Fairmile C motor gun boat
The Fairmile C motor gun boat was a type of motor gunboat 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.
 The Fairmile C motor gunboat MGB 314 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fairmile C motor gunboat |
| Preceded by | Fairmile B motor launch |
| Succeeded by | Fairmile D motor torpedo boat |
| Completed | 24 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 72 tons |
| Length | 110 ft (34 m) |
| Beam | 17 ft 5 in (5.31 m) |
| Draught | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Propulsion | Three 850 hp (630 kW) supercharged Hall-Scott petrol engines |
| Speed | 26.5 knots (49.1 km/h; 30.5 mph) |
| Range | 500 nmi (930 km; 580 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (Bunkerage: 1,800 gal + extra 2,600 gal) |
| Complement | 2 officers + 14 crew |
| Armament |
|
Design
The Fairmile type C was a reuse of the hull form of the type A but with the lessons learned from the type A incorporated in terms of steering and deck layout.
Service
The boats were initially classified as Motor Launches and early units carried 'ML' pennant numbers. These were then changed to 'Q' pennant numbers after the boats were reclassified as MGBs.
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). 314 served as Robert Ryder's command boat for the operation and exchanged heavy fire with the German shore batteries in order to provide cover for the other landing forces as well as for self-defence. In the course of these intense exchanges of fire, the gunner of the forward pom-pom (Leading Seaman William Savage) was mortally wounded but stood by his gun and continued to fire, earning a posthumous VC for his action. Ryder also received the VC for the same battle. As the British assault force was withdrawing after the battle, the heavily-damaged MGB 314 was scuttled after her crew were taken off.[1]
Of the twenty-four boats built, five were lost to enemy action. Two survive to this day, one at Hayling Island and the other in Bembridge Harbour, Isle of Wight, although now sunk and due to be broken up 2018. A third survived in Shoreham until 2002.
MGB 328 (nearest camera) and MGB 330 off the coast near Dover
MGB 316 at speed
MGB 316 at rest
See also
Notes
- Scandal of Smethwick's forgotten VC hero, Birmingham Mail. Updated 15 May 2013.
References
- John Lambert and Al Ross, Allied Coastal Forces of World War Two, Volume I : Fairmile designs and US Submarine Chasers 1990, Conway Maritime Press ISBN 978-0-85177-519-7
External links
