MTB630

Hi all, this is my first post on the forum. I've been reading it for a while, and thought I would register.

I'm a military history researcher, and at the moment I am writing some articles for a military history magazine. I've managed to get hold of a fascinating account by a young Naval Officer who was a midhsipman onboard MTB630, part of the 55th MTB flotilla. This boat guided in the minesweepers to sword beach, the idea being that a wooden vessel would be less likely to detonate mines.

This account is facinating and I am working on an article on the exploits of the MTB's during Operation Neptune. MTB630 was a Fairmile Dog Boat, which apparently was donated to the girlguides after the war as a training boat. Already after a couple of days of research this should be a very interesting story. I've found quite a few useful illustrations and other sources.

I would be very grateful for any suggestions anyone might have. In particular I would be very interested in getting some shots of a surviving Dog boat, indeed if any survive. I will be sure to post up anything interesting that I find.

Cheers!

Hi JohnK,

thanks for your reply. its a shame theres not a complete D boat left anywhere, I was discussing the other day with the curator at the D-Day Museum that everyone seems to automatically think of Vospers when they think of MTB's.

As for it being used by the Girl Guides, I actually managed to find a picture of it being visited by the Queen (Princess Elizabeth as she was then) and Princess Margaret on a random Russian photo agency!

Hi James,

No problem, indeed Vospers seem to come to mind with a lot of people, but of course many others ie British Powerboat Co. Yes, a pity we have no D's surviving, bit of a bee in my bonet, but there it is, of course we have other great examples of coastal forces craft around MTB 102, HDML Medusa worth looking up, links again on this web-site.

JohnK

Thanks for that Ron, well, Norway is quite a step! understand from recent correspondence elsewhere, people have bits of the one ex Shoreham, but the Norway vessel looked a bit more complete at least from the Starboard side, the Chatham vessel is really on the bow section with a bit of hull from there back a few feet. As talked about before, just trying to flag up with others, that this stuff is still kicking around before it is all gone, as so much of our historic heritage has already, except perhaps if you used to carry tea and you can get an "emergency" 10 mill!

Johnk