British Power Boat Company

Royal Navy MTB at speed

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

It 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 many racing boats which won numerous awards around Europe, including Miss England II and 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 on behalf of the Royal Air Force, and he and Scott-Paine worked together over the next few years.

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.

In 1939, due to the difficulties in obtaining British engines, Scott-Paine took PT9 to America to enable Elco to mass-produce PT Boats using Packard motors.

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

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

See also

• Fairmile Marine
• Vospers
• Electric Launch Company
• British Coastal Forces of World War II

References

• Rance, Adrian (1989) Fast Boats and Flying Boats. Ensign Publications. ISBN 1-85455-026-8