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{{Short description|Former British motorboat manufacturer}}
The '''British Power Boat Company''' was formed on 30 September [[1927]] when [[Hubert Scott-Paine]] bought and renamed the [[Hythe, Hampshire|Hythe]] Shipyard with the intention of transforming it into one of the most modern mass production boat building yards in the country. Together with his chief designer, Fred Cooper, the company produced many racing boats which won numerous awards around Europe, including [[Miss Britain III]].
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
[[File:Motor gunboat at HMS St Christopher.jpg|thumb|British Power Boat [[Motor Gun Boat]] MGB 66 at speed off the coast near Fort William, Scotland (1942)]]
The '''British Power Boat Company''' was a British manufacturer of motor boats, particularly racing boats and later military patrol boats.


==History==
From [[1930]] the British Power Boat Company supplied seaplane tenders to the [[Air Ministry]], commencing with RAF200, a 37-footer. The trials of this and other boats was carried out by [[T. E. Lawrence|T E Shaw]] on behalf of the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]], and he and Scott-Paine worked together over the next few years.
The company was formed on 30 September 1927 when [[Hubert Scott-Paine]] bought and renamed the [[Hythe, Hampshire|Hythe]] Shipyard with the intention of transforming it into one of the most modern mass production boat building yards in the country. Together with his chief designer, Fred Cooper, the company produced the 26-foot single step hydroplane racing boat [[Miss England I]].<ref>Fast Boats Flying Boats by Adrian Rance</ref> Later after Fred Cooper had left, [[Hubert Scott-Paine]] designed [[Miss Britain III]].


From 1930 the British Power Boat Company supplied [[seaplane tender]]s to the [[Air Ministry]], commencing with RAF200, a 37-footer. The trials of this and other boats was carried out by [[T. E. Lawrence|T. E. Shaw (T. E. Lawrence)]] on behalf of the [[Royal Air Force]], and he and Scott-Paine worked together over the next few years. These tenders were powered by twin 100bhp [[Henry Meadows|Meadows]] petrol engines giving a maximum speed of 29 knots (some of the later ones were fitted with Perkins S6M diesels).
On 3 August [[1931]] the factory burnt to the ground, but was rapidly rebuilt as the most modern and efficient boatyard in Britain. Motor Torpedo Boats with a hard [[chine]] were designed, built, and increasingly sold to the British [[Admiralty]]. Armoured target boats were also built for the RAF, proving very successful and cost-effective, together with tenders for [[Imperial Airways]] flying boats, and admiral's barges.


The company marketed its own modified [[Napier Lion|Napier Sea Lion]] engines under the name "Power" Marine Engines.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.enginehistory.org/Napier/Bishop/NapierSealionMOTAT03.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-date=25 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125190206/http://enginehistory.org/Napier/Bishop/NapierSealionMOTAT03.jpg |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In [[1939]], due to the difficulties in obtaining British engines, Scott-Paine took PT9 to America to enable [[Electric Launch Company|Elco]] to mass-produce PT Boats using Packard motors.


On 3 August 1931 the factory burnt to the ground, but was rapidly rebuilt as the most modern and efficient boatyard in Britain. [[Motor Torpedo Boat]]s with a hard [[Chine (boating)|chine]] were designed, built, and increasingly sold to the [[British Admiralty]]. Armoured target boats were also built for the RAF, proving very successful and cost-effective, together with tenders for [[Imperial Airways]] [[flying boat]]s, and admiral's barges.
During [[World War II]] the British Power Boat Company built large numbers of [[Motor Torpedo Boat]]s, [[British Power Boat Company Type Two 63 ft HSL|High Speed Motor Launch]]es, [[Motor Gun Boat]]s, and [[Motor Anti-Submarine Boat]]s, being credited with saving the lives of over 13,000 service personnel.


[[File:PT-9 torpedo boat Washington DC 1940.jpg|thumb|PT-9 at Washington D.C., 1940]]
All unfinished contracts were cancelled at the cessation of hostilities and the British Power Boat Company closed in 1946.


In 1939, due to the difficulties in obtaining British engines, Scott-Paine took PT-9 to the US to enable [[Electric Launch Company|Elco]] to mass-produce PT boats using [[Packard]] motors.
==References==

Adrian Rance, Fast Boats and Flying Boats, (Ensign Publications, Southampton, England 1989) ISBN 1-85455-026-8
===Craft for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force during WW2===
[[File:British Light Coastal Forces of the Second World War A13630.jpg|thumb|MGB 75, a British Power Boat Company motor gun boat at HMS ''Beehive'', Felixstowe]]
During [[World War II]] the British Power Boat Company built large numbers of [[Motor Torpedo Boat]]s, [[British Power Boat Company Type Two 63 ft HSL|High Speed Motor Launch]]es, and [[Motor Gun Boat]]s (previously known as Motor Anti-Submarine Boats<ref>http://www.bmpt.org.uk/other_boats_history/Motor%20Gun%20Boats/MGB-81/index.htm British Military Powerboat Team</ref>), being credited with saving the lives of over 13,000 service personnel.

One of their welders during WW2 was artist [[Sybil Andrews]] and she used her time to also do [https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/search/actor:andrews-sybil-18981992 some paintings of the boats] under construction.

All unfinished contracts were cancelled at the cessation of hostilities and the British Power Boat Company closed in 1946.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Fairmile Marine]]
* [[Fairmile Marine]]
* [[Vosper & Company|Vospers]]
* [[Vosper & Company|Vospers]]
* [[Electric Launch Company]]
* [[British Coastal Forces of World War II]]
* [[British Coastal Forces of World War II]]


==References==
<references/>
* Rance, Adrian (1989) ''Fast Boats and Flying Boats.'' Ensign Publications. {{ISBN|1-85455-026-8}}


[[Category:Defunct shipbuilding companies of the United Kingdom]]
{{water-stub}}
[[Category:Hythe, Hampshire]]
{{UK-company-stub}}

Latest revision as of 04:34, 22 May 2023

British Power Boat Motor Gun Boat MGB 66 at speed off the coast near Fort William, Scotland (1942)

The British Power Boat Company was a British manufacturer of motor boats, particularly racing boats and later military patrol boats.

History[edit]

The company was formed on 30 September 1927 when Hubert Scott-Paine bought and renamed the Hythe Shipyard with the intention of transforming it into one of the most modern mass production boat building yards in the country. Together with his chief designer, Fred Cooper, the company produced the 26-foot single step hydroplane racing boat Miss England I.[1] Later after Fred Cooper had left, Hubert Scott-Paine designed Miss Britain III.

From 1930 the British Power Boat Company supplied seaplane tenders to the Air Ministry, commencing with RAF200, a 37-footer. The trials of this and other boats was carried out by T. E. Shaw (T. E. Lawrence) on behalf of the Royal Air Force, and he and Scott-Paine worked together over the next few years. These tenders were powered by twin 100bhp Meadows petrol engines giving a maximum speed of 29 knots (some of the later ones were fitted with Perkins S6M diesels).

The company marketed its own modified Napier Sea Lion engines under the name "Power" Marine Engines.[2]

On 3 August 1931 the factory burnt to the ground, but was rapidly rebuilt as the most modern and efficient boatyard in Britain. Motor Torpedo Boats with a hard chine were designed, built, and increasingly sold to the British Admiralty. Armoured target boats were also built for the RAF, proving very successful and cost-effective, together with tenders for Imperial Airways flying boats, and admiral's barges.

PT-9 at Washington D.C., 1940

In 1939, due to the difficulties in obtaining British engines, Scott-Paine took PT-9 to the US to enable Elco to mass-produce PT boats using Packard motors.

Craft for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force during WW2[edit]

MGB 75, a British Power Boat Company motor gun boat at HMS Beehive, Felixstowe

During World War II the British Power Boat Company built large numbers of Motor Torpedo Boats, High Speed Motor Launches, and Motor Gun Boats (previously known as Motor Anti-Submarine Boats[3]), being credited with saving the lives of over 13,000 service personnel.

One of their welders during WW2 was artist Sybil Andrews and she used her time to also do some paintings of the boats under construction.

All unfinished contracts were cancelled at the cessation of hostilities and the British Power Boat Company closed in 1946.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Fast Boats Flying Boats by Adrian Rance
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ http://www.bmpt.org.uk/other_boats_history/Motor%20Gun%20Boats/MGB-81/index.htm British Military Powerboat Team
  • Rance, Adrian (1989) Fast Boats and Flying Boats. Ensign Publications. ISBN 1-85455-026-8