Wartime design of Nov 1944. Dickens Class II Vessels.

Both Shakespeare class GSL (general service launch) and Dickens class II's were designed by Groves and Gutterige of Cowes, Isle of Wight. The primary conceived wartime purpose of the 50ft GSL's was to convey Officers out to Merchantmen, in order to act as Examination Vessels. The original design dates back to about 1943, an evolution of the earlier and smaller, but generally similar GSL. Later they were also required to patrol and clear military ranges (of extraneous civil craft), carry passengers (including Dignitaries), convey and re-supply military stores, repatriate fallen soldiers from the battlefields, (post war), provide training for both seamen and engineers, and even operate Special Forces and Commandos (for example, during the Indonesian Confrontation in the 1960's)
The War Department design of the Mark II, as it is also known, was approved in late November 1944. Mr Donald Harms oversaw this process, and eventually ended up as overall Engineer Superintendent for the whole service. (RASC had some 1,600 ships and boats in its prime, at the end of the WWII) two boats of this type were later fitted with large freshwater tanks, to act as Military water carriers. Engineer Rear admiral RC Bodie was the overall mastermind behind the construction of the WWII War department Fleet, directing the expansion of this enormous worldwide fleet (he was actually a veteran of WWI Naval Services). His own story is incredible and can be forwarded, if of interest.

50 ft. general Service Launches. Dickins series II.

The last Dickins was delivered in February 1947 as above, 19 were built by British Power Boat Co. alone.
A further 21 were cancelled on 25.09.45 at wars end (which would have been built by B.P.B. with names like Swivvler etc) of all the Dickins mark II's only 2 have been lost, and they were the ones used as water carriers (rotted from the inside out) the others are spread world wide, but a lot remain throughout the British Isles. Former Beatle Sir Paul Mcartney has one.

50 ft.General service Launch (2nd Series) General Particulars

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