AV 2069
AV 2070
AV 2071
AV 2072
AV 2073
AV 2074
AV 2075 Emily
AV 2076
AV 2077
AV 2078
AV 2079
AV 2080 EbbtideTransferred to Royal Navy as MRL 21

Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force ordered five vessels.

Royal Navy

United States Army