Post-War Service of the ML
On 11 November, 1918 the Great War was over. The Royal Navy quickly found they had little use for the ML after the war. They also found that disposal of the numerous surviving ML's was no easy task. However, there were a number of applications—both within the Royal Navy and elsewhere - where the ML was deemed useful. There were a number of post-war assignments that are of interest to us.
The Rhine Patrol Flotilla
With the signing of the Armistice and the establishment of the British Army of Occupation a Flotilla of ML's was deployed to Cologne to ensure the security of the navigable waterways, bridges, and beach-heads within the British sector.
Northern Russian Expedition
The North Russia Campaign (also known as the Northern Russian Expedition or the Allied Intervention in North Russia) was part of the Allied Intervention in Russia after the October Revolution. The intervention brought about the involvement of foreign troops in the Russian Civil War on the side of the losing White movement. The northern campaign lasted from the final months of World War I in 1918 into 1919.
The Irish Free State
Immediately following the Armistice the Royal Navy maintained the Queenstown Command for purposes of mine-sweeping and traffic control. This was largely complete in early 1919 at which point the ML disappeared from Irish waters. In January 1922, following the War of Independence and the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State was established. Among the first actions taken was the creation of some force to establish a government presence in coastal waters. Four ML's were the initial purchase in the creation of this force.
The Forgotten Flagship
With the advent of Polish control of part of the Baltic coast in 1918 came the need for a new navy suited to the scale and budget of planned operations. A decommissioned Allied ML—most likely British—was purchased and refurbished to become a guard, obervation and security boat for the Polish Naval Air Squadron. Quickly, the ML, christened "Msyliwy" ("Hunter" in Polish) became Flagship of the entire Polish Navy!
On 11 November, 1918 the Great War was over. The Royal Navy quickly found they had little use for the ML after the war. They also found that disposal of the numerous surviving ML's was no easy task. However, there were a number of applications—both within the Royal Navy and elsewhere - where the ML was deemed useful. There were a number of post-war assignments that are of interest to us.
The Rhine Patrol Flotilla
With the signing of the Armistice and the establishment of the British Army of Occupation a Flotilla of ML's was deployed to Cologne to ensure the security of the navigable waterways, bridges, and beach-heads within the British sector.
Northern Russian Expedition
The North Russia Campaign (also known as the Northern Russian Expedition or the Allied Intervention in North Russia) was part of the Allied Intervention in Russia after the October Revolution. The intervention brought about the involvement of foreign troops in the Russian Civil War on the side of the losing White movement. The northern campaign lasted from the final months of World War I in 1918 into 1919.
The Irish Free State
Immediately following the Armistice the Royal Navy maintained the Queenstown Command for purposes of mine-sweeping and traffic control. This was largely complete in early 1919 at which point the ML disappeared from Irish waters. In January 1922, following the War of Independence and the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State was established. Among the first actions taken was the creation of some force to establish a government presence in coastal waters. Four ML's were the initial purchase in the creation of this force.
The Forgotten Flagship
With the advent of Polish control of part of the Baltic coast in 1918 came the need for a new navy suited to the scale and budget of planned operations. A decommissioned Allied ML—most likely British—was purchased and refurbished to become a guard, obervation and security boat for the Polish Naval Air Squadron. Quickly, the ML, christened "Msyliwy" ("Hunter" in Polish) became Flagship of the entire Polish Navy!