The Story of HM MASB 27 1941-2016
MASB 27 was purchased by D-Day Revisited in April 2016 and moved by road to a new location at Hawarden Airfield, just outside Chester.
Little was known about her and so the charity began to do some research and discovered an inspiring tale of survival against the odds…
The key moments
Historical Timeline
1940
Ordered by the Admiralty in a batch numbered 22 to 39, MA/SB 27 was laid down by the British Power Boat Company Ltd. in 1940 as a 63 feet long Motor Anti-Submarine Boat.
1941
Commissioned into the Royal Navy and served for 4 years until peace was declared in May 1945.
1945
De-commissioned, disarmed and offered for sale in September.
Purchased by Lt Commander (retd) John Humphrey Yorath in November.
1946
Yorath began converting MASB 27 to a houseboat. The engines and fuel tanks were removed and once renovation was complete, she was in static private family use around Chichester on south coast of the UK.
1980
Following the death of John Yorath, the boat was sold to a Russian power boat enthusiast.
She was stripped of superstructure for conversion to luxury yacht.
1988
After the Russian owner ran out of money, the boat had been repossessed by Hamble Yacht Services and offered for sale.
She was purchased by freelance journalist & historian, Jonathan Eastland who further converted her and lived aboard in the area for many years.
2012
The boat was sold to Owen Childs with a view to restoration. She was moved by road to Watchet Harbour in Somerset.
The project proved too daunting which prompted Owen to seek a suitable buyer to take on the challenge.
2016
The boat was sold to D-Day Revisited for restoration.
She was transported by road from Somerset to the charity’s HQ at Hawarden Airfield near Chester.
The Story Begins 100 years ago
On 20th September 1916, when Hubert Scott-Paine incorporated the Supermarine Aviation Company Ltd. in Southampton. Scotty’s passion was flying boats and in 1917 a new draughtsman was taken on: Reginald Joseph Mitchell, who of course went on to achieve immortality as the creator of the Spitfire.
Although Supermarine developed world beating flying boats, winning the coveted Schneider Trophy, Scotty’s new passion was for fast motor boats. Later in wartime, these boats became known as the “Spitfires of the Sea”.
Built of strong but lightweight construction, powered by huge engines, the MTBs, MGBs, MA/SBs and HSLs raced through high seas at speeds often in excess of 40 knots.
Saving a unique piece of british engineering history
During research of this period in the 1920s & 30s, iconic names regularly appear. Just as Henry Royce went ahead with his Merlin engine under the enterprising title of PV-12 (private venture/12 cylinders) so Scott-Paine similarly set about spending his own money on a new gunboat identified as PV-70 (private venture/70 feet).
What followed was the building of MTBs (Motor Torpedo Boats), MGBs (Motor Gunboats) and MASBs which were fitted with the latest ASDIC equipment for protection of estuaries and coastal waters. As the RAF became interested in Air-Sea Rescue boats, they sent Aircraftsman T.E. Shaw to assist with development; Mr. Shaw better known as the extraordinary Lawrence of Arabia.
From Lawrence of Arabia To John F Kennedy
In 1939 just as Poland was being invaded, Scott-Paine left for America where he met with President Roosevelt who promptly committed $5 million for U.S. industry to adopt these advanced designs which became known as PT (Patrol Torpedo) Boats. It was PT-109 whose skipper was John F. Kennedy, later to become the 35th President of the USA.
Having begun hostilities in 1939 with only three flotillas of 18 MTBs, by 1944 Royal Navy Coastal Forces numbered 3,000 officers and 22,000 ratings. Altogether there were 2,000 of these “little ships” which fought over 900 actions and sank 400 enemy vessels. Official records of gunboat deployments are incomplete, and of course personal recollections are sometimes unreliable in their detail. Research on MASB 27 will continue; for the time being we know for sure that she played her part and served the Nation well.
Wartime Service
Research into MASB 27’s wartime activities uncovers the story of British enterprise, engineering ingenuity, determination and courage. This was a time when Britannia ruled the waves, but was to be supremely tested.
As the war progressed, the expected threat from enemy U-boats acting in coastal waters did not materialise. No longer required for protection of ports and estuaries, most MASBs were converted to MGBs or redeployed to Air Sea Rescue.
From February to July 1942 Lt. John Alexander Cecil Findlay was C.O. of MASB 27. Son of Sir Mansfeldt de Cardonnel Findlay GBE KCMG CB, Lt. Findlay joined 27 from MASB 25 which he had commanded for the previous six months. Subsequently he transferred to the 7th MGB Flotilla operating from Lowestoft and was later promoted to Lt. Cdr and awarded the DSO.
Special Ops
After working up in HMS St Christopher during Summer of 1941, it is clear that MASB 27 was then mainly based in Falmouth. As well as documented air-sea rescue duties, crew recollected crossings between Cornwall and Brittany on clandestine operations. Typically under direction of the Special Operations Executive, such deployments would drop agents into France and recover others.
Crewman Ernest Barnard recalled night crossings to the French coast, quietly waiting offshore and then rowing a small boat to the beach to drop off and/or collect various personnel. Ernie told his son, Mike, how they picked up RAF officers assisted by members of the French Resistance.
We’re grateful to Mike for sharing Ernie’s memories with us along with treasured family photographs, including the 1943 crew grouping.
recollections of Able Seaman Ernest Barnard
Ernie related memories of taking parties of frogmen over to France to deal with underwater obstructions close to the beaches. Due to wartime secrecy it’s unlikely that junior ratings would always know their positions exactly, nor the precise nature of the gunboat’s task. Ernie believed these missions were undertaken by MASB 27 off the Normandy coast in advance support of the D-Day invasion.
The wartime crew of an MASB would be typically 8 ratings of various ranks and two officers. The Commanding Officer would most likely be RNVR, a lieutenant or even sub-lieutenant.
Ernie served on board from 1942 to 1944. He was a gunner, usually operating the .50 calibre Vickers heavy machine gun in its rotating turret. In late 1944 Ernie was posted to Egypt where he served on ML 873.
Good News delivered at a snail’s pace
Mike Barnard was born at the end of 1943 and the news of his safe arrival travelled slowly to his father.
This telegram was received at HMS Forte (Falmouth). It can be seen clearly that Ernie’s address is MASB 27. The gunboat was deployed at sea when the telegram arrived at the Royal Navy base, so the news was sent by radio.
When the message was received the C.O. made the happy announcement over the boat’s loudspeaker!
Air-sea rescue Operations
These were undertaken from the Falmouth base, often in partnership with MASB 28. These would include action off the coast of Devon and Cornwall, including the Scilly Isles.
One incident logged by the Commanding Officer details a particular rescue of the crew of a downed US Army Air Force B17 Flying Fortress. It is related the aircraft had sunk, but with all surviving crewmen clinging to a severed wing. One can only imagine the elation prompted by sight of a fast approaching RN rescue gunboat, the difference between life and a cold, watery death.
The USAAF showed its gratitude by inviting MASB 27 crew members to the airfield for (we assume) a round of drinks!
HMS St Christopher to HMS Hornet
After the gunboat was commissioned in June 1941 and we see from the service record provided by Leading Seaman, William Etchells, that he was on board during the working up at Fort William (HMS St Christopher) later that month.
Most gunboats and crew were trained at St Christopher. It seems that MASB 27 was in Scotland for a month before returning south to HMS Hornet which was by then the primary south coast base for Coastal Forces. This record indicates further training in and around Portsmouth, then deployment to HMS Forte (Falmouth) in late 1941.
During his time on board 27, William met his wife-to-be when he was based in that sheltered Gosport harbour, with all its associated rivers and creeks.
mASB Love Story
A local launch by the name of “MOYANNA” was operated by a group of WRNS to make deliveries of mail and provisions around the various moorings.
It was on such a crossing that William had a chance meeting with one of the young WRNS, Avis Jane. They subsequently married as can be seen on the service record which shows MASB 27 as ‘address’.
For D-Day Revisited, the historical significance of MASB 27 is its support of the Normandy Landings which commenced on 6th June 1944. Although official records do not place 27 among vessels directly involved with the beach assault, all Royal Navy resources based along the Channel coast would be engaged in useful contribution.
Life after World War II
After its war service, like many timber gunboats, MASB 27 was sold off to become a houseboat. All armaments were removed. The three 24 litre Napier engines were taken out. In many cases, gunboat engines had been supplied by Packard under the Lend-Lease Agreement with the United States and were duly returned after hostilities.
These “little ships” had served their purpose and were no longer required by the Royal Navy. Their fate was uncertain and many were simply scrapped for their materials or used as targets for gunnery practice.
It seems that 27 narrowly survived the scrap yard in 1945. And of course, she had survived war service… perhaps we have a lucky boat!
First Rescue From The Breaker’s Yard in 1945
Although there isn’t a surviving record of what John Yorath paid for MASB 27 in 1945, his daughter, Felicity Jaffe, recalls the copper fuel tanks being taken out and floated ashore from anchorage off Itchenor. Felicity thinks there may have been one Sea-Lion engine aboard which her father sold. It seems that proceeds of that sale along with scrap value of the copper tanks paid for the boat!
Felicity remembers a very happy childhood on board their houseboat, which they affectionately named “Venture”. Felicity’s sons, Mike and Peter, still recall ‘Swallows and Amazons’ summers when playfulness could end up with one or both in the water! MASB 27 still means a great deal to the whole family, who have followed her recent restoration with great interest.
Second Rescue From The Breaker’s Yard in 1988
After the death of John Yorath in 1980, his family sold the boat to a Russian enthusiast whose ambitious plan was to convert 27 into a luxury motor launch. Work was commenced by Hamble Yacht Services, removing the military superstructure and changing much of the interior layout.
The new owner ran out of money, leaving the boat to be repossessed to settle debts. The aging gunboat was then offered for sale, now in a deteriorated condition.
After a couple of years, journalist Jonathan Eastland made what he called a ‘reluctant purchase’ with potential for a restoration. For the time being he converted 27 to a habitable houseboat and that was how it remained for twenty years.
Third Rescue From The Breaker’s Yard in 2016
Acknowledging that restoration plans were beyond his capability, Mr. Eastland sold the boat to Owen Childs who moved it to Watchet Harbour.
Once again the project was judged too daunting and costly. In 2016 D-Day Revisited purchased what remained of MASB 27 for a total restoration.
At 75 years old, the good news was that 27 had a sound hull. Originally built in double and triple diagonal Honduras mahogany, the structure survived remarkably well.
“With the 75th anniversary of D-Day just under 3 years away, we saw it as an opportunity to do something really special; to create a lasting legacy which would help to keep the story going once the veterans themselves were no longer here to tell it.” – John Phipps MBE
Three Year Restoration Begins
Rather than create a static museum piece, the plan was set to restore MASB 27 to its wartime condition, hopefully to last many more years!
The hull was refurbished externally and internally. A new superstructure and deck were fitted to match the original as closely as possible, using historic MoD plans and 1940s photographs.
Original Napier Sea Lion engines were W12 in geometry, with a swept volume of 24 litres. Each could produce 550 horsepower for short periods, more comfortably 500 HP in maintained cruise. Three of these engines had been used in 27 – giving a total maximum output of 1,650 HP. To replicate this, Cummins provided three straight six turbodiesel marine engines from their Darlington factory, each mapped to that same 550 HP.
refurbishment guided by Thorough Research
Weapons were sourced to match the original Vickers and Lewis guns, although of course de-activated replicas. A rear deck mounted Oerlikon ‘Pom-Pom’ had been included in a later wartime re-fit but does not feature in the restored specification. The plan was always for MASB 27 to once again become a proper seaworthy vessel.
Restoration work was carried out within the secure estate at Hawarden Airfield near Chester, repairing patches of hull damage caused by wet rot.
New mahogany boarding was used to match original timbers, and most of the original hull structure has been saved, treated and improved for extended life. Extracted timbers were reworked where possible to recycle into the gunboat, maintaining as much originality as possible.
MASB 27 is completed, just in the nick of Time!
The wheelhouse superstructure was made approximately three inches higher in order to include an access door which didn’t feature in the wartime design. This adjustment provided safe and convenient access for elderly veterans and other visitors.
The wheelhouse itself was made approximately 16 inches (400mm) longer so that visitors could have more space. Although this strays from precise authenticity, the change overcomes an original design flaw.
MASB 27 reached a practical completion in April 2019, having suffered a number of delays and setbacks as one can expect with such a project. The completed boat was lifted out of its makeshift Hawarden ‘boatyard’ on Thursday 2nd May.
may 2019 – the launch
After transport by road to the Hamble Point Marina near Southampton, the completed gunboat was lifted into the ‘oggin’. Sitting comfortably in exactly the correct line, she was pulled by rope into a working-up berth nearby. The following morning all three engines were running.
A mass of jobs were tackled during the next few weeks in readiness for sea trial: installing the mast and anchoring system, commissioning all electrics, plumbing, navigation equipment etc.
The time soon came to take see how she took to the open water! With a volunteer crew made up of Royal Navy and other senior military, MASB 27 took on fuel and was navigated out into the Solent, then across towards the Isle of Wight at speed.
mASB 27 is piped into portsmouth historic dockyard
Upon completion of sea trials, on Sunday 2nd June our fully restored gunboat was motored around to the Portsmouth Historic Naval Base to join the Memorial Flotilla.
With Piper on foredeck, 27 berthed at the newly completed Memorial Jetty alongside restored WW2 gunboat, MGB 81.
Here she was viewed by British and American D-Day Veterans gathering for the crossing to Normandy for commemoration and celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Invasion. D-Day Revisited was also delighted to welcome on board Mike Barnard and his family, son of wartime crew member, Ernest Barnard (Able Seaman/Gunner). Mike enjoyed a nostalgic tour of 27.
June 2019 – The Channel Crossing
The following morning, our flotilla set out into the Solent, settling on station to join the Brittany Ferries “Normandie” service departing at 1445. With around 100 D-Day veterans on board, everything was in readiness for a grand tribute as the loaded vessel left its berth.
As the ferry passed HM Naval Base and the new Fleet Carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, four P2000 patrol boats edged out to lead the way, with HMS Medusa, MGB 81, HSL 102 and MASB 27 falling in immediately behind, followed by a collection of a dozen Dunkirk ‘Little Ships’.The stern-most positioning of HMS St Albans completed the tribute as the entire flotilla slowly made its way past the Spinnaker Tower and out to sea. Soon the three WW2 gunboats accelerated past the ferry on its starboard quarter, to the delight of the crowds watching from the deck.
A Bumpy Ride
After slowing down to attach gun covers, in close company of MGB 81 and HSL 102, MASB 27 set course for Ouistreham and increased speed to 26 knots. The sea was pretty bouncy for the first 20 miles, with 102 occasionally going out of sight in clouds of spray as it bumped its way through heavy swell. On 27 the crew experienced some ‘bumping’ but it was not uncomfortable. D handles fixed around the wheelhouse interior were put to good use!
MASB 27 arrived safely in France under her own power for the first time since 1945. Full of energy, the restored gunboat had stormed across the Channel at speed, under the White Ensign again – back on duty.
She travelled down the Orne and moored at Pegasus Bridge, ready to be reunited with the D-Day veterans on 5th June.
Her first Act of Service
On 5th June 2019, D-Day veterans made their annual visit to Pegasus Bridge to pay tribute to the Paratroopers who were the first to land in occupied France to take possession of the vital crossing over the river Orne.
A much loved member of the D-Day Revisited group, Royal Navy veteran Ted Palmer, had followed the progress of the restoration and asked if – when his time came – his ashes could be scattered in Normandy from the gunboat. The charity was pleased to honour his wishes and so a full military honour was led by Rear Admiral Rex Cox CB as Ted’s fellow veterans watched from the river bank nearby.
It was a respectful and moving ceremony and a proud moment for the team involved in MASB’s restoration.
What’s Next For The Surviving Veteran?
Click here to find out what the future holds for a veteran gunboat of the Second World War in the 21st Century?
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