Old motorboat on the Medina

[dancrane]

I think the name is "Gunfleet", or something very close, but Google doesn't return any references.

She looks very slim and probably was very fast - maybe ex-RN? But not the MTB shape I'm accustomed to recognising.

Anybody know anything about her? Thanks.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Looks similar to a German river launch used by many of their government authorities. Low air draft for the bridges.
Could be police, border guards or even the military

 

[coopec]

Where did you find the photo? I right-clicked the photo and found you have put it in photo-bucket which was no help.

Could be police, border guards or even the military
Maybe a Pilot Boat? It looks like some sort of workboat......

Clive

 

[dancrane]

Thanks for replying...I agree she has the look of a work or patrol-boat, and the sleekness would suit low bridges on rivers I'm sure.

I didn't find the photo, I took it, last week.

 

[david_bagshaw]

Looks similar to a German river launch used by many of their government authorities. Low air draft for the bridges.
Could be police, border guards or even the military

definitely +1

were very common on the Rhine and Moselle in the 90s

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Where did you find the photo? I right-clicked the photo and found you have put it in photo-bucket which was no help.

Could be police, border guards or even the military
Maybe a Pilot Boat? It looks like some sort of workboat......

Clive

Not a pilot boat, they have lots of empty space on the foredeck and a central rail for the pilot to grab onto when he leaps aboard from the side of a ship.
Lots of accommodation below and no appreciable work space on deck, so yes, possible riverine patrol vessel,. Could also have been a passenger ferry in sheltered waters.

 

[spynappels]

Design may have been based off the WWII seaplane tenders or crash tenders, they had similar accommodation (especially the accommodation forward of the wheelhouse was common on crash tenders) and were used for SAR in the North Sea as well as general seaplane tendering duties. I believe Vospers were the main builders.

I built a 1m long model of one for my Technology and Design GCSE, the layout made R/C equipment fitting a doddle.

 

[coopec]

I think you are pretty close to the mark.





https://st365.wordpress.com/tag/air-sea-rescue/

It's not one of these
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pcwjy2jwRg

Clive

 

[dancrane]

Certainly similar style and proportions to those...

...but the distinctive "inverse sheerline" of WW2 motor torpedo boats and related vessels, isn't present in the boat on the Medina.

That's what made me curious - because she looks like the product of a quite different generation or region.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

. . . - because she looks like the product of a quite different generation or region.

That would be Germany in the 60s or 70s.

 

[coopec]

I agree with everything you say. I'm in Australia so I'm at a bit of a disadvantage in identifying types of boats.

Obviously the ability to carry passengers must be a major clue as to what it was used for.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-r...tore=1&vd=0&lb=&fi=2&edrf=&ispremium=1&flip=0

http://www.bmpt.org.uk/other_boats_history/ST-1510/index.htm

http://www.findaboat.co.uk/boating-news-events/tag/raf-seaplane-tender/

Clive

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

That vessel looks, in general arrangement, similar to the boats used, originally by the Americans, but later handed over to the Germans, for patrolling the Rhine during the Cold War. However, when examined in detail, it's not quite the same. Below is a link to a stock photo of one.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-u...tore=1&vd=0&lb=&fi=2&edrf=&ispremium=1&flip=0

 

[coopec]

Dan

Sorry I can't help. Maybe it would help if we had the exact name and then we could see if it was registered ship.
https://www.gov.uk/register-a-boat/the-uk-ship-register

http://www.sunderlandtrust.com/seaplane-tender-project-airborne/

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-h...der-st1502-of-raf-at-portsmouth-30301183.html

https://www.google.com.au/search?bi....0j0i24k1.0.rEyo23reneA#imgrc=RvOf5N6JQXxH4M:

https://www.google.com.au/search?bi...0....0...1c.1.64.img..33.0.0....0.FzoKXRh7Ovo

https://www.google.com.au/search?bi...0....0...1c.1.64.img..33.0.0....0.FzoKXRh7Ovo

Clive

 

[coopec]

Dan

Is this site any help? It is the Lloyds register of ships.

You can just put the start of the name in and do a search.
http://www.plimsollshipdata.org/

The tonnage of ships listed is far too large if I do a search on "Gun". But Australia has a register of ships for yacht and launches : maybe Lloyds has one too?

Clive

 

[Keith 66]

I seem to remember Gunfleet was a name used the Port of London authority on one of their launches based at Tilbury, possible she was one of theirs?

 

[coopec]

I seem to remember Gunfleet was a name used the Port of London authority on one of their launches based at Tilbury, possible she was one of theirs?

Well this looks promising as the Port of London does use the name "Gunfleet". Now obviously the photo I am about to give you the link to may be a of a present day "Gunfleet" (Not our Gunfleet")
http://www.pla.co.uk/Media-Centre/PLA-Galleries?category=search&searchtext=gunfleet&x=0&y=0#gal_202

I'd say she is almost certainly ex Port of London.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Por...s-7cAhUMe7wKHf7HDd8Q_AUICigB&biw=1064&bih=609

https://www.google.com/search?clien....0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.0.0....0.FGgubq4aZfU


Thank Keith, I am happy now!

Clive

 

[dancrane]

Thanks to all for the insights - this was only a very casual enquiry, but it's good to know I'm not the only person who's curious!

It's certainly true that Port of London Authority has a RIB called Gunfleet, and for a while I was hoping that the Medina boat was an earlier PLA vessel with the same name, but no search I've tried has yet supplied a matching photo.

At the moment I find Motor_Sailor's logic pretty good, about the likely date and origin of this boat's style; although again, there's no matching pictorial record on any photo-search of Rhine patrol boats.

I feel that the four square front windows in the wheelhouse are distinctive - plenty of pictures of fast patrol and rescue boats have three, or even five windows there, but none I've seen have four.

As for the name, I believe I'm right about "Gunfleet"...and it doesn't look like that plate is anything new...

...but no regional search of vessel has yet yielded a match. I didn't realise that a boat this large, could just disappear from records.

 

[lw395]

It doesn't look like the Nelson-type boats favoured by the PLA.
Could it have been something to do with the Gunfleet wind farm?
I imagine the cat flap might be an issue in strong weather. Cat would be surprised at least?

 

[dancrane]

:biggrin-new::biggrin-new:

I must admit, I hadn't noticed the cat-flap.

But that would seem (to me) to suggest long-term use as a houseboat.

I'm surprised if Newport/Medina mooring-holders don't know anything about the vessel.

 

[dancrane]

Dazzlingly, I just found her, myself...I just Googled "patrol boat Gunfleet", and up came a familiar sight...

...the location seems to have been Tilbury and Chadwell - according to the website - although there are few details here...

https://www.tilburyandchadwellmemor...ort/railways_and_trains/gunfleet_in_the_river