Hello folks. I have (along with my three brothers) wonderful memories of my Dad based with the RAF in Gib. There were HSL's that absoloutely facinated us we have a couple of black and white pics of them..does anyone have a "Real Picture" of the model that was in Gib at that time.

Steve Humphries/email Shumpa@aol.com

Captain/Airlines/USA

Hello Steve

Welcome to the site - I'm sure that 'Christian' (from Gib) will be adding some comments here - he is a mine of info re-HSL's etc.

Keep popping back as He will obviously rise to your bait

Regards

PS. Lets see some of those black and white prints.

Hello Steve and Pioneer

OK bait taken,RTTL (ex HSL) 2554 at Gibraltar in the 1950s.A super looking craft,is it the one you recall?There is a sistership still here,a private motoryacht in excellent shape called Adelheid with 2 x GMs in place of the 3 x Napier Sea Lions.

This has to be the highlight of my day guys thanks.

I remember well as a young boy being invited on this actual number HSL. Rumor always had it that she could not taxi out of the harbor on three engines because the echo around the rock area could resonate and cause structural problems to the rock !.. we believed anything then from the airmen crew. I will try to dig out the black and white ones. I am absoloutely estatic that it is still afloat and well. God bless the Brits. What memories thanks guys.

Steve 

British Power Boat Co Type III 68ft HSL Hants and Dorset "Adelheid" at Gibraltar.She will be on the market very shortly,please express your interest here.She was built during WW2 and served as an HSL.She was struck off charge at Birkenhead in 1948 and has been well cared for since,she is in remarkable condition and capable of travelling on her own keel.She is also very well appointed as a live-aboard.

I took a couple more pics of her,come on you lot,get yer cheque books out...

Christian..... i was stationed in Gibraltar 1975 - 77, have you any info on what happened to either 2752 or 2753, both went for disposal around 1977 and were replaced by HMAFV Sunderland and one of the Pinnaces (1380?)

As i recall 2752 was laying in Shepards Marina (minus engines)

As you may know, '52 was the replacement for the unfortunate 2754, and when she was issued to 1102 MCU she had been laying in the gunboat yard at Portsmouth for years in dry storage.. boy, was she FAST!!, we used to give the Tangier hydrofoil a head start and then beat her down the bay

Hello all,

Having seen the photo of 2754 sinking, aparently in the Med, does anyboby know the circumstances of the sinking and the approximate position?

A76 NJK

I have been the owner of HSL 2552 for the past 15 years. Does anyone know any history ?

When I first aquired the boat the spuerstructure was missing and there were 2 Cummins diesel engines which were underpowered so I removed them. Since beinhg moored ceratiain dishonest individuals have stolen parts from it.

The deck above tehe engine room was removed several years ago due to rot. She is still afloat but will need repairs to the double diagonal hull and the deck is currently covered in marine plywood which will need replacing to make original.

Inside is fairly untouched with original floors, original toilet and sink.

Die to me loosing my business several years ago I have been unable to restore her as planned.

Hi Martin and Don

All I can add is that between the dates correctly quoted above she was Based at ;Calshot, Newlyn, Predannock-929 Sqdrn., Falmouth, Newlyn, Calshot,  AEAF 85GP, Aberdeen-Torry, Newhaven, 238MU, Gibraltar, 238MU, 103MCU, 1110MCU, 238MU, 1107MCU, 1113MCU, D of NC.(as quoted in the book "Boat In The Blue").

She is as Don says of very great historical interest,being the prototype Hants And Dorset.These HSLs provided very much more room inside for casualties and crews alike, and were a great improvement over the Whalebacks in terms of riding swells better thanks to the raised chines, deeper "V" and increased forefoot, significantly reducing slamming. They were designed by George Selman without Scott-Payne looking over his shoulder ( he was away in Canada on other business) hence the absence of the "Whaleback" shape, which although gorgeous made the boats prone to cracking at the gunwhales and they required external stiffeners to combat this fault.The tall H&Ds were initially unpopular with crews used to the low, "ready to pounce" look of the Whalebacks which prededed them,and were hence likened to the buses from whence they got their name, but their sea-kindliness soon won them over. They were slightly slower than the shorter, flatter and lighter Whalebacks, having the same propulsion (3 x Power Napier Sea-Lion) although arranged differently to give a better layout below. They could, however, maintain their speed through a chop long after the Whalebacks would have had to throttle right back.

By my reckoning there are about 15 surviving boats of this type (including the version used by the RASC). 

I would dearly love to see some pics of her too.

If you'd like to see these boats in action, buy the video "The Sea Shall Not Have Them", available from Amazon.

Out of curiosity,how did you find out her RAF number?

Regards,Christian.   

Just seen posts on the above, at least appears to be afloat but quite a task to sort out I imagine.

JohnK

Hi All just back from Malta and came across this boat sitting in a yard, can you tell me about these boats. I remember seeing these as a kid moored up in the harbour, two of the smaller ones survived one Gozo and as pictured below also two HSL's were in Marsa for a long time. Ten years ago I got permision to get on board one of the original HSL's for some pics but too late! she was broken up by being lifted with chains out of the water. Will post some pics of her sister ips hull next week.

 bye for now Grigal UK

Hi Grigal,

Great pics, I think Billy who was working on the 506 also got a shot of her through the fence as well

Johnk

Hi JohnK

This was my first post, Im glad to meet you guys with the same interest, I have found the pics of the other HSL hull in Marsa sad to say its in the grave yard section. Am I posting in the right section?

Love to see a boat like this restored, which is the 506? and does anyone know who owens the boat I photographed? Locals have told me that the four remaining launches from the RAF went to SaMaison AFM squad, where they sat on their moorings for years, the govt tried to sell them off in the 80's but I'm told wanted too much cash. Eventually they were sold off I am given to understand. I belive the smaller sister boat to this one went to Dun Guzzeppe (late) in Gozo who allso owned a seaplane tender, Pelican, she was used as a private tour boat service. As a teen I often crewed on Pelican over two summers.

thanks again Grigal 

Hello Grigal,

Will private messenger you.

Johnk

Hi JohnK will reply tomorrow.

thanks regards dorian