MV Action 02-14- The ship that Found TSS Coramba

02-14 was an Australian Air Sea Rescue Boat. Constructed in 1942 by Spring and Dinard in Brisbane, she was 48 feet long and originally ran Three Chrysler six cylinder engines.Based on the British design “Whaleback” by Hubert Scott Paine this type of hull was renowned for seaworthiness. Built for the Royal Australian Navy originally 15 were built ,some being 46 footers. Action 02-14 being of the larger size remained in service until the early 1965. MV Action (TMB 02-14) was Purchased by the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club in Williamstown during 1965, it served for nearly two decades as the club’s official Commodore’s boat before moving on to later civilian and historical adventures. Sold to an Adelaide group in the late 1970s she spent some time as a Cruiser with new John Deere Marine diesels fitted . Purchased in Port Adelaide by IANTD in 2009 MV “Action” was motored back to Westernport Victoria.

Used as a IANTD dive boat from 2010-2014 she afforded speed and comfort in searches in Bass Strait, she was instrumental in the discovery of the TSS Coramba which was lost with all hands in 1934 (See article).

MV Action over the Coramba

Action in her WW2 Livery

Action on the hard for anti-foul

The RAAF 02-series air-sea rescue (ASR) boats were 48 ft timber vessels built during WW2 by Australian boat Builders in Brisbane and Melbourne . Designated with hull numbers such as 02-14, these fast patrol and crash boats performed vital pilot and aircrew rescue missions around Australian coastal waters, New Guinea, and Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay.

Action Port Moresby 1945

Action at Rathmines Air Base for repairs 1947

02-14 served in New Guinea during World War II, carried Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Official duties as the HM Queen Elizabeth Launch in 1953

After passing from IANTD ownership .MV Action is now preserved on land as a B&B in Red Hill Victoria.