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 and speed . Fifteen of this type were built for the Royal Australian Navy ,some being 46 feet in length the larger 48 feet. 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 1980’s 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 via Robe and Port Fairy over a two day voyage. At a cruising speed of 15 knots and range of 540 Nautical miles she handled the trip easily and was extremely ecconomical for a large vessel .
Used as a IANTD dive boat from 2010-2014 she afforded speed,range and comfort in searches of Bass Strait, “Action” was instrumental in the discovery of the TSS Coramba which was lost with all hands in 1934 (See article) .There had been an active search for “Coramba” over a 27 year period.
Post 2014 IANTD Australasia upgraded to the Ex HMAS Air View , a 63 foot WW2 fast planning patrol boat .
MV Action over the Coramba
Action on the hard for anti-foul
The RAAF 02-series air-sea rescue (ASR) boats were 48 ft and 46ft timber vessels built during WW2 by Australian boat Builders in Brisbane and Melbourne . Designated with hull numbers listing from 02-01 to 02-15, , 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 at Rathmines Air Base for repairs 1947
02-14 served in New Guinea during World War II, carried Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
After passing from IANTD ownership .MV Action is now preserved on land as a B&B in Red Hill Victoria.
