NAVYPEDIA

Photo

SGB after war Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
SGB1			Thornycroft, Woolston	---	---	---	cancelled 1941
SGB2			Thornycroft, Woolston	---	---	---	cancelled 1941
SGB3, 1943 - Grey Seal	S303, 1948- P...	1874	Yarrow, Scotstoun	1.1941	28.9.1941	2.1942	sold 8.1949
SGB4, 1943 - Grey Fox	S304	1875	Yarrow, Scotstoun	1.1941	25.9.1941	3.1942	sold 10.1947
SGB5, 1943 - Grey Owl	S305, 1948- P...	648	Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn	4.1941	27.8.1941	4.1942	sold 12.1949
SGB6, 1943 - Grey Shark	S306	646	Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn	3.1941	17.11.1941	4.1942	sold 10.1947
SGB7	S309	1361	Denny, Dumbarton	2.1941	25.9.1941	3.1942	sunk 19.8.1942
SGB8, 1943 - Grey Wolf	S308	1362	Denny, Dumbarton	2.1941	3.11.1941	4.1942	sold 2.1948
SGB9, 1943 - Grey Goose	S307, 1948- P...	6059	White, Cowes	1.1941	14.2.1942	7.1942	sold 12.1957

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	175
Displacement full, t	255
Length, m	44.4
Breadth, m	7.11
Draught, m	1.40 deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Metrovick geared steam turbines, 1 Foster Wheeler or Lamont boiler
Power, h. p.	7200 - 8000
Max speed, kts	34
Fuel, t	oil 50
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 2 - 12.7/62, 2 - 533 TT
Electronic equipment	type 286PU radar
Complement	27

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Steel round-bilge gunboats (actually MTBs), designed specially for operations against German S-boats in La Manche. As in Britain there were no diesels with enough power, it was necessary to use steam turbines. It was supposed to built 60 SGBs, however only 9 were ordered, and 7 were built.

In 1942 — 1943 all have passed modernization in which course side abreast machinery was sheathed by 19mm armour plates and armament was considerably strengthened: 1 х 1 76mm gun, 1 х 1 40mm pompom (on part of boats) and 2 — 3 20mm Oerlikons were added. The crew has increased to 34 people, standard displacement reached 205t, speed was decreased to 30kts. All gunboats have received minelaying equipment for 8 — 10 mines and 2 DCs. In the second half of 1944 they again have passed update, this time for usage in a role of fast minesweepers. There was no any special minesweeping equipment: at the expense of large speed SGB had time to head out on safe distance from the blown up ground mine, and moored mines were not terrible thanks to a shallow draught.

Modernizations

1943, all survived: machinery was protected by 19mm armour. Standard displacement rose up to 205t and maximal speed fell to 30kts at 1.73m draught; + 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 1 x 1 - 40/51 QF Mk XIV, 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV. Complement was 34.

1943-1944, all survived: - type 286PU radar; + type 291 radar

late 1943, all survived: - 1 x 1 - 40/50, 1 x 1 - 40/39, 2x 2 - 12.7/62; + 2 x 1 - 57/43 6pdr 7cwt QF Mk II, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 DC or 8 - 10 mines

late 1944, all survived were converted to fast mine destructor vessels. Armament was 1 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

(1952 - 1954), Grey Goose: was re-engined with gas turbines.

Naval service

SGB7 was lost 19.6.1942 in La Manche by unknown cause. Grey Goose was used in tests from 1952 and laid up in 1956. Planned SGB10 - 50 and SGB351 - 359 were never ordered.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.