The following photographs have been supplied to me by various members of the World Naval Ships Forum - (those with an asterisk * are from Terry Dickins (Astraltrader) those with a double asterisk ** from Alan Benn and with a cross + Jim Bryce), unless otherwise noted, and are used with their consent and my thanks. In most cases the photographers are unknown, however I make due acknowledgement to whomsoever was responsible. Acknowledgements also to Lenton & Colledge's Warships of WWII, Part Seven-Coastal Forces published by Ian Allen; Fast Boats and Flying Boats- a biography of Hubert Scott-Paine - by Adrian Rance, Ensign Books; Gunboat Command, biography of Lt. Commander Robert Hichens 2 DSOs,. 3 DSCs., RNVR by his son Anthony Hitchens; The Little Ships, by Gordon Holman, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., 1943; British Coastal Forces of WWII by Paul J. Kemp, ISO Publications 1997.
Definitions: MGB means - Motor Gun Boat; MTB means - Motor Toroedo Boat; MA/SB means - Motor Anti Submarine Boat; ASRL means - Air Sea Rescue Launch ( also known as High Speed Launch i.e. HSL) the latter used by the Royal Air Force, of which later.
MGB 08 at Dover **
Built Hythe, 22 tons,
60ft 3 inches x 13 ft 3 inches x 2ft 9 inches
3 Napier petrol engines
29 knots
MGB 13, converted from an MA/SB in 1940.*
Built Hythe, 23 tons,
70 feet x 20 feet x 4 feet.
2 Napier petrol engines, 1000 BHP
23 knots
MGB 16 converted from an MA/SB
in1940+ Built Hythe,
Two Power Boats together at Dover. MGB 24 on the outside and Air Sea Rescue Launch 130 inboard.Note engine room hatch open aboard MGB 24
Built Hythe.
MGB 43 originally ex Royal Nederlands Navy+ MA/SB requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1940
Built Hythe, 20 tons,
63 feet x 15 feet x 4 feet 3 inches.
2 Napier petrol engines, 1000 BHP
25 knots.
MGB 52 originally ex French Navy MA/SB+ requisitioned by the Royal Navy c1940
Built Hythe.
MGB 53 originally ex French Navy MA/SB+ requisitioned by the Royal Navy c1940.
Built Hythe
MGB 60 originally ex French Navy MA/SB**requisitioned by the Royal Navy c1940
Built Hythe.
MGB 61 originally ex French Navy MA/SB*requisitioned by the Royal Navy c1940
Built Hythe , launched 4 December 1940.
A fine action photograph of Lt. Commander Robert Hitchens MGB 64. **She foundered in the English Channel on 8th August 1943 due to heavy weather. She was salvaged.
Built Hythe and launched 11th February 1941.
Hichens' Sixth MGB Flotilla MGBs 67 and 65 at speed, a lovely action photograph**
MGB 75* was among the first group of the Company's 71 foot MGBs that were designed as such. She was fitted with two 18 inch torpedo tubes and reclassified as MTB 413
in September 1943.
Built Hythe and launched 8 May 1942.
MGB 86 +was originally ordered as an MA/SB by the Royal Navy but cancelled and was instead completed as an MGB.
Built Hythe.
Lt. Commander Hichens DSO and Bar, DSC and two Bars in his 8th MGB Flotilla MGB 77
Built Hythe 1942.
MGB 107 with power operated guns.*
Built Hythe 1942 , 37 tons,
71 feet 9 inches x 20 feet 6 inches x 3 feet 5 3/4 inches. 3 x1350HP Packard petrol engines.
36 to 42 knots. 1 x 2 pounder, 2 x 20mm,
4 x .303 Machine Guns
MGB 115 with power operated guns.**
Built Hythe 1942, 37 tons,
71 feet 9 inches x 20 feet 6 inches x 3 feet 5 3/4 inches. 3 x1350HP Packard petrol engines.
36 to 42 knots. 1 x 2 pounder, 2 x 20mm,
4 x .303 Machine Guns
MGB 116 at Hythe dressed overall after having been launched.She became an MTB 435 in September 1943
Built Hythe 1943, launched 19th February 1943
MGB 121 with power operated guns.**
Built Hythe 1942 , 37 tons,
71 feet 9 inches x 20 feet 6 inches x 3 feet 5 3/4 inches. 3 x1350HP Packard petrol engines.
36 to 42 knots. 1 x 2 pounder, 2 x 20mm,
4 x .303 Machine Guns
British Power Boats of the 6th MGB Flotilla off the East Coast in 1942, including MGB 64, under the command of Lt. Commander Robert Hichens, nicknamed "Hitch" , later to become a legend in Coastal Forces. MGB 65 is shown nearest the camera. +
A Censored photograph of Lt. Commander Robert Hitchens 6th Flotilla on patrol. The boat's numbers have been blotted out from the bows. Photograph taken from Hichens MGB 64 showing MGB 67 and MGB 65 in line astern from Gordon Holman's 1943 book "The Little Ships"
Illustration by C.E.Turner of British Power Boats going into action. Frontispiece of Gordon Holman's 1943 book "The Little Ships"- A Convoy is Sighted, Silouetted in the moonlight: Officers and Gun Crews Stand By.
Illustration by C.E.Turner of British Power Boats returning to Base from Gordon Holman's 1943 book "The Little Ships"
Illustration by C.E.Turner of British Power Boats "Testing the Guns" from Gordon Holman's 1943 book "The Little Ships"