West Coast Finds

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   Just opened this one to put the finds the "Dog Boat" Topic was getting a bit long!
Off to Girvin tomorrow to hunt down the MTB lying in the marina there, it might be one of three that lay in Irvine for years,
Info and pics tomorrow (If its there!)
Quick up date,went to Troon (Where three MTBs sat through the 80's to mid 90's think they were Ex Darks as Pioneer thought last seen by me 98/early 99)
Was told of one at Girvin went there today 20th May but no joy it was sold from the harbour about 2 years ago.
The good point a nice chap fixing a fishing boat says it was in quite good order when it was sold even though it sat for 3 or 4 years.
He can't remember if she sailed under her own engines or what kind engines she had.
He could tell me that her upper works were unchanged from her service/Build days with no modification and was a MTB.
Have a number to phone the Marina boss at Troon on Monday for more info.
The Hunt goes on,anyone help?

Edited by Jim

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Jim Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 April 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jim Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: West Coast Finds Posted: 19 May 2006 at 7:48pm
	Just opened this one to put the finds the "Dog Boat" Topic was getting a bit long! Off to Girvin tomorrow to hunt down the MTB lying in the marina there, it might be one of three that lay in Irvine for years, Info and pics tomorrow (If its there!) Quick up date,went to Troon (Where three MTBs sat through the 80's to mid 90's think they were Ex Darks as Pioneer thought last seen by me 98/early 99) Was told of one at Girvin went there today 20th May but no joy it was sold from the harbour about 2 years ago. The good point a nice chap fixing a fishing boat says it was in quite good order when it was sold even though it sat for 3 or 4 years. He can't remember if she sailed under her own engines or what kind engines she had. He could tell me that her upper works were unchanged from her service/Build days with no modification and was a MTB. Have a number to phone the Marina boss at Troon on Monday for more info. The Hunt goes on,anyone help? Edited by Jim

coinnech Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 21 May 2006 Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote coinnech Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 May 2006 at 9:34pm
	Hi 4 MTB's used to be on the Clyde at bowling and on the river cart they all had their engines and most of them had been unchanged from the day they were built. One sank in bowling harbour I Understand that the harbour basin is to be redeveloped and a survey of the boats that sunk in the harbour is to be carried out a minesweeper included. I also discovered the admiral’s barge of HMS hood that was off loaded on 1940 in the Clyde also I have the records and cutting lists of the shipwright that built it in 1916. the three remaining MTB went down to Irvine and Girvan this was mainly due to the proposed upgrade of the fourth and Clyde canal upgrade, this Basin was a haven for lots of boats from WWII. I identified the barge to a museum a they have still made no efforts to restore this important piece of navel history (No Money). I have now managed to get a hold of the last remaining MTRV that was build at Thorneycroft only five were built all the others have been lost I would appreciate any help I finding out any Information on Motor torpedo recovery vessels in the south of England. I will ask around with regards to the location of the MTB’s on the west coast of Scotland as My friend have been diving that coast since 1984 and have lots of information on all sorts of finds (U Boat included). Cheers

Pioneer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pioneer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 May 2006 at 9:49pm
	Hello Cionnech ?? Welcome to the site - sounds as if we may on to finding that the Dark class is not extinct as first thought. I did hear myself that there were 2 rumoured to be off the West Coast of Scotland - sad to say that the 2 that were at Radio Beacons Malta have been 'broken' - confirmed by Dave Abbot - fingers crossed that you have some luck Regards
	Pioneer - Forum Moderator

Jim Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 April 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jim Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 May 2006 at 10:05pm
	Hi Cionnech Is it your MTRV in the outer basin at bowling? is it the one that was at Dunoon? The remains of the Whale back are siting across in the outer basin where it was burned about 6 years ago, the other one that was sitting sunk in the inner lock next to the lock house was of a very early Design(might be pre warII)....sorry pioneer no Dark here,the story of an MTB being restored at Dumbarton a few years ago by the Skippers Daughter and moved to the Channel have substance, I spoke to a witness who was on the boat when it was out of the water in Sandpoint and spoke to her and was told the story...so did it go back down South? I can vouch for the witness,he's my boss at work also i saw her my self but never got close,pity....she was dehumidified in a plastic cover for months.....I know she was not cut up at Sandpoint....was in poor conditon..still done know if she left..or where to! But I understand the Troon Boats were Darks and at least one survives as it was sold in good order....the MTBs in Bowling were in the pool/lock till about 7 years ago and the Troon (not Irvine,sorry my mistake) were there up till 5 Years ago.. The River Cart MTB was she cut up three years ago? as she just vanished,I know she was sunk but where did she go? Edited by Jim

coinnech Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 21 May 2006 Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote coinnech Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 May 2006 at 10:34pm
	No I now live in London (last Ten Years) and My MTRV Is in Windsor the hoods barge is now in Irvine they could not prove that it was the HMS Hoods original barge but I proved that it was form the marine archives in Glasgow. I even managed to get the original drawings and cutting List I also put a note on The HMS Hood forum as an American was claiming that he had the barge. I used to track all the small boats at bowling from about 1980 as I used to do a lot of walking in the old Kilpatrick hills when I was younger. I understand from Greenwich maritime museum my MTRV Yard Nos (1193 -1197) serviced the MTB squadrons in the south it was built in 1939. In woolston yard Southampton the vessel was ordered as one of a class of several by the admiralty and used for torpedo recovery for MTB 101 Rear Admiral Bakes boat at Dunkirk after his ship got sunk

Jim Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 April 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jim Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 May 2006 at 10:51pm
	Hi Coinnech There is a MTRV (model unknown) in the outer basin at Bowling. I am told she came from Dunoon and worked for the Americans. the Design is Uk... There were also Two MTB's in the River Leven untill 10 years ago at what is called the "Pint" one was burned and cut up (my pal was the shafts) and one is still there as it would not burn as it was sunk! might be the second 2 from Bowling I stay in Balloch... I will photo the MTRV tomorrow and the remains of the "Whale back"...

Jim Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 April 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jim Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 June 2006 at 11:32pm
	Just found out the Four (confirmed) MTB's that lay in Troon Marina for years were not even UK boats...Bummer.they were PTF Nasty class towed over from Norway...Details on the PTF site http://www.ptfnasty.com/index.html Go to PTF's Today,then ENGLAND... sorry about the pic it is the only one i can get with the boats in Troon marina.... one is alive and well in Cornwall....pity thought it might have been a UK boat! The Boat that was sold in Girvin? Well the chap that owned these boats and broke the last two up never mentioned selling any other hulls. So The "Girvin boat" still could be a UK design/Build.still hunting that one! Jim Edited by Jim

Jim Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 April 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jim Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 June 2006 at 12:57am
	Hi All New Info on one of the Bowling Wrecks.... From the BBC of all people, a torpedo boat is to be raised in Bowling Harbour....Read and Watch the news report at. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4826004.stm Might be the "Whale Back" hull, (Not much left!)

pongo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 April 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote pongo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 May 2007 at 12:06am
	Hi to everyone, this post relates to a Torpedo Recovery Vessel which is currently on blocks awaiting a chain saw. Built 1906 in Germany, served in both wars then with RN from 1945 as "VICTORINE". My information is that it is possibly related to the MTRV at Dunoon,mentioned in a previous post. This boat seems in fair condition externally, superstructure intact except for the wheelhouse(gone), engine(missing). The steel frames have rusted through. If anyone wants it - it's free.

Pioneer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pioneer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 May 2007 at 9:34am
	Hello 'Pongo' Welcome aboard Where abouts is the 'Victorine'?
	Pioneer - Forum Moderator