Name Brave class Built 1958–1960 | Operators Royal Navy In commission 1960–1970 | |
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Builders Vosper & Company, Portchester Preceded by Dark-class fast patrol boat | ||
The Brave-class fast patrol boats were a class of two motor torpedo boats that were the last of their type for the Royal Navy (RN) Coastal Forces division. They formed the basis for a series of simpler boats, which were widely built for export.
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Brave class
The Brave class followed the Dark-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 the Bold-class of two experimental fast patrol boats). Three Bristol Proteus engines propelled the Braves to a maximum of 52 knots (96 km/h; 60 mph). Like the Dark class, the Braves had a mahogany skin over aluminium frame construction. They were built to be able to be used as either Motor Torpedo Boats or Motor Gun Boats. For the former role they had a 40mm Bofors gun, four torpedoes (21 inch diameter) and two depth charges, in the latter two 40 mm guns and two torpedoes. It was planned to arm the ships with a new 3.3 inches (84 mm) gun based on the 20 pounder tank gun in a stabilised mounting, but this was abandoned.
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 as Gosport. These were used to maintain proficiency in Coastal Forces operations, also being used as targets and for fishery protection. The two Braves were retired from use in 1970.
Ferocity and derivatives
The Braves were expensive boats, so as a private venture, Vospers produced a simpler derivative, Ferocity. This was smaller than the Braves, with an overall 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. While Ferocity herself was not sold, it formed the basis for a number of boats for export. These included sales to West Germany (two, called the Vosper class), Denmark (five of the Søløven class), Greece, Malaysia for the RMN in 1966 (4 craft), Brunei and Libya, and was also the basis for the Scimitar-class fast training boat.
Boats
The two RN craft were both built by Vospers at Portchester:
At the end of their life they were sold to the Haydon-Baillie aircraft museum.
Denmark
Denmark purchased six Søløven-class fast patrol boats, with the larger hull form and the 3-Proteus powerplant of the Brave class and the wooden construction of Ferocity. Armament consisted of two 40 mm Bofors guns and four torpedoes. The first two boats, Søløven and Søridderen were built by Vospers (with Søløven being paid for by the United States and hence given the nominal US designation PT-821), with the remaining four boats being built under license by the Royal Dockyard, Copenhagen. They were placed into reserve in 1988, and disposed of when the Flyvefisken-class patrol vessels entered service, all being disposed of by 1992.
One of the Søløven-class boats, looking to be in a derelict state, was being auctioned in Belgium from 12–24 February 2016, being moored alongside another in Antwerp harbour.
Germany
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, while Pfeil was based on the smaller Ferocity 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 eight mines. They were transferred to Greece in 1967.
Libya
In October 1966, Libya ordered three fast patrol boats of the Susa class from Vospers based on the Danish Søløven class, with the wooden construction of Ferocity but a larger hull powered by three Proteus engines. Armament of eight SS.12 wire guided anti-ship missiles and two 40 mm Bofors guns.
Malaysia
The Royal Malaysian Navy ordered four Perkasa class fast patrol craft on 22 October 1964 to be designed and built by Vospers. The design was similar to the Danish Søløven 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 20 mm cannon aft. The four boats were delivered in 1967 and re-armed with eight SS-12 missiles in 1971.
Brunei
A single boat of the class was purchased by the Royal Brunei Navy, KDB Pahlawan.
Model
In the 1970s the Japanese model company Tamiya produced a 1:72 scale model of the KD Perkasa.