SDB 1323 was one of a class of 30 motor launches built for the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. Nine were constructed in Australian shipyards, 3 in the United Kingdom and 18 in United States shipyards. Originally classified as Harbour Defence Motor Launches (HDMLs), they were redesignated Seaward Defence Motor Launches in the early 1950s and Seaward Defence Boats (SDBs) in 1957.

After commissioning at Adelaide, South Australia, on 21 January 1944, SDB 1323 served in Australian waters until June before proceeding via Thursday Island to New Guinea, arriving at Merauke on 1 August 1944. It remained in Netherlands New Guinea waters operating on reconnaissance and patrol duties until December 1944, when it proceeded to Townsville and then Brisbane for refit and paying off into Reserve.

HDML 1323 in her wartime configuration

HDML 1323 in its wartime configuration.

 

SDB 1323 was brought back into sea-going service in 1946 and in May that year was attached to the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla serving in New Britain and Solomon Islands waters between June and November. It then served in Australian waters until October 1947. On 6 November 1947 it arrived in Sydney from Queensland where it remained until it again paid off on 10 September 1948.

In 1950 SDB 1323 was transferred on loan to the Royal Navy for service in the Far East, based in Hong Kong.

The Pearl River incident

On 9 September 1953, ML 1323 was on patrol off the western side of Hong Kong in the Pearl River estuary was it was fired upon by a Chinese gunboat. During this action the vessel was subjected to a continuous barrage of shell and machine gun fire and its captain and half its crew were killed.

Remarkably, those who survived the engagement managed to effect temporary repairs and recover the stricken vessel to Tai O pier, on Lantau Island where the survivors received first aid. Further assistance was rendered by the British destroyer HMS Concord which had hurriedly sailed from Junk Bay, Hong Kong, in an attempt to intercept the aggressor.

Six Royal Navy personnel and one member of the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force were killed in this action.

ML1323 required extensive repairs but was eventually returned to service. As economic assistance for Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) defence, ML1323 and ships of the same class 1326, 1328 and 1329 were later presented as gifts to the Philippines Navy in 1958. On 13 August 1958 USS Oak Hill departed Hong Kong for Manila with SDB 1323 on board.

SDB 1323 was finally withdrawn from service in 1964.

Specifications

HMAS SDB 1323
Pennant
ML1323
Builder
Mcfarlane and Sons, Birkenhead, South Australia
Laid Down
26 October 1942
Launched
28 December 1943
Commissioned
21 January 1944
Decommissioned
15 August 1958
Dimensions & Displacement
Displacement
  • 46 tons (standard)
  • 54 tons (full load)
Length 80 feet
Beam 15 feet 10 inches
Draught 4 feet 5.5 inches (forward), 6 feet (aft)
Performance
Speed 12 knots
Complement
Crew 10
Propulsion
Machinery 2 "Buda Lanova" six cylinder diesel engines, 200 bhp
Armament
Guns
  • 2 twin Vickers .303" machine guns
  • 1 x 3-pounder gun
Other Armament
  • 1 x 20mm Oerlikon
  • 8 depth charges