2753

Hi d-zine

I'm too young for these senior moments. "My" books are all in Dad's library in Spain so all I had to go on was my collection of scrounged photos, which I thought was only missing one boat (2771) but it seems I'm missing 2767 too! Also, I thought (from memory) that there were 6 Krogerwerfts but of course there were only 5 (2762-66).

2768 (C68) is in a compound at Malta, original but in very bad shape as far as I know (as is the hull of 2771 (C71)).

2770 (Osprey) seems OK and is photographed in her current location elsewhere on the forum.

Rgds, Christian.   

Hi d-zine

From the Beardow bible "Sailors in the RAF";

"For a period between 1955 and 1961 the RAF operated five unusual boats in Germany. Boats 2762-6 were known only as "D-Boats".These German built 96 ft launches were of welded steel construction with twin Maybach diesel engines. The design was very similar to the compromise round bilge shape of the wartime E-Boats, with the result that the D-Boats were both swift and sea-kindly. They were located at List on the German island of Sylt off the Danish coast and were engaged in the principal tasks of range safety,stand-by flying and weather reporting for the RAF station at nearby Westerland .They were handed over to the new Luftwaffe in 1961." 

2 were also operated by the South African air force, these were both recently lost whilst in private hands (driven onto rocks);

Picture from brokerage website, 2005.

2 of the RAF D-Boats were caught smuggling by the Spanish Customs some years ago, one of which was used by them as a cutter;

Magnificent picture from my friend Jesus.

Regards,

Christian.

Does anyone have any information on Rolls Royce Marine engines such as the "Sea Griffon", marine version of the Merlin and perhaps the V8 diesel "DV8"?

No info in Australia that I can find. Can share data and images of many WW2 petrol marine engines, Hall Scott, Kermath and Packard. Would very much like to learn about the Rolls emgine.,

Thanks

Tony

Not a BMPT member I'm afraid (hiss) but interested in marine and tank derivatives of aero engines. I made an enquiry about Sea Griffon and Marine Merlin engines with the RR Heritage Trust at Derby 3 years ago and was told that total despatch of marine Merlin was 107 engines between May '38 and August '41. Total Sea-Griffons despatched was 49 between April '56 and December '59.

Made a quick count up with Clive Frampton (at Marchwood) using the RAF 'Craft' books a couple of years ago and concluded there had been 14 RTTL's built/fitted with Griffons. Each engine was changed at approx. 3 months, i.e an overnight engine change every 6 weeks, the engines being sent up to RR Hillington, Glasgow, for overhaul. Clive, having worked with them,  knows more about these units than anyone I've found in RR. 

Tony, I have manuals for some Petrol 12's including Merlin, Griffon, Isotta Fraschini, Thornycroft, Lion & Packard. What sort of info are you looking for - technical data, arrangement drawings ? 

RAF Hendon museum have 'AP 4522B' (air publication) for the'68 ft. Rescue/Target Towing Launch, Mk. 1B and Mk. 2'. Lots of really nice drawings including engine room - must have driven someone ga-ga producing them.  

I've not left my e-mail as I'm changing it in the next couple of weeks.

Jamie.  Bristol U.K

RTTL/Sea Griffon;  The Air Publication for the 68' RTTL states that the props are 33", 3 bladed 'N.A.B' (?), left-hand. This publication also covers the v-drive unit. Air publication A.P4561A covers engine and gearbox. Crankshaft rotation is 'anti-clockwise viewed from the drive end'. I will try to get the hang of downloading some illustrations.

Tony. You may have found this already but a book on the history of Hall-Scott was recently published by 'SAE International'. ISBN 978-0-7680-1660-4. B&W only but 400 pages A5 size hardback. Covers the full history including trucks buses etc plus marine and aero engines. Probably rather 'dry' for most but essential for a 'Hall Scott' nut ! I have an Instruction Manual (operation maintenance parts book) for the Hall-Scott Defender as supplied on 'Lend-Lease' (found this in the U.K). I'm particularly interested in marine and tank Liberty information.

There is some account of the Marine Merlin (& Napier Sea Lion) development in 'Fast Boats and Flying Boats', the biography of Hubert Scott-Paine by Adrian Rance, plus his part in the Packard 4M2500. Also on Packard is Bob Neal's 'Master Motor Builders', which sees the 4M2500 story from 'the other side'.  

There is some account (though not enough) of the Napier Sea Lion and Deltic engines in Alan Vessey's new book 'By Precision into Power', ISBN 978-0-7524-3888-7. Softback, 256 pages.

The Sea Lion was not, apparently, the smoothest running engine.  The father of a friend parachuted into the sea from a Lancaster in the war and was both reassured and alarmed by the popping and banging from the Lion powered boat that he hoped wouldn't conk-out before it reached him ! Chris Williams, from Wolverhampton, runs a Lion powered Bentley at vintage race meetings during the year. The backfiring as he approaches a bend has been described as like the noise of a 'batallion of machine gunners' !

Have been going through 1920's copies of 'The Motor Boat'. Some really interesting engines feature in there - most of the WW1 aero engines such as RR Eagle, Falcon and Hawk + Sunbeams, Hispano Suiza etc. Also the Tylor, Daimler sleeve valve and Ricardo tank engines. The Eagles were fitted in 'Sea Sleds' built by the Grahame-White company. Does anyone know anything about these? Have any survived ?