protection of ocean convoys headed to England, little interest was paid to the newly arrived Fairmiles. Equipped with their unique gasoline engines, motor mechanics were particularly sought for and throughout the winter of 1941-42 extensive recruitment, training and preparation of the new boats and crews was undertaken. Forming part of the escort force for convoys from Rimouski to Sydney and between St. John's to Sydney, thirty newly trained Fairmile crews and their mothership HMCS Preserver were declared operational in 1942. Six MLs were stationed at Gaspé, two at Rimouski, six at Sydney, eight at Halifax and eight at St. John's, Newfoundland. With the majority of the RCN fleet focused on the Battle of the Atlantic in 1942, RCN allocated a small force of two corvettes, five s and eight MLs for the protection of shipping in the Saint Lawrence. Meanwhile, in Newfoundland and Halifax, ML crews were relieved from convoy escort duty and placed on long and uninteresting anti-submarine patrols, where although contacts were made, no evidence of a “kill” were. By the end of the year, fifteen new MLs joined the RCN fleet and throughout the winter ML crews prepared to take on the U-boat challenge in the coming new year. Down south, the United States Navy (USN) faced a shortage of escorts and crews with operational experience, so in 1942 twelve Canadian Fairmiles were called upon to provide escort and coastal defence services in Bermuda and the Caribbean Sea. Tasked with countering lurking German U-boats, the 72nd and 73rd ML Flotillas (each of six boats) left Halifax in mid-December for Trinidad via Boston and other east coast ports. Upon reaching Savannah, Georgia, the 72nd ML Flotilla was forced to return home due to the stress foul weather put on the boats and crews during the transit south. Despite the 72nd Flotilla returning home, the 73nd Flotilla continued their trip south and operated out of Miami and Key West under the command of (U.S.) Commander, Gulf Sea Frontier until the spring of 1943. Back home, listed as part of the 71st Flotilla – Gaspé Force, on 8 June 1943 HMC ML 053 was credited with recovering an intact mine laid in the Halifax approaches by the . While following minesweeper HMS BYMS 2189, the crew of ML Q053 observed a floating mine cut loose by the sweeper and with a 90-yard tow line attached, moved the mine to Ketch