 HMSBrave Borderer on the Rhine, 1961 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Brave class |
| Builders | Vosper & Company,Portchester |
| Operators |  Royal Navy |
| Preceded by | Dark class |
| Built | 1958–1960 |
| In commission | 1960–1970 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Retired | 2 |
| General characteristics[1] | |
| Class & type | Motor torpedo boat |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 90 ft (27 m) wl 98 ft 10 in (30.12 m) overall |
| Beam | 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m) |
| Draught | 7 ft (2.1 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 52 knots (96 km/h; 60 mph) maximum46 knots (85 km/h; 53 mph) continuous |
| Range | 400 nmi (740 km; 460 mi) |
| Complement | 20 (3 officers, 17 ratings) |
| Armament |
|
TheBrave-class fast patrol boats were aclass of twogas turbinemotor torpedo boats (MTBs) that were the last of their type for theRoyal Navy (RN)Coastal Forces division. They formed the basis for a series of simpler boats which were widely built for export.
At the time of their introduction the Braves were the fastest naval vessels in the world.
The Brave class followed theDark class of convertible motor torpedo boats/gunboats. They were larger than the Dark class, and differed in being powered by gas turbine engines rather than the diesel engines of the Dark class. (Gas turbine propulsion had been tested in theBold class of two experimental fast patrol boats). ThreeBristol Proteus engines propelled the Braves to a maximum of 52knots (96 km/h; 60 mph). Like the Dark class, the Braves had amahogany skin overaluminium frame construction. They were built to be able to be used as eithermotor torpedo boats ormotor gun boats. For the former role they had a40 mm Bofors gun, four 21-inch (533 mm)torpedoes and twodepth charges, in the latter two 40 mm guns and two torpedoes. It was planned to arm the ships with a new 3.3-inch (84 mm) gun based on the20-pounder tank gun in a stabilised mounting, but this was abandoned.[3][4]
The Royal Navy abandoned the idea of large scale coastal forces in 1957, so only two Braves were built for the Royal Navy. The two Braves, along with a single member of the Dark class, formed the Coastal Forces Trials and Special Service Squadron, based at Gosport. These were used to maintain proficiency in Coastal Forces operations, also being used as targets and for fishery protection.[3][5] The two Braves were retired from use in 1970.[3]
The Braves were expensive boats, so as a private venture,Vospers produced a simpler derivative,Ferocity. This was smaller than the Braves, with anoverall length of 90 feet 8 inches (27.64 m) and was powered by two Proteus engines instead of three, which were supplemented by two diesel engines for cruising. Construction was all wooden to minimise costs. Despite the reduced size and power, performance and armament were similar to the Braves. WhileFerocity herself was not sold, it formed the basis for a number of boats for export.[5][6] These included sales toWest Germany (two, called the Vosper class),Denmark (six of theSøløven class),Greece,Malaysia for theRMN in 1966 (four craft),Brunei andLibya, and was also the basis for theScimitar-class fast training boat.[citation needed]
The two RN craft were both built byVospers atPortchester:
At the end of their life they were sold to the Haydon-Baillie aircraft museum.
HMSBrave Borderer was the subject of an attack by theIRA in 1965.[7] Royal Navy ships had begun to visit Ireland on friendship visits, but Republicans objected to their presence, and members of the IRA's Kilkenny Brigade, led by Richard Behal, determined to make a political point by attacking one of the vessels (it was not their intention to kill any crew). On 10 September 1965, as HMSBrave Borderer was departingWaterford down theRiver Suir for the sea, she was fired upon using a World War 2-vintageBoys anti-tank rifle which blew two holes in the side of the vessel's stern. The vessel went to full speed and was out of range before any more rounds could be fired; there were no casualties, but the vessel had to return to Vospers for several months of repairs.[citation needed]
Denmark purchased sixSøløven-class fast patrol boats, with the larger hull form and the 3-Proteus powerplant of the Brave class and the wooden construction ofFerocity. Armament consisted of two 40 mm Bofors guns and four torpedoes.[8][9] The first two boats,Søløven andSøridderen were built by Vospers (withSøløven being paid for by the United States and hence given the nominal US designationPT-821), with the remaining four boats being built under license by the Royal Dockyard,Copenhagen.[10] They were placed into reserve in 1988, and disposed of when theFlyvefisken-class patrol vessels entered service, with disposal complete by 1992.[8]
| Name | Number | Laid down[9] | Launched[9] | Commissioned[9] | Fate[11] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Søløven | P 510 | 27 August 1962 | 19 April 1963 | 12 February 1965 | Decommissioned 5 July 1990 |
| Søridderen | P 511 | 4 October 1962 | 22 Aug 1963 | 10 February 1965 | Decommissioned 5 July 1990 |
| Søbjørnen | P 512 | 9 July 1963 | 19 August 1964 | 20 October 1965[10] | Decommissioned 5 July 1990 |
| Søhesten | P 513 | 5 September 1963 | 31 March 1965 | 21 June 1966[10] | Decommissioned 5 July 1990 |
| Søhunden | P 514 | 18 August 1964 | 12 January 1966 | 20 December 1966[10] | Decommissioned 5 July 1990 |
| Søulven | P 515 | 30 March 1965 | 27 April 1966 | 17 May 1967[10] | Decommissioned 5 July 1990 |
One of theSøløven-class boats, apparently in a derelict state, was auctioned in Belgium from 12–24 February 2016,[12] being moored alongside another in Antwerp harbour.Another "Søløven"-class, Søbjørnen is a museum vessel at the maritime museum in Aalborg.[13]
West Germany ordered two fast patrol boats (both designated Type 153) from Vospers on 22 August 1960. The first,Strahl was based on the Brave class, with three Proteus gas turbines, whilePfeil was based on the smallerFerocity with two Proteus. Armament was the same convertible combination of Bofors 40 mm guns and torpedoes as the Brave class, with the option of replacing the torpedoes with eightmines.[14] They were transferred to Greece in 1967.[15]
| Name | Number | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pfeil | P 6193 | 26 October 1961[15] | 27 June 1962[15] | To Greece 1967 asAiolos (P19). Discarded 1976[16] |
| Strahl | P 6194 | 10 January 1962[14] | 21 November 1962[17] | To Greece 1967 asAstrapi (P 20). Discarded 1979[16] |
In October 1966, Libya ordered three fast patrol boats of theSusa class from Vospers based on the DanishSøløven class, with the wooden construction ofFerocity but a larger hull powered by three Proteus engines. Armament consisted of eightSS.12 wire-guidedanti-ship missiles and two 40 mm Bofors guns.[18][19]
| Name | Number | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susa | P 512 | 31 August 1967[19] | ||
| Sirte | P 513 | 10 January 1968[19] | ||
| Sebha (originallySokna) | P 514 | 29 February 1968[19] |
TheRoyal Malaysian Navy ordered fourPerkasa-class fast patrol craft on 22 October 1964 to be designed and built by Vospers. The design was similar to the DanishSøløven class, with a large (30.4 metres (99 ft 9 in)) wooden hull with an aluminium superstructure and powered by three Proteus engines. The original armament was four torpedoes (which could be swapped for 10 mines), a single 40 mm Bofors gun forward and a twin20 mm Oerlikon cannon mount aft.[20][21] The four boats were delivered in 1967 and re-armed with eight SS-12 missiles in 1971.[20]
A single boat of the class was purchased by Brunei Darussalam for the Boat Company of theRoyal Brunei Malay Regiment (the forerunner to theRoyal Brunei Navy proper), commissioned in 1968, she became their first ship, namedKDB Pahlawan (P01), originally identified as AMDB 100.
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Royal Brunei Navy ship classes | ||
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| Corvette |  | |
| Patrol vessel | ||
| Fast attack craft | ||
| Amphibious ship | ||
| Auxiliary ship | ||
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