This page was added to show what the RAF rescue laucnh / seaplane tender looks like. It tends to show up a lot…
ROYAL AIR FORCE 1939-1945: COASTAL COMMAND © IWM (CH 11075)
There’s an interesting volume by Caste Hill Press called Boats for the RAF, focusing on the work of T.H. Lawrence (yes, that one) helping developing the RAF high speed launch. A most enticing volume, and I would recommend it to myself were it not for the wrong service.
Note: type III designation is my own
Source: https://navymuseum.co.nz/explore/by-collections/ships/ships-boats/
Source: https://navymuseum.co.nz/explore/by-collections/photographs/courage-of-the-everyday
Source: https://navymuseum.co.nz/explore/by-collections/photographs/courage-of-the-everyday/
Reproduced with permission from the Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums
Reproduced with permission from the Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums
A demonstration of the 25ft fast launches by John Thornycroft & Co on the Thames at Dagenham on the morning of the 20th of February 1939.
I spotted this little fellow aboard HMS Prince of Wales, presumably a replacement after a few of her boats were destroyed when she engaged the German battleship Bismarck? It has no rear cabin and resembles a 20 ft Fast Tender as in this Vospers add. Comparing the length to that of the Bofors emplacement that is about 25ft long leads to the conclusion this is a 25ft fast motor boat without a rear cabin.
“MIDDIES” OF THE ROYAL NAVY. NOVEMBER 1943, ABOARD HMS CUMBERLAND, AT FLEET ANCHORAGE. LIFE ABOARD FOR THE MIDSHIPMEN OF THE ROYAL NAVY; JUNIOR NAVAL OFFICERS WHO HAVE HAD A COURSE AT A NAVAL COLLEGE AND ARE STILL STUDYING THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SEAMANSHIP. © IWM (A 16669)
Note: type II designation is my own
“These boats were designed for the following purposes
The design was submitted for approval on M.F.O. 2323/1938″
The photographs show a different configuration of the cabins, with the roofs not a constant arc and with a smaller position aft differing somewhat from the drawings and versions below. The image above with this boat conveniently displaying the Vosper’s flags suggest differences between yards existed, perhaps this version needs to be moved its separate page?
Officers watching the 2nd cruiser squadron pulling regatta from a 35 ft Fast Motor Boat of HMS Superb (in the background with HMS Duke of York left), May 1947.
Two photographs of HMS Devonshire’s 1st motor boat in Torquay, 1947
Source: Morgan Giles Archives
VICE ADMIRAL SIR JAMES SOMERVILLE’S FAREWELL ADDRESS TO HMS HERMIONE. 6 JANUARY 1942, ON BOARD THE CRUISER AT PLYMOUTH. © IWM (A 6852)
WRENS TRAINING AS BOATS’ CREWS FOR HARBOUR DUTIES. 18 DECEMBER 1941, PLYMOUTH. © IWM (A 7034)
ROYAL VISIT TO NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS AT DEVONPORT. 7 MAY 1942. THE KING AND QUEEN PAID A VISIT OF INSPECTION TO NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS, AT DEVONPORT. © IWM (A 8480)
This variant appears to have a different configuration of the rear cabin.
WOMEN’S ROYAL NAVAL SERVICE. MAINTENANCE WRENS MAINTAIN SMALL ARMS UP TO 3 POUNDER HOTCHKISS FOR ALL TYPES OF SMALL CRAFT – MTB, MGB, ML, MOS AND MASB. THESE GIRLS KNOWN AS QO (QUICK-FIRING ORDNANCE) WRENS BOARD THE BOATS AS SOON AS THEY COME IN AFTER AN OPERATION, TO STRIP AND CLEAN THE LEWIS AND 0.5 VICKERS MACHINE GUNS. © IWM (A 12200)
ADMIRAL STARK AND FIRST LORD VISIT US TASK FORCE. JUNE 1943, SCAPA FLOW. © IWM (A 17643)
PRIME MINISTER VISITS NORMANDY FRONT. 12 JUNE 1944, MR CHURCHILL TRAVELLED TO FRANCE IN HMS KELVIN, COMMANDED BY LIEUT CDR R M W MACFARLAN, RN. HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY GENERAL SIR ALAN BROOKE, CHIEF OF THE IMPERIAL GENERAL STAFF, AND FIELD MARSHAL SMUTS, AND WAS MET BY GENERAL MONTGOMERY. © IWM (A 24027)
PRINCESS ELIZABETH INSPECTS OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FLEET ON HMS GLORY ON THE KING’S BIRTHDAY. 14 DECEMBER 1949, ON BOARD THE LIGHT FLEET CARRIER HMS GLORY, AT MALTA. © IWM (A 31617)
(foreground barge not ID’ed).
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