Anybody know much about these blockade runner types CAMPER AND NICHOLSON MGBs 502 - 509?  Pictures or drawings would be wonderful.  Book leads that may discuss or show the same would also be welcome. 

Hello Richard

Welcome aboard

While we all wait for John Lambert and Al Ross's Volume 3 - where there may be some info on these boats - you can try this link

http://www.nelmes.fsnet.co.uk/paxman/blockade.htm - http://www.nelmes.fsnet.co.uk/paxman/blockade.htm

may be something of interest for you

Regards

Hi Angrif

There's plenty of shots of this class on the 'net, this is my favourite.

Hello there,

Just seen shot of 502 above! quite something, is it me or dose she look quite different from other vessels ie Fairmiles etc? any way, a fine looking vessel. Small question, have got a copy of The Yacthsman magzine from winter 1945, yes very just post war!, on the front is a shot of ASR 2268 just launched ex BPB Co. Tride to find her on that web-site listing all UK and foreign navies which I have been onto many times before, ex this site, but can I find it! any one with info re link or on this vessel, would appreciate it. Many thanks,

Regards

John    

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/royal.htm - http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/royal.htm

This one?However it just seems to cover RN and not RAF. I am of course assuming that ASR 2268 would be an RAF vessel.

Funny I found those sights too.    Thanks for the picture but I am wondering if 502 is the right number. (there was no link)  Is that the 117 foot blockade runners that brought 800 tons of ball bearings and machined goods from Sweden?

Do you have any line drawings on here and what is her armament in 1943?  

Hi Northeastuser,

Many thanks for the link, now I see it of course I remember it!, quite right it is Royal Naval not RAF but tride that and found not a lot! but will search again, many thanks again.

John

Hi Again,

Just had a look on the link, indeed all naval, but still most interesting. Must be listed somewhere surely, will just have to keep looking.

John

Any Use?

HISTORIES

Angrif,

Running ball-bearings

The early Gatric gas-turbine tests (why did they then build the Packard driven Gays and Deltic driven Darks?)

Hi John

Please scan and post the ASR picture, 2268 was not a number assigned to a RAF HSL. Very curious. Is the number actually painted on the side? 

Is that really how the blockade runners were outfitted?  They had three petrol engines I thought.

The Gas Turbines were not used till later, correct?  Was that a picture of the converted vessels after the war?  

The bridge looks completely different.  Any Armament data?

The MGB’s 502 -508 were powered by Paxman V12 Diesels while MGB509 was powered by 3 Packard Petrol Engines – it was this boat (509) that was selected to test the ‘Gatric’ Gas Turbine engine in 1947.

502 and 503 were completed and remained as heavily armed (but no Tubes) RN MGB’s .

For Political reasons 504 -508 were completed as Merchant Ships and given the names of ‘Hopewell’ –‘Nonsuch’ – ‘Gay Viking’ – ‘Gay Corsair’ – ‘Master Standfast’ (no prefix of HMS). These craft were only ‘lightly armed’ (as a ‘norm’ for Merchantmen of that time) but no Tubes or heavy armament, these 5 having major below Deck modifications to accommodate cargo in Holds. Crewed by civilian’s – Trawlermen from Hull and Officers from the Ellerman Wilson Coy staff – operating under the Merchant Red Ensign – it was these 5 craft that had a notable career as ‘Blockade Runners’.

509 was completed as an RN MGB with the 3 Packard motor’s – the ‘Gatric’ experiment with marine Gas Turbines being planned as long before as 1943 (before launch of the boat). Some doubt as to what was the first GT powered craft – this or HMS Grey Goose.

Sources:-

Accession Number : ADA037686 Title :   The Marine Gas Turbine--The UK Provides a Case Study in Technological Development,

and

Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Ltd. 1899 - 1949
by John Dummelow M.A., A.M.I.E.E.

Ok .. lightly armed.  I can see why that is the case but what was it?  Dual Lewis guns?  Anybody know?   

Christian you know where I can get a larger picture?  I would like to see exterior details on the bridge and lookout mast.

Armament 2 twin Oerlikon 20mm, 2 twin and 1 quadruple .303 Vickers.

Some 'light armament' !! - Lt Cdr Len Barlow states those figures but I would suggest that they reflect the post 1944 survivors as it would be very difficult to 'ship' inboard that amount of armament when entering a neutral Country (Sweden) - risking being 'interned'.

Maybe someone could enlighten us?

Man thanks alot you guys walk on water... Now all I want to do is figure out how to make a model of it.  Thanks again.

Any pics of diagrams of the bridge?  Wonders where they put all that armament.  I see what looks like dual 303s on the after deck a mabye a single 20 mm..

Pioneer wrote: Some 'light armament' !! - Lt Cdr Len Barlow states those figures but I would suggest that they reflect the post 1944 survivors as it would be very difficult to 'ship' inboard that amount of armament when entering a neutral Country (Sweden) - risking being 'interned'. Maybe someone could enlighten us?

Why would they have to shift them inboard?  The vessel would not be a registered man of war

Any Country posing as a 'Neutral' would be under some scruitiny by both 'sides' to make sure that - the other 'side' - was not gaining any advantage. (ie Montivideo and Graf Spey). A Warship would only be allowed to stay for a very limited period for repairs to make it seaworthy - after which it would be interned. Technically 4 of that class were Registered as Merchantmen but it would obviously be a moot point to argue - as I am sure it was- that any ship bristling with armament would/could be breaching any Neutrality Law's - At that stage in the War it really was not seen that Germany would 'lose' and Sweden- no matter where her sympathy lay - would not wish to risk having herself 'occupied'. It would be interesting to hear from anyone with knowledge of the finer points of Neutrality law's then in force. All of the surviving members of the 'Merchantmen' of that class were taken over by the RN - dropped their 'disguises' - and became MGB's in 1944.

Good luck with the Model Richard - don't forget to post some pictures of the build for us all to see. (If you go to - Where Are The Personnel Now - and read O/S Tom Chapman - he made a very similar model of a Camper Nicholson)

Regards

Hi All,

Regards the neutrality business, although many from the Republic of Ireland served in the armned forces of the UK in WW2 and came over to work in our factories, Ireland was supposed to be neutral, but heard from a friend who served in the RN then who was at a postwar meeting in Germany with veterans of the Kreigsmarine, who said they liked "Porter" beer? during the war, my friend asked how did they get it, and they said whilst ashore as thier U-boats were re-fuelling in Ireland! well, all history now of course but interesting I think,

John

Hi JohnK

The mystery of HSL 2268 resolved, she was 2688, a Hants & Dorset!

Many thanks,

Hi Christian,

Glad you got the mags OK, indeed, me again, got the numbers completly wrong! did not have the mag with me, must be a sign of something! any way, thanks for posting the image, I hope others  enjoy it as well.

Regards

John