MGB 81, the Spitfire of the Seas | World War II gunboat test drive review | Motor Boat & Yachting
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- Опубликовано: 15 янв 2019
- We have the immense privilege of getting behind the wheel (and guns) of MGB 81, the Spitfire of the seas. Editor Hugo explains how this World War II gunboat was restored...
Filmed by Paul Wyeth: www.pwpictures.com/
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My Grandfather served on this actual boat, nice to see it preserved. The talk is Very inaccurate though. It did not drop a depth charge in front of a battle ship they DID sleep aboard. It would do 42knots with the original engines and they got shot up a couple of times. Including sadly one loss on the fore deck
Thank you sir. Thats awesome. ❤🎉❤🎉❤🎉
It annoys me when people like this make what they like to call "documentaries" with only the scantiest of research on the subject matter, one for instance being the repeated calling of an Oerlikon explosive 30 mm machine CANNON a machine "gun" almost describing it as though it was an ineffectual after thought, in actual fact it was the most usefull and capable weapon on deck being almost the same caliber of the fore deck mounted 3 pounder QF but with a massively superior rate of fire AND could be used equally as a ship to ship attack weapon AND a very effective high angle anti aircraft weapon to boot, something the 3 pounder could only have dreamed of, the 303 calibre Lewis guns were mainly anti personel/ anti boarding strafing weapons which could go high angle too but with nowhere near the range or hitting power of the explosive rounds of the Oerlikons.
I’ll take things that never happened for 20 Alex.
Unfortunate that we don’t get to listen to the song of three Packards, but the diesel conversion is an intelligent choice. Beauty of a boat !
Fantastic restoration of a wonderful piece of British history.
The men serving on these boats were, rightfully, held in very high regard.
Yes, but the high money were kept by politicians. These people only got high regard.
@@ull893 Welcome to reality.
My dad worked for Vospers as a Naval Architect and shipright. He lived on an MTB for a while after the war.
My dad commanded a US PT boat in the South Pacific during WW2 and I grew up with stories about how much he loved his boat and some of the exploits. One thing that has stuck in my mind is that by the last year or so of the war, he said they removed two of the four torpedoes because they just didn't have a use for them based on their target mix; predominately coastal landing craft and other small craft. They are amazing creations.
My dad served for three years on MTBs it had three RR griffins and carried four fish out of Malta the fuel tank sat in the engine room between the v shaped engine set up . Dad said “the bullets when in one side and out the other “ and you hoped they never hit the fuel tank or you . He had a list of medals, far to many to ware many came with bar . He was my hero and will always be the superman he never wanted .
Murray Your dad was wrong !!! Griffins were NOT used in MTB, I bet they were the Packard M2500,as the Brits received many thousands of those engines, and only 8,000 griffins engines ever made and used in aircraft !!!
My uncle was with the Costal Forces Depot ship in Malta and later Bari.
The engines in the early boats were actually RR Merlins which were ill suited to the corrosive marine environment, the later boats had Packard V12 engines note not Packard Merlins. The Packards were more suited to the salty conditions.
The tale of what happened to HMS Vienna and her MTBs and MGBs at Bari in December 1943 is worth looking up.
I was privileged to command the U.S. Navy "Nasty" PTF - powered by twin 3100 HP Napier Deltic engines. Those were originally Norwegian built and later versions were by John Trumpy in Annapolis, MD. The total responsiveness and awesome performance of such boats is an experience like no other. Your report exuded that. Thanks.
@Doge Maverick All the Napiers, most anyway, were crazy machines and it's no small wonder they even were able to work at all.
Napier were engine wizards through and through
Doge Maverick Some more info.
www.dieselarmy.com/engine-tech/engine/significant-engines-in-history-how-the-napier-deltic-diesel-works/
Awesome. 😎 👍
I worked on a tugboat powered by napier engines when I was 19. Was always amazed at the power output/size ratio. The main powerplant was smaller than the genset. It's a great design for industrial applications, makes the powerplant incredibly dense. The only tugboat engine room I've ever been in that actually had room to walk around the engine.
A trim boat, made for hit and run tactics. Bless all those who served on these boats.
Not too surprising they would have a magnificent little ship like this; The Brits have always been the masters of the sea. It's remarkable to me that she has a 47-mm main gun; what a kick it must have!
My uncle served on these and MTB'S throughout ww2.
Great boats , greater men.
my father did too- in the Med
My brother's Italian uncle-in-law served on the Italian MTBs out of Taranto. I have nothing but admiration for the men who served on these things on both sides of the war. All that ammunition sitting on top of high octane petrol tanks which would never be properly sealed. Petrol (gasoline) fumes were everywhere.
my father served on the MGBs out of Italy during the war
@@lindabromage6985 Was he in the Fascist/Royal Italian Navy? My Italian grandfather served in the Blackshirts, and I still have many of his decorations and other military honors. Have you retained anything from his service, and what theater did he serve in? (It's okay if you don't answer, I just find this all very fascinating!)
I would heartily recommend 'The Battle of the Narrow Seas' by LT. CDR. Peter Scott, first published in 1945. It's a brilliant account of M.G.B.s, M.T.B.s and M.L.s in action, with some fascinating artworks of them in action done by Peter Scott, who post-war became a famous naturalist and wildlife artist.
Scott managed to run his boat and a coule of other following him onto the Goddwin Sands. He left his steel enamelled mug near the compass and got the navigation wrong......(So its said 🤣)
What a Great sound its 3 Lions roaring But under your control amazing
How fantastic they have kept this piece of history alive, the restoration work volunteers carry out on these old war craft is brilliant, if putting something not original into them to get them going is required then I say fantastic well done to all those involved. Big ups to the presenter & his team for getting it to air, who cares if he wasn't a detailed expert? 99% of viewers would not have a clue what the use and workings of this craft were anyhow? to them it is yet another beautiful piece of history on display for all to marvel and enjoy.
👍👌👏 What a simply fantastic boat! I'm not a war/gun admirer, but I absolutely admire a beautiful shaped boat. But imagine having even 4500hp instead of "only" 2550hp.
Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards luck and health.
I'm really glad to start seeing the PT boats being found and restored
Absolutely the most beautiful war time boat/ship built. Godspeed to all the brave mariners who served on board vessles defending our freedom; the men and women who used their nation's resources to design and build these vessels. Kudos the the restorers!
She has a beautifully designed bow. A beautiful boat
I'm just reading my late headmaster's book ('Gunboat 658' by L. C. Reynolds. New English Library 1974 - F.P. 1955) of memoirs from his time as navigator and skipper of MGB 658 in the Mediterranean. Truly eye opening stuff. Great to see a seaworthy example of the boat. In the book it feels so much bigger!
my father served with him, and the Canadian 'three muskateers'
That was a properly ordinary review of what should have been a fascinating topic.
In my early teenage years, I read "Three Corvettes" by Nicholas Monsarrat. In it, he told how, one night in port, he was officer of the watch on his ship and saw some Motor Torpedo Boats going out on an operation. He used the Aldis lamp to flash "Good luck" to them and one replied, "Actually we rely on skill".
" Cool. "
@dwiggins01 Just the way we need them.
I would wish you the best of luck, but I believe luck is a concept invented by the weak to explain their failures.
@@Mrdoctile Heheh. By the time Monsarrat finished flashing all that to the MTBs they would have been out of sight.
im pretty sure they were really quick with the light messages being on radio silence and had to know where each other are!!!
How disappointing not to have the original packards.
Theyre british, sadly
My late grandfather and uncle used to service 2 of these packard equipped mtb’s when they were stationed at fairmile marine in Falmouth , Cornwall .
Obviously a glass half empty person! It’s amazing that the boat has survived.
@@ethanbeebe6193 weren't the original Packard engines for the mgb licence built Merlin's? Or without superchargers, I suppose would be meteors.
Originals used the Packard V-1710. Big problems were maintenance and fuel consumption. But they were not expected to have a long service life.
That beautiful old girl needs to be pressed back into service we need her in the channel again and a lot more if them around the coast.
Love how his voice cracks when he says "motor *gun* boat", like a ten-year old. Mine would too, I think. What an absolute beauty she is and we are so lucky so many of these coastal warriors have survived to this century!
That's just his voice, Andrew.
Absolutely brilliant.... Well done to all concerned that helped keep this beautiful historic time piece going... 👏👏👏👏
During WW2 my Grandfather was an engineer for Gun boats, Torpedo boats and Air sea Rescue. He was based in Irvine in Scotland.
High school in the mid-60s our Sea Scout troop had a 63' AVR refitted for Scout use with 20 berths. One heckuva boat. I want to say it had twin Allison V12 diesels, but I'm not really sure. I was usually in the crow's nest.
@@blondbowler8776 After WW2, the British boats went to Deltic two stroke diesels. 18 cylinders, three crankshafts and 36 pistons set in a triangular format. Each one produced 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) at 2000 rpm for a 15-minute rating; the continuous rating was 1,875 hp (1,398 kW) at 1700 rpm. There is a boat operating out of Torquay that still runs these engines though I doubt they ever get to full chat.
That’s typical, your Grandfather was based at Irvine and my pals Dad also a MGB engineer from 10 miles down the road at Saltcoats was based on the south coast.
Interesting I have family in irvine it's about 40mins drive away from my flat, now thst u mention it I can imagine ww2 boats docked in irvine 👍
Not sure if they're still there but there were a pair of MTB's on the dry in Troon harbour. Talking over 27 years ago when I was last there but you never know.
I’ve been onboard this boat and it’s beautiful in its own way, the craftsmanship and simplicity is amazing when compared to modern boats. Surprisingly spacious inside too.
Me as well when it was at the Pegasus bridge on the 5th of June 2019 ;-)
Beautiful boat made for war not comfort what sight and sound they must have been and the brave sailor's serving on them ❤ god bless them.
Such bravery shown by so many ordinary seamen, achieving such extraordinary feats of seamanship,against all the odds. May they all rest in peace.
That's what happens when the fascists take control and start screaming about patriotism and borders and control of waters, and all that other crap. We're heading for it again, and the idiots who will have to be brave, or die, are voting for it.
@@ohgosh5892 "You have described a callow fool, a self-sufficient ass, a mere human tumble-bug, stern in air, heaving at his bit of dung & imagining he is re-modeling the world & is entirely capable of doing it right. Ignorance, intolerance, egotism, self-assertion, opaque perception, dense & pitiful chuckle-headedness -- & an almost pathetic unconsciousness of it all. That is what I was at 19 - 20; & that is what the average Southerner is at 60 to-day. Northerners, too, of a certain grade. It is of children like this that voters are made. And such is the primal source of our government! A man hardly knows whether to swear or cry over it." Mark Twain.
@@septembersurprise5178 Johnson is now desperate for war in Ukraine, so that the flag waving nutters can get all misty-eyed and damp gusseted as 'our boys' are send out to die, young, and childless, to keep Johnson in power.
I actually started weeping about 10 seconds into this when I realized what it was. Been following the rebuild at Berthon. If anyone is interested I highly recommend Adrian Rance's Fast Boats and Flying Boats. It's the story of Hubert Scott-Paine and the British Power Boat Company. Just a fascinating story.
The most beautiful boat ever
Lovely to see this restored and working. Thanks for the video.
All you guys criticizing the new engines each chip in a couple thousand each.
I didn’t think so. ⚓️
Beautiful boat, three diesels sound great, looks fantastic cutting through the water at speed.
Very, very cool! Another fun project.
Too cool for words! Glad there's one still in existence.
Can't believe they didn't restore those packard 12s, what a shame
They were long gone by the time this owner got their hands on it. Those cat diesels are reliable, economical and make plenty of torque
@@Serveck that's not the point. It's a vintage boat, it doesn't matter how good the engine is, it's not original.
@@colinjohnston8519 they dont exist anymore, what do you suggest they do?
@@Serveck lol they don't exist anymore? All 14k made during the war have all disappeared??? Sure they have.
@@Serveck I bit of research and I reckon one would fine 3 Merlin engines which could be marine converted. I agree with Colin Johnston. Without those famous, fabulous engines the boat is a "fraud".
What a gun, boat.
Wonderful stuff, thank you to the men who served.
As you say, magnificent! A great tribute to the sailors of the day. So very grateful that this superb restoration has been carried out and I very much look forward to seeing her out and about in the Solent. Well done and thank you, to everyone concerned!
That. Is a cool piece of history there. Thank you and well done to all who saved her and maintains her.
Hard to offer an argument, that is something of beauty.
This is the type of vessel we will need for fishery protection, cheap and quick to make and outstandingly fast.
Could take on the Iranian navy if we had a fleet of these.
Awesome from every perspective.
Beautiful work
I served on a MTB Storm class, in the 80s, we lived on borad for a year and to be honest it was not that much more room :)
I always found these, and their sister craft, the MTBs to be the most beautiful vessels of all time! What I would give to own one! Certainly, I'd need to refit her substantially as a civilian craft but to share the sight and experience of her blasting across the waters is unsurpassed!
Theres also one of these rusting away in the harbour here, nice to see one in a good state
What a beautiful boat. If I had the money, I would have 2 of them. Well done to everyone involved and thank you for this presentation.
As a young Subbie in the 1990s, I always wanted to command one! Though the main armament mistakenly referred to as a "3 Pounder" is actually a 2 Pounder. Significant firepower though.
I'm guessing it had an effective range more than the '200 yrds' stated in this video, either way. Also the Oerlikon was a 20mm canon, not a machine gun which he also states.
@@frankanderson5012 the gentleman is more familiar with yachts than sleek warships with their teeth intact. I'm just surprised that the old girl didn't bite him out of sheer didignance and spite!
5:42 "Good lord, he's driving straight into a harbour he is!!"
Beautiful boat and brave men that worked her!
Impressive vessel. Would love to have one to cruise the Great Lakes. Thank you for posting.
What a marvellous job on the restauration of this magnificent boat! Too bad the original engines could not be restored, but imho that is compensated for by the sound of the turbo diesels and the increased safty that comes along with that.
Can't wait to see it perform as the backdrop for a WWII epic film about the young men that went to war in boats like this and th MTBs.
That thing is a beast!
What a lovely fast boat! Thanks for that interesting movie.👍
A friend mine had a Revell model of a British Vosper MTB, since these days I'm in love with these sharp British MTB and MGB but as well with the Italian MAS and the German S-100 S-Boats.
What a beautiful craft!
I love the sound of those diesels throttling up!
I love all watercraft, but this deadly boat was also very beautifully designed! Wow what a beast!!!
Great review; I could feel the emotion and enthusiasm! Many thanks…
Absolutely Fantastic! Thanks for sharing, and greets from the Netherlands. T.
Small correction, the refit didn't replace the Packards, they went decades ago! During her restoration over 10 years ago, she was fitted with MAN diesels.
Thought so, Phil Clabburns old resto.
JRB Aero NZ Certainly was! I met one of the guys who did the work, he negotiated a deal with MAN to get the engines for a VERY good price!
Fitted with German engines how ironic.......
MrStoneycool69 I think Rolls Royce own MTU now, so maybe that’s some balance, if needed!
Mark Davis BMW owns Rolls Royce.......
Commendable effort to get this boat up and running. It will look great in naval parades.
What a great video. Thanks for presenting this.
Reinforces, gratitude for peace, n wealth we have today.to keep doing for tomorrow.
Sailing on type 12 frigates, this is awesome.
+MotorBoat&Yachting,
Hello guys? Awesome video. As you have reviewed Scandinavian boats in the past, I hope you can take a trip Sweden? They have The Veterans Flotilla at Ystad. They have one MTB with Italian engines(diesel) and they are twin 5,000hp each!!! yes 5,000 horse power EACH!!!
It is capable of 50knots +!!!!
It would be great if you could review it as a comparison. We must keep the history of the last 70 years alive.
Many Thanks
Jonathan Seth-Smith
Yes Test T26, T56 and The T121 Spica with Turbine drive...
Veterans of what? Sweden was neutral in WW2
Those aren't this pretty. swedish MTB are more practical and not designed to be pretty, as all brittish stuff is before 1960's.
@@spacecoasttactical Of a damn hot sauna......
@@SergeyPRKL British MTBs/MGBs were not designed to be pretty, they were designed to be easily and cheaply made by any small boatyard. They were designed to be expendable. Most were Vosper or Fairmile designs, and Dog-Boats were definitely not pretty. If they were pretty in was accidental and in the eyes of the beholder. British boats were very practical, they had to be as they were out fighting in all sorts of conditions and places. Swedish boats were not used for fighting so they were probably less practical as a fighting craft than British boats.
Really great to see this piece of history brought back to life. Although disappointing that some folk have chose to criticize certain aspects of the restoration, should think their selves lucky be able to see these great machines running. It is a matter of money and economics in running it. Anyway great work..
absolutely Gorgeous
Thanks or sharing MBY , I have been reading MBY for all my adult life..... the first one I bought was in 1977.
I think the young guys who worked these boats were not so much brave but just had a different ethos. We all helped each other in those days.
The current malais did not exist in those days (IMO of course).
I pity about the metric gremlins creeping in but thanks you for not saying any thing was "iconic" or you were "gutted" about something.
My Father trained on the Vickers and the Oerlikon during his service in the RCNVR. Part of his service was on the Fairmile motor launch for anti submarine patrol around St John's Newfoundland. Its worth preserving these vessels to honour the men who helped preserve our futures.
I served on a similar design launch but 72 feet long
What a beautiful thing. Well done.
I saw a movie from the 1950s called "The Ship That Died Of Shame" was about one of these MGB used in smuggling after the war. As for the choice of 3 diesels. Was probable cheaper than restoring 2 pachard engine. At least its still afloat and functional.
Relief Those used THREE Packard V12's !!!1
Beautiful restoration. I love how she planes at speed. Those diesels suit her. I suppose Packard spares are slim to nil.
Spares for anything can be had for sufficient $$.
Outstanding job on this piece of real history 👏 👌 👍
Muy interesante y que buena filmacion...saludos
The fundamental difference between the German E boat and the British MTB was that the E boats were made of steel and powered by diesel engines. The British boats were wooden with very large petrol engines. Which crews had the better chances of survival?
I would suggest the boats with the fastest speed had the better chance of survival. Not only that but the wooden boats would float. :)
Stephen.... WHO won the war ???? Answers that question !! !
People who want to know how these things were used should read "The Battle of the Narrow Seas" by Sir Peter Scott. Funny what he was doing before he was famous for bird watching. Double diagonal mahogany and 100 octane fighter fuel. Brilliant combination. I am glad they have put decent engines in her, if I was rich I'd have donated them myself.
My friend John MacDonald from the Back of Kepoch, Arisaig, Invernesshire was on minesweepers in the channel in WWII, he thinks he was 14 when he joined the RN when they called up his fishing boat. He wasn't seeking trouble the way these guys were, but he was out in the same sea at the same time. Reading the book gave me a different view of the quiet old lobster fisherman I knew.
cageordie and what was wrong with the original Packard M2500's ???? they got the job done and what were available at that time !!! decent diesel did NOT exist at that time, remember the Packard M2500's were a better engine of the same time period, late 1930 as the RR merlins !!! Just FYI !!!!
Fantastic, great work.
Beautiful boat great commentary.
The boats were heavily armed not heavily armored like the presenter says. There is a difference between armament and armor.
He never said they had armor. Just those deflectors for the gunners. Not much more protection than the helmets.
@@WALTERBROADDUS He said"its beautiful, its fast and its heavily armoured too". At 2.31.
I noticed that too. Also, while the presenter showed his knowledge of boats, he stumbled his way through the description of the weapons. Obviously not one of his areas of expertise. Most notably, he called the Oerlikon 20mm machine cannons 'guns'.
20mm cannon is a small beans in Navy terms. The (diesel powered) German E-Boat which could hit 48 knots carried 40mm Bofors and some even had the superb 88mm gun.
They aren't even that heavily armed. No torpedoes, which would be essential for sinking a ship of any size.
I''m willing to bet there was someone on board that would have explained to you that the Oerlikons are classed as cannons not machine guns, and to my untrained eye that looks like a spider web anti aircraft gun sight. I could be wrong but I would have checked before shooting the film.
Yes, and did he say 3 pounder gun? That looked like a 2 pounder and the only text source I found for this type, this maker, says 2 pounder. Well, he's a boat guy, not a military historian, but he shouldn't put his assumptions in as simple statements. Knowing the British navy, it looked like plenty of room to sling hammocks for 14 men, or hot bunks for fewer.
I believe you are correct.
@@donjones4719 Its a Vickers 2pdr "pom-pom" that would equate to a 40mm like the Bofors
The chaps who worked these boats were heroes!
my father
You did a great job! Thanks for making this video
Heavily armoured? Nope, it may be heavily ARMED but it is not heavily armoured at all I suspect!
Right. No armor. Just quite thin wood and very large balls.
@@cageordie Not heavily armed either. Just FAST!
US sailors in similar PT boats tending the engines reported Japanese tracer rounds coming in one side of the boat and out the other. Easy to imagine the crews of MGBs having similar experiences.
U DONT Drive ,! U Operate! Laddie!
Stunning! We spend a fair amount of time around Lymington but I have not yet had a chance to see her....hope I do!!
If only she could have the original spec engines....now that would be a proper restoration!! 😱😁
Beautiful craft.
I'm surprised they didn't use an adjustable under water exhaust dump system for silent running at night like US PT boats. Or did they change the system when replacing the engines.
Would love to get my hands on the Packard's they took out of her.
What a Beautiful Boat!
Fantastic video!
Here in the USA a similar boat , A PT boat was restored and they installed real .50 caliber brownings and a real 20 mm oerlikon cannon all demilitarized but teal nonetheless why cant they do that in england ?
I do believe the US NAVY PT 689 still retains its three packard v12 aircraft engines which is fortunate
UK law doesn't allow real guns to be used. It's not a museum piece, it's a demonstration craft.
In my country you couldn't even get away with the replicas they are using on that one. The presenter said something about the owner being the Portsmouth Naval Base, I guess that's how they can use the replicas they have. But unless it's a commissioned Royal Naval vessel, no guns.
You do realize you can not just slap guns on boats or Warbirds. They are all non functional. The also are deadweight.
gibsondrummer Those M2500 engines were NOT aircraft engines. they were purpose designed for PT Boats as Marine engines, they did drow on aircraft designs for somethings !!! DUUUUHH!!!!!
is a bit like restoring a Spitfire with a Cessna engine, isn't it ? not quite the same thing really..
They restored a Spitfire with a lorry engine... They just ruined the boat. Shame. Like using only half throttle now...
Should have rebuilt the Packhards, such a waste. 😧
Get real. Parts for ww2 v12’s are going to impossible to come by, like it or loath it these things are usually reliant on charities or tight budgets. Would you rather it rotted into the ground with Packards in its hull or as it is now with diesels?
@@davog1946 really I didn't know that! good information you got there, you must tell that to 50+ fully operational and airworthy Supermarine Spitfires with WW2 Rolls-Royce Merlin V12's !!
@ yes you can do it, but the cost is astronomical compared to the modern diesels and the V12s are nowhere near as reliable. It would certainly be more exciting with the original powerplants but this appears to have been restored with the intention of being used, so the Packards would be a nightmare for maintenance and cost.
Those MTBs had some outstanding engagements in the Channel with the Krauts, little has been written about it but much more needs to be.
Just a word the the "engine experts"!!, there was only 258 V12 parkard's built from the 1920's onwards. One engine would fetch around 20,000, if you can get one. Its a charity trust who runs this boat, not a Russian oligarch. but you're all welcome to donate to help fund it. i won't be holding my breath though.
loonyirish You are WRONG !!!! Packard built 14,000 of the M2500 PT boat engines, They also built other V12's for Cars and aircraft,and marine racing, and from 1941 0n they Built 55,525 Merlins, different engine
Vice-Admiral on carrier to MGB flotilla heading out on ops 'Bit passed your bedtime isn't it?'
Flotilla CO to Vice-Admiral 'Dad said we could stay up late tonight Sir'
I am usually wrong but is it not 'Aft' or 'Stern' as opposed to at the back???
ha ha, true, no one says back or front in the boat world , that I know of.
I liked his presentation, overlooked the errors, but yeah, they're there.
I've heard 'aft' and 'f'wd' called the round and the sharp end by RN people.
Beautiful. Thanks!
My farther served in MTBs from 39 to 45 and ended up Lt Cdr RNVR with a squadron of them at 27, I have one of his his photo albums from that time and combined with his stories it has left a deep impression on me that I can revisit and pass on.
my father was on MGBs in the Med in WW2
They should’ve gotten a ITAR clearance and reactivated the cannon.