MTB 454

A war story…

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Raleigh: Picked it up at Belfast shipyards and headed for Lands End. Fire broke out on a switchboard so returned. Attempted sabotage, it was. Even the shipyards had sympathizers. Had that fixed. Asked for a letter to recommend running engines at 2000 rpm so we could plane.

481 and 454 planing

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Grandson: 2000?

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Raleigh: Yes, we were only authorized to run them at 1600 rpm. Couldn’t get up to planing speed. Wallowed along.

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Grandson: I can imagine. Like a hippopotamus.

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Raleigh: So we got up to planing speed, 20 knots or so. Skimmed around Lands End and up to Falmouth. But when we arrived we received a Morse message. Report to HQ. I was asked, “Did you exceed 1600 rpm?”

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Grandson: But you had permission?

454, remembered

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Raleigh: I had a letter, yes. But it didn’t prevent a rap over the knuckles. Carried on to Felixstowe at the designated speed.

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Grandson: But you had fond memories of 454. So much so you named your lake boat the same.

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Raleigh: Er, yes.

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Voice-over

MTBs were sprightly little vessels/warcraft, later models achieving 30 knots. Post-war, a generation of MTB sailors relived their memories, in stories, even on boats.

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