RN Cap Tallies. Help sought.
Hi Paul
Time to properly answer your question about your Motor Launch tallies.
There were a LOT of MLs built during the Second World War! A breakdown is as follows: -
Fairmile A Motor Launch. Built 1939. 12 built.
Fairmile B Motor Launch. Built 1940-45. 1,284 built.
Harbour Defence Motor Launch. Built 1940-45. 486 built.
RAF Type 2 Whaleback. Built 1940-42. 70 buit.
Your tallies are for HMRML 495 and HMRML 529. The HMRML stands for HM Rescue Motor Launch. These were Fairmile B motor launches. The rescue launch variant had a small sickbay aft of the engine coaming and were numbered in the series RML 492 - 500 and RML 511 - 533.
A WORD OF WARNING. The only RML tallies that I have ever seen being sold are for 495 and 529. And they seem to turn up regularly all over the world. There seem to be lots of them about! I have very serious doubts about their being genuine. If you could post images of their front and backs I will give you my opinion of yours.
Pete
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