World-War-Ii Articles
In the thick of the Second World War, while Britain bravely held off enemy invasions, a dire threat arose. Convoys of ships bringing essential supplies were falling prey to deadly torpedoes from German E-Boats. Enter Hubert Scott-Paine, a former powerboat racer and founder of the British Powerboat Company armed with an ingenious solution — the Motor Gun Boat 81.
This 70ft high-performance gun boat was equipped with a wooden hull designed for planing and three powerful Packard 1,250hp petrol engines. The result was a craft capable of an incredible 40 knots — a speed unheard of for boats of its size even in today’s standards, let alone nearly a century ago. For armament, it sported a two-pounder gun capable of firing over 100 rounds a minute at a range of over two miles, and depth charges that could strike underwater foes.
In the annals of World War II, few nautical tales evoke as much emotion and honour as those of the Little Ships of Dunkirk. They were present during one of the most dramatic seaborne evacs in history, and became symbols of dogged resilience and unyielding grit, much of it chipped away by the harsh wind and waves over time. It is this tale of mettle and valour that serves as the backdrop for an endeavour most heroic: the revival of one of these legendary vessels.
It began as a seemingly insurmountable task. The Little Ship in question, a celebrated hero of those lorn Dunkirk beaches, had fallen into despair over the decades. This was a maritime treasure buried under a mountain of rust and wear, a forgotten gem awaiting the careful hand of a saviour.