26' Motor Dories

The 26' motor dory was one of over 50 different types of small craft built in Australia for the Australian, US and British armed services.

The entry of Japan into World War II on the 7 December 1941, and its subsequent rapid invasion of South East Asia, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Micronesia and New Guinea highlighted the grave threat that Australia faced in1942. With Britain fighting for its very existance against Nazi Germany, it was clear that the assurances of British military support given between the wars would not materialise. If Australia was to have any chance to withstand the Japanese imperial juggernaut, it had to join with and support the USA's Forces.

After escaping from Corredigor, Philippines to Australia in February 1942, General Douglas MacArthur was appointed Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area. His command comprised predominantly Australian and American Forces, but also included small numbers of personnel from other countries. It was clear that the fight in the Southwest Pacific was going to be a struggle to occupy islands, and to wage war amongst the islands, ships and boats were to be essential. With the US Navy already committed to war in the greater Pacific, there was a dire shortage of ships to proceed with action in the Southwest Pacific.

The short-term solution was to requisition civilian vessels for use by the Armed services. However, the Royal Australian Navy had already laid claim to the best in the first years of the war. The Australian Army, Air Force and US Army had to do what they could with what was left. The requisitions included pearling luggers, ketches, motor cruisers and fishing boat. But these were not enough. A program was established to build large numbers of small craft in yards around the country. These included landing craft, patrol craft, launches, supply craft, lighters and barges. Industry was mobilised under the Department of Munitions. A Small Craft Directorate was established under the Australian Shipbuilding Board.

Late in 1942 the Australian Shipbuilding Board began letting contracts with various manufacturing firms to build small vessels. Over the next four years, many thousands of small craft were to be built in all six states of Australia, and also in New Zealand.

One of the craft needed was a small motor dory to undertake harbour duties including light towage and cargo carrying. The 26' motor dory was designed for simple construction using lower cost materials. They had a plywood double-skinned single chine hull to facilitate building by firms that may have had no shipbuilding background.

The dimensions of the motor dory were:

Length overall 26' (7.93m)
Breadth 8'6" (2.59m)
Depth moulded 4'6" (1.37m)
Draught 3'3" (0.99m) aft, 1'7" (0.48m) fwd
Displacement 5.26 tons
The motor dory was capable of carrying 17 passengers or 1¼ tons of cargo.

A general arrangment drawing of the 26' Motor Dories. Source: Australian Army
[Click on the illustration for a larger version]

In its Army specification, the motor dory was not copper sheathed, relying solely on anti-fouling for protection from worm in the tropical waters. However, those built for the Royal Navy were copper sheathed.

The companies contracted to build the 26' motor dories were:

General Motors - Holdens Ltd

Prior to WW2, General Motors - Holdens employed a considerable workforce of woodworkers in their bodyworks. The body of many prewar cars incorporated timber in trim, floors and framing. Additionally, the company was set up for mass production. Both GM-H and Ford were to become key players in Australia's war effort, supplying not only vehicles, but also armaments, vessels and other types of equipment. GM-H built the 26' Motor dories at their Woodville plant at Adelaide. They also built 40' Army Workboats. The following photos give insights into the manufacturing process.

26' Motor Dories under construction at General Motors - Holdens Woodville Plant, Adelaide.
Photo: DSTO Webpage (now no longer viewable)

The 26' Motor Dory frame was built upside down. Photo: State Library of South Australia

The background shows the hulls being laminated with two layers of plywood strips. The foreground appear to show jigs for bending the plywood strips. Photo: State Library of South Australia. [Any comments that can better interpret the photo would be appreciated].

Completed 26' Motor Dories USA D No.346 and USA D No.347, plus two others, berthed at Port Adelaide after having been launched. Photo: State Library of South Australia

26' Motor Dory USA D No.343, probably running trials at Port Adelaide. Photo: State Library of South Australia

Slazengers (Australia) Pty Ltd

Slazengers were the well-known manufacturers of tennis racquets, having their factory at Alexandria. Any company and, indeed, anyone with skills in woodworking was sought to participate in the small craft program. Tennis racquets of the day were made of laminated timber, and Slazengers were also familiar with mass production techniques. With a factory remote from the water at Alexandria, the company's earlier production was for small craft. These included the 26' motor dories, 36' wooden landing barges for the US Army, and launches for the Royal Australian Air Force.

In January 1943 Slazengers leased a waterfront site at Putney for building larger craft that included six 56' motorised scows at that waterfront site.

The Slazenger Boatyard Annex at Alexandria in about 1945. Photo: State Library of NSW

26' Motor Dories under construction at the Slazenger Annex, Alexandria.
This contemporary caption above applies to the two photos above it. Photos: Cam Finlay

Twenty-two 26' Slazenger-built motor dories ready for delivery to the US Army.
Photo: Author's collection

How many 26' motor dories were built?

No definitive answer has so far been found for this question, but probably multiple hundreds. Indications are that by far the majority were built for the US Army Small Ships. A smaller number were built for the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy. At the end of the war, there was also a batch under construction for the Royal Navy.

References indicate that a total of 46 Motor Dories were ordered for the Australian Army that included 26 hulls taken over incomplete from surplus US production at Slazengers, as well as 20 craft ordered from General Motors in Adelaide. The first was delivered to the Australian Army in 1944. 28 were eventually to see Army service. By March 1945, 19 had been delivered. By late September 1945 there were 25 in service. Known identifying numbers for these are:

AM1702 to AM1721 (20 motor dories)
AM 2725 to AM2729 (5 motor dories)

The report that follows shows the status of 26' Motor Dory construction as at September 1945.

A

Standard Type No.

18

B

Type of craft

26’ Motor Dory

C

Service Requiring

Aust. Army

Royal Aust. Navy

Royal Navy

TOTALS

D

Orders raised by services

46

36

100

182

E

Cancellations to date

18

9

47

74

F

Requirement as at 30/9/45

28

27

53

108

G

Delivered included in D & F

25

26

10

61

H

Under construction included in D & F

3

3

43

49

I

Reduction in requirement since 30/6/45

0

9

47

56

The motor dories were fitted with a range of engines. Petrol engines were most common, probably owing to the shortage of diesels.

The records record the following engines in the 26' Motor Dories:

102-143bhp 8Cy. Chrysler Royal petrol (Cyls. 3⁷⁄16"-4½")
76-110bhp 6Cy. Chrysler Crown petrol (Cyls. 3⁷⁄16"-4½")
95bhp V8Cy. Vosper Ford Mark III marine petrol (Cyls. 3³⁄16"-3¾")
95bhp V8Cy. Parsons Ford petrol
130bhp 6Cy. Perkins S6M marine diesel

Twenty five of the 26' Motor Dories were operated the RAN after World War 2. These may well have included the 20 former Australian Army dories as the RAN's DR16 was previously the Australian Army's AM1708..

By January 1947, fifteen of the Motor Dories were being operated by the RAN with identifying numbers DR1 to DR16. The status of DR4 at that time was unknown. Their deployment was as shown in the table below..

DesignationDesignation	Deployment of RAN 26' Motor Launches in Jan 1947
DR1	FOIC Sydney.
DR2	FOIC Sydney, attached to Engineering Manager.
DR3	NOIC New Guinea, allocated to Tarangau.
DR4	[no information]
DR5	FOIC Sydney, attached to C.D. for disposal section.
DR6	FOIC Sydney, attached to C.D.
DR7	Under control of NOIC Darwin.
DR8	Under control of NOIC Darwin
DR9	NOIC Brisbane, allocated to Small Craft Base
DR10	FOIC Sydney, attached to Commanding Officer Reserve Ships
DR11	NOIC Brisbane
DR12	FOIC Sydney, attached to C.D.
DR13	FOIC Sydney, attached to N.O.I. Officer
DR14	FOIC Sydney, attached to S.N.S.O.
DR15	NOIC Brisbane, allocated to HMAS Moreton depot
DR16	Under control of NOIC Darwin