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This motorboat, very similar to the rowed "pulling cutter", would be the largest boat aboard a destroyer or sloop. It can be rowed or sailed (with a lugsail rig), but normally travels under power. It has a maximum displacement of 5 tons. The nominal crew would be 12 men; up to 66 men could be carried when used as a lifeboat. For landing and boardiing parties, 24 men be added (above the crew). Crew would be:
- coxswain, with pistol
- 2 ratings, as gunner and assistant; also with rifles
- 1 shipwright, with pistol
- 1 signalman, with pistol
- 1 engine-room artificer, with pistol
Equipment carried would be:
- 2 Lewis guns, on a double mounting
- 3 ammo carrier boxes, with 8 Lewis drum magazines each
- bag of spare MG parts
- cleaning rod
- quarter-case rifle ammunition
- boat's magazine
- 4 water barricoes, 7 gallons each
- 2 biscuit boxes, 30 lbs. biscuits each
- boats, boatswain's, carpenter's and surgical bags
- lantern and candles
- boat compass
- hand-axe
- flare pistol and 12 cartridges
- lugsail, mast, rigging and so forth
- 10 oars, rowlocks, etc.
The "boat's magazine" consists of:
- 204 rounds of pistol ammunition in a leather pouch
- 1 lb. of slow match
- 1 key for metal-lined cases
- 2 signal rockets
- 2 common port-fires
- 2 short lights
Notice the lack of lifejackets and life preservers. The petrol engine can propel the boat at 10 knots or so, over a distance of about 50 miles.
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