An examination vessel is a vessel used to inspect ships and boats entering a port during wartime. An examination vessel would typically be responsible for examining and verifying all

merchant ship A merchant ship, merchant vessel, trading vessel, or merchantman is a watercraft that transports cargo or carries passengers for hire. This is in contrast to pleasure craft, which are used for personal recreation, and naval ships, which are ...

s and small craft entering or departing a

port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as H ...

. They would normally be equipped with one or more

machine gun A machine gun is a fully automatic, rifled autoloading firearm designed for sustained direct fire with rifle cartridges. Other automatic firearms such as automatic shotguns and automatic rifles (including assault rifles and battle rifles) ar ...

s and in addition were often supported by one or more shore gun batteries, sometimes called examination batteries. In the case of

United States Army Coast Artillery Corps The U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps (CAC) was an administrative corps responsible for coastal, harbor, and anti-aircraft defense of the United States and its possessions between 1901 and 1950. The CAC also operated heavy and railway artillery ...

defenses in World War II, a Harbor Entrance Control Post on shore would interrogate a vessel, and a nearby examination battery would be ready to respond if required. Duties might include boarding ships, examining papers to establish identity and belligerent status, and inspecting cargoes for legitimacy. As an example of how an examination service might operate, here is an account of the procedure that operated in 1917 in Sydney Harbour:

"At midnight on 7 August all traffic entering and leaving the harbour was placed under strict naval control with the inauguration of an examination service under Captain Pasco's port defense organisation, to guard against surprise attack by disguised armed merchant ship raiders. No incoming ship could approach beyond the line between Flat Point and Cranberry Head without first establishing its identity to a naval examination vessel. Because no steamer was available this had to be performed by motor launches. The examination personnel, if satisfied, would order the gate of the submarine net to be opened. Vessels wishing to leave port would have to notify the examination one day in advance and receive, confidentially, a time when the gate would be briefly opened. Vessels could not enter or leave during darkness or when the weather was thick. One of primary responsibilities of the coastal batteries at Cranberry Head and Fort Petrie was to be ready at all times to open fire, first with warning shots and then for effect, on instructions from the examination staff... o vesselscould pass, in or out, without displaying certain prearranged signals, set from day to day by the naval authorities."Tennyson and Flynn (2000
Page 142
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Vessels which served as examination vessels

;Australia * ''Adele'' (1906) * HMAS ''Kookaburra'' * HMQS ''Otter'' * HMAS ''Southern Cross'' ;Canada * HMCS ''Armentières'' * HMCS ''Cougar'' (Z15) * HMCS ''Malaspina'' ;New Zealand * ''Awanui'' * ''Hauiti'' * ''Ikatere'' * '' Janie Seddon'' * ''Lyttelton'' * ''Stina'' * ''Tuirangi'' * ''Wairangi'' ;South Africa * HMSAS ''Clara'' * HMSAS ''Stork'' * HMSAS ''William Messina'' ;United Kingdom * ''Gladysfin'' * HMS ''Castle Harbour'' * HMS ''Sumar'' ;United States * ''LV-79/WAL-506'' * LV-85/WAL-510 * ''LV-87/WAL-512'' * ''LV-112/WAL-534'' * ''LV-113/WAL-535'' * ''LV-115/WAL-537''

Notes

References

* Tennyson, B D and Flynn, R S (2000) ''Guardian of the Gulf.'' University of Toronto Press

External links

HMAS ''Adele'': Examination vessel
* {{Warship types of the 19th & 20th centuries Ship types

Vessels which served as examination vessels

See also

Notes

References

External links