MGB 112
Printed From: BMPT Forum
Category: Boats (In alphabetical order)
Forum Name: Motor Gun Boats
Forum Description: Discussion on Motor Gun Boats
URL: http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=365
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 7:55pm
Topic: MGB 112
Posted By: pondskater
Subject: MGB 112
Date Posted: 05 June 2007 at 3:55pm
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From 25th Nov 42 until 19th Aug 43 my father was on this boat. first at Hornet then Beehive and lastly at Dartmouth II. His name was Idris ALEC Davies. Any information of the actions fought by this boat or photos would be greatly appreciated. I am at present building a modle of the MGB and have come across many different armament configurations for these boats. ------------- lofty |
Replies:
Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 05 June 2007 at 4:55pm
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Hello 'pondskater' Welcome aboard. MGB 112 has been a difficult boat to trace - it was a BPBco Mk 5 build and had been renumbered from the 74- 81 series (not sure which one (but not 81 I would suggest) She formed part of the 8th MGB Flotilla, based as you say at Hornet - Felixstowe and Dartmouth - the 8th Flotilla Senior Officers were Lt Cdr R Hichens - Lt T Mathias -and Lt F Stephenson RN. The DSM was awarded to AB L D Conroy while on board MGB 112 as was a Bar to DSC to Lt D C Sidebottom. I shall try and trace some other info - meanwhile is there anything you can 'Post' here (pictures etc?) Regards ------------- Pioneer - Forum Moderator |
Posted By: pondskater
Date Posted: 05 June 2007 at 5:56pm
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Hello pioneer Thanks for the quick response, I am hopefully having a photo identified as 112. If confirmed it will be fowarded, posted or whatever, if not, I shall not have a glorious end but run aground and slowly sink into oblivion. I do have other options for other occasions. ------------- lofty |
Posted By: tramontana
Date Posted: 05 June 2007 at 6:22pm
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74-81 built 1942 by British Power Boat, first boats designed as M.G.B.'s rather than conversion's from M.A.S.B.'s, 3 Packards, converted to M.T.B.'s in 1943. 76&78 lost in 1942, 79 lost in 1943. |
Posted By: tramontana
Date Posted: 05 June 2007 at 6:38pm
| Sorry, forgot about guns. as built they carried power operated, 1@ 2pounder for'ad, twin 20mm aft,plus 2x2 .303 MG's. |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 05 June 2007 at 7:30pm
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Hi Pioneer, From Fast Boats and Flying boats BPB Co build lists; Surviving MGBs from the 74-81 group became MTBs 412-416, and MGBs from the 110-122 group became MTBs 430-441. |
Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 05 June 2007 at 8:43pm
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Many thanks Christian - confusion still reigns regarding the numbering of some boats it seems and depend upon which 'research' you read - mine was from "Home Waters MTB'S & MGB's at War" the 'renumbering' was at the instigation of Lt Cdr Hitchens I understand? ------------- Pioneer - Forum Moderator |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 05 June 2007 at 9:43pm
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Hi Pioneer, perhaps you are on p197, where it states that the 8th MGB flotilla was made up of MGBs 74-81, later 111,112,115. What LC Reynolds is trying to say is that newly built MGBs 111,112,115 joined older boats 74-81, as evidenced on p91; "Hichens was embarked on MGB 112, a newly commissioned boat commanded by Lt DC Sidebottom....They fought two enemy vessels which had clearly not sighted the four gunboats. Approaching from the port quarter, they sped along parallel to the enemy and hit them both very hard. As they drew ahead the enemy fire increased but was generally inaccurate. Suddenly, however, a single burst of cannon shell struck the bridge of 112, with terrible results. Hichens was killed immediately-the only fatal casuualty-and both the CO and the first lieutenant were wounded." This action is retold in more detail on p134-135 of Coastal Forces At War by D Jefferson. The other 3 boats were MGBs 74,75 and 111. A picture of a close sister vessel from Lt Cdr Ben Warlow's book to help with the model;
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Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 05 June 2007 at 10:10pm
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Ah -The confusion is of my own making Many thanks again Christian - (must be age related) ------------- Pioneer - Forum Moderator |
Posted By: tramontana
Date Posted: 06 June 2007 at 6:08am
| As Christian has said the re-designation of some craft is a bit confusing and these groups of boat are a a good example, they were the first group of B.P.B. boats built as M.G.B.'s and within a year had two 18" torpedo tubes fitted and re-designated M.T.B.'s with a different number, that seems straightforward however, some boats were redesignated as M.T.B.'s and re-numbered but never had the torpedo tubes fitted, but a superb looking boat on full trot you must agree. |
Posted By: tramontana
Date Posted: 06 June 2007 at 8:25am
| For people who have served I think there is one thing they will agree on and that is that the people who make the decisions never learn from the past and that is how it was "The day war broke out" when there were no M.G.B.'s there were only M.A.S.B.'s & M.T.B.'s it was quickly realised that for the M.T.B.'s to be able to attaak a convoy it required a "Gun action" to draw away the protecting E- Boats and the M.A.S.B.'S were converted to M.G.B.'s. When the purpose built M.G.B.'s came on line in 1942, the M.A.S.B's like Clives went on to do other thing's and then in 1943 the "lightbulb moment" happened and they combined both roles hence the re- numbering. of course this lesson was forgotten when the Falklands blew up and we sent the all missile boats like Broadsword down which found out that you still need a big gun and the all singing all dancing missile systems had their shortcomings and that is why the Navy got rid of all missile ship's, unfortunatly it was the crew's of the ship's that paid the price |
Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 06 June 2007 at 8:48am
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I do think that we have become a little 'off Topic' here and I will certainly hold my hand up as prime instigator - but what is really required is that Volume 3 of JL&AR's 'bibles' to be published to clear up once and for all the 'renumbering' - of the BPB's in particular. ------------- Pioneer - Forum Moderator |
Posted By: tramontana
Date Posted: 06 June 2007 at 12:03pm
| Not Really, in my veiw I hope it clears up the rational behind the change of role that some of the early Coastal Forces boats went through due to errors in Naval policy which are repeated to this day, it is after all a discussion forum isn't it? |
Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 06 June 2007 at 12:33pm
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A discussion 'Forum' it certainly is - off 'Topic' now, Yes! Please begin another 'thread' to discuss the wider issues that you raise - it is a difficult point to make - but as we know 'pondskater' originally asked for information regarding his Father's boat - MGB 112. The reasoning now is that the discussion has moved beyond his request - but some sort of discipline must be observed otherwise his quest maybe lost among 'our' verbosity. ------------- Pioneer - Forum Moderator |
Posted By: pondskater
Date Posted: 06 June 2007 at 8:43pm
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Christian my dear chap, thank you for the picture it is very similar to the one I remember from my younger days. Unfortunately it was not found when I went through my fathers photo's, many others have been lost as well. I messed up with your reply and managed to loose the picture from the E-mail but as I was going through the replies in the forum luckily it was still there I is just what I was hoping for, Thanks again ------------- lofty |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 06 June 2007 at 9:23pm
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Hi Lofty My e-mail had no photo attachment, my comment relating to a photo was about the one contained in your e-mail which was forwarded to me, which was a Fairmile C MGB in the 312-335 number series, and easily confused with Fairmile B ML 112. This I believe has been the confusion from the outset. I will send you all the photos I have of the BPB 71'6" MGBs like MGB 112 tomorrow, they aren't very good but every little helps when model making. Regards, Christian. |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 06 June 2007 at 9:36pm
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Posted By: northeastuser
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 11:34pm
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Now thats a nice looking vessel. ------------- |
Posted By: jamie483mtb
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 3:01am
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pioneer, I'm sitting in Naples FL with my dear friend Jimmy Shadbolt (MGB111-MTB430-MTB412-MTB483 IN COMMAND) We would like to know if you remember Jimmy and what is your involvement with MGB/MTB's? Your reference to MGB112 and Derick Sidebottom raised my interest! On April 19th 1943 MGB112, 111 (John Mathias in command) I was 1st Lt. with Hichens in the battle off the Hook of Holland when Hitch was killed. Hope to hear from you in due haste. |
Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 10:09am
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Hello 'jamie483mtb' Welcome aboard shipmate - I hope you enjoy the trip. I shall send you a 'Private Message' regarding my involvement etc. As you will have read, this 'thread' was begun by 'pondskater' asking for details of his father's boat -MGB112- I am not aware that much info has been gathered except of course the modelling opportunities etc - can you assist 'pondskater'? Rgds ------------- Pioneer - Forum Moderator |
Posted By: jamie483mtb
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 1:52pm
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Yes. I was alongside and administered morphine to Hitch before he died. I would offer any other memories to his son that I can recall after so long a time. Thanks for your personal note. Just for the record I am in Naples in Florida, not the Med. Althought the weather here is probably superior to the other Naples. James |
Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 2:23pm
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Thank you James for the reply. I shall inform 'Lofty' of your offer by e-mail. Rgds
------------- Pioneer - Forum Moderator |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: 19 November 2007 at 4:20pm
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Hello James I have read many accounts of your exploits. BIG respect to you, sir. I for one would dearly love to hear any stories you care to tell. Regards, Christian. |
Posted By: tramontana
Date Posted: 20 November 2007 at 4:32pm
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2nd that request Christian |
