Author: efoeth

A 45ft (estimated) Fast Motor Picket Boat built by Thornycroft, scanned from Churchills Navy (Lavery, B., 2006).

(Note: largely resembles the 45 ft Fast Motor Boat & barge, but is twin screw. Early sketch? Need to find images to confirm existence.)

This barge is observed aboard HMS Hood and may be unique. It appears to be a variant of the 35 ft Fast Motor Boat Type II, but has a partially enclosed pilot position, an extended forward cabin and a different rear cabin configuration; this configuration is seen on earlier versions of the standard type as well. This variant largely resembles the Royal Barge. A few photographs I picked up later shown below show the admiral’s barge variant of the 35 ft FMB.

Carley floats between the hangars of HMS Sheffield.

Carley floats of HMS Victorious

ON BOARD HMS KING GEORGE V. 1941, SCENES ON BOARD THE BATTLESHIP. © IWM (A 3431)

THE EASTERN FLEET ENGAGED ON A SWEEP IN THE INDIAN OCEAN. PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN FROM HMS WARSPITE. 29 MAY 1942. © IWM (A 10659)