back to the Sea Transportation page
The 45' long launch is the largest boat carried on large cruisers, battleships, and aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy. It has a crew of 18 men nominally, and can carry up to 140 men when used as a lifeboat; 50 men would be a good figure to use for landing and boarding parties. Harbour picket boats would be similar.
They can be fitted with a 3-pdr. Q.F. Mark I Gun, or 4 mountings for double Lewis guns. When outfitted with the machine guns, crew are as follows:
- coxswain, with pistol
- gunner's mate, with pistol
- 4 ratings, firing the Lewis guns; also equipped with rifles
- 4 ratings, as loaders, with rifles
- 1 shipwright, with pistol
- 1 signalman, with pistol
- 2 engine room ratings, with pistols
Equipment carried:
- 8 Lewis guns
- 4 double mountings
- 12 magazine carrier boxes (8 magazines each)
- spare parts bag for MGs
- cleaning rods
- quarter-case of rifle ammunition
- boat's magazine
- 2 hand axes
- 6 water carriers, 9 gallons each
- 2 biscuit boxes, 30 lbs. biscuits each
- boats, boatswain's, carpenter's and surgical tool bags
- lantern and candles
- boat compass
- flare pistol and 12 cartridges
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 drive the boat at about 12 knots top speed. Best range is 80 miles at 8 knots.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.