HSL-100 type 2 (G.B.)

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D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen
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Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 7:46 pm

HSL-100 type 2 (G.B.)

Post by D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen » Fri Aug 12, 2016 6:37 pm

Built in 1939-'40 by British Power Boats, Hythe, for the Royal Air Force.
High Speed Launch, displacement:21,5 tons, L:19.20m (63') B:5.33m. (17' 6") Draft:1.14m. (3' 9") 3 Napier Sea Lion engines each 500 hp. (373 kW.) 36 kn. range:500 nm. complement:9 (including captain and a medical orderly) armament:2-0.303 machine guns.

The 63 foot long Type 2 high speed launch, known as the 'Whaleback' from the distinctive curve to its deck, was a high speed launch class ship used in air-sea rescue to save Allied aircrew from the sea after they were shot down during the Second World War.

In the Second World War, the retrieval of pilots and aircrew shot down over the sea around the British Isles was the responsibility of the Royal Air Force Air Sea Rescue Service, (motto: "The sea shall not have them") which coordinated rescues using its own aircraft, aircraft operated by Coastal Command and the Royal Navy and rescue launches operated by the RAF Marine Craft Service and the Royal Navy.

The Type Two was designed in 1937 by Hubert Scott-Paine, founder of the British Power Boat Company at Hythe. Scott-Paine had previously owned the Supermarine Aviation Company, later builders of the Supermarine Spitfire and several flying boat types.
A low set cabin contained the wheel-house, chart room and a sickbay. For defence against enemy aircraft, on top of the cabin were two aircraft-style turrets made by Armstrong-Whitworth each with a single .303 in Vickers machine gun. The mahogany hull was of the hard chine, planing type.

(Somaliland 2011, 2500 a. StG.?)
Internet.
Attachments
raf whaleback.jpg
hsl130 aer.jpeg

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