MOTOR ANTI/SUBMARINE BOAT
Builders:
British Powerboat Co. Hythe~Southampton 1941
Machinery: 3 x Power-Napier Sea Lion – @500hp each, high-octane petrol engines
Maximum speed: 30 knots
Length: 63 Foot
Beam: 17 Foot
Draft: 3tf 6ins
Crew: 7/8. 1Officer, 1 Petty Officer/Cox’n and 5/6 ratings
Armament: 1 20mm Oerlikon Cannon, two .500 Vickers MG’s in a
power turret, two
depth-charges and two .303 MG’s on deck mounts
Displacement: 20 tons
Admiralty No’s: 22-39 and 49
A 63ft Scott-Paine designed hull from the same production line as the RAF
A/SR Launch. MA/SB 37 was one of eighteen built, she was ordered in 1939 and
delivered in 1941. The roll of the MA/SB was inshore anti/submarine patrols.
This roll was very shot owing to the German U-boats operating outside the range
of the MA/SB. The were originally armed with a power operated turret with two
Vickers .500 MG’s and ten depth charges
In 1940/41 MA/SB 37 was converted for Naval Air/ Sea Rescue, a 20mm Oerlikon Cannon was fitted to the aft deck after being strengthened to carry the extra weight. In addition to the Oerlikon, two free standing .303 machine guns were also fitted to the forward deck in front of the wheelhouse. Eight of the original ten depth charges were removed and the crash nets were kept.
MA/SB
37 Operated out of
Portsmouth along and also in competition with other RAF A/SR "WHALEBACK" launches.
This model of MA/SB 37 is a GRP hull and a vac-formed wheel house made for Mr. Walters some time ago. It is powered by an Electronize 543-23 motor, battery power comes from a 7.2volt 2000 mah. Total running time, on and of the plain is around 35 minuets.
For information and prices on the hull and wheel house see our page "PBM Hulls".
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MA/SB 37 at Bournville MY&PBC RNLI day 24/6/2001.
MA/SB 37 TAKES A RE-FIT FOR CIRCA 1944
After taking part in the Open Day at the British Military Powerboat Trust 2001, I was generously given photos of several 63ft MA/SB taken in 1944 by a crew member. With this new and accurate information I could at last make MA/SB 37 look a little more accurate, the decision was made to re-fit and re-paint No37 to near accurate colours and layout.. As you can see a total repaint on the hull was needed and the upper works was also repaint and the fore deck was rearranged along with the addition of the red and white checks.
MA/SB 38 at speed operating out of Ramsgate 1944.
A new model will be made in the near future , using a hull and new vac-formed wheelhouse supplied by Powered Boat Mouldings and our new fittings.
MA/SB 37 in her final role as a Royal Navy A/SR Launch. The red and white checks along with the D/F loop were for direct contact with RAF aircraft.
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The above photo was taken at the Surface Warship Association
sailing day
at Bournville MY&PBC Birmingham 29/7/ 2001.
No 37 under the judges eye at Bournville MY&PBC Birmingham, annual "Baker Scale" competition 30/9/2001
The above photos was taken at the Surface Warship Association
sailing day at Mr. G Kirby's house 14/7/ 2002