Fairmile C motor gun boat
Encyclopedia
The Fairmile C motor gun boat was a type of Motor Gun Boat
designed by Norman Hart of Fairmile Marine
for the Royal Navy
. An intermediate design, twenty-four boats were built in 1941 receiving the designations MGB 312 - 335.
but with the lessons learned from the Type A incorporated in terms of steering and deck layout.
The class was mainly involved in close escort work with east coast convoys, and some boats were engaged in clandestine operations. MGB 314 took part in Operation Chariot, the daring raid on the St Nazaire docks (the only facility on the axis-held Atlantic coast suitable to refit Bismarck class battleships
).
Only two survive to this day, one at Hayling Island and the other at Bembridge (UK). A third survived in Shoreham until 2002.
Motor Gun Boat
Motor Gun Boat was a Royal Navy term for a small military vessel of the Second World War. They were physically similar to the Motor Torpedo Boats but equipped with a mix of guns instead of torpedoes. Their small size and high speed made them difficult targets for E-boats or torpedo bombers, but...
designed by Norman Hart of Fairmile Marine
Fairmile Marine
Fairmile Marine was a British boat building company founded in 1939 by the car manufacturer Noel Macklin.Macklin used the garage at his home at Cobham Fairmile in Surrey for manufacturing assembly which is why the boats he designed came to be called Fairmiles....
for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. An intermediate design, twenty-four boats were built in 1941 receiving the designations MGB 312 - 335.
Design
The Fairmile Type C was a reuse of the hull form of the Type AFairmile A motor launch
The Fairmile A motor launch was a type of Motor Launch designed by Fairmile Marine for the Royal Navy.Shortly before the Second World War the British industrialist Noel Macklin submitted to the Admiralty an innovative plan for the series production of a motor launch...
but with the lessons learned from the Type A incorporated in terms of steering and deck layout.
Service
Five boats of the twenty-four built were lost to enemy action.The class was mainly involved in close escort work with east coast convoys, and some boats were engaged in clandestine operations. MGB 314 took part in Operation Chariot, the daring raid on the St Nazaire docks (the only facility on the axis-held Atlantic coast suitable to refit Bismarck class battleships
Bismarck class battleship
The Bismarck class was a pair of battleships built by the German Kriegsmarine shortly before the outbreak of World War II. The ships were the largest warships built by the German Navy and the heaviest capital ships ever completed in Europe...
).
Only two survive to this day, one at Hayling Island and the other at Bembridge (UK). A third survived in Shoreham until 2002.
See also
- Fairmile A motor launchFairmile A motor launchThe Fairmile A motor launch was a type of Motor Launch designed by Fairmile Marine for the Royal Navy.Shortly before the Second World War the British industrialist Noel Macklin submitted to the Admiralty an innovative plan for the series production of a motor launch...
- Fairmile B motor launchFairmile B motor launchThe Fairmile B motor launch was a type of Motor Launch built by Fairmile Marine during the Second World War for the Royal Navy for coastal operations.-Design:...
- Fairmile D motor torpedo boatFairmile D motor torpedo boatThe Fairmile D motor torpedo boat was a type of British Motor Torpedo Boat designed by Bill Holt and conceived by Fairmile Marine for the Royal Navy....
- Fairmile H landing craftFairmile H landing craftThe Fairmile H Landing Craft were British landing craft of the Second World War. Initially designed for commando type raids from a base in Britain as a way of probing enemy defenses and tying down additional troops, some were converted into fire support vessels.Two variants were developed:The...
- Steam Gun BoatSteam Gun BoatThe Steam Gun Boat was a Royal Navy term for a class of small naval vessels used during the Second World War. The class consisted of nine gun boats, powered by steam, and built from 1940 to 1942 for the Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy....
- Coastal Forces of the Royal NavyCoastal Forces of the Royal NavyCoastal Forces was a division of the Royal Navy established duringWorld War II under the command of Rear Admiral Coastal Forces. -History:The Royal Navy had previously operated flotillas of small torpedo- and depth-charge-armed craft during the First World WarThe first Headquarters was set up at ...