Coastal Forces grew from very little at the start of the war; a mere handful of boats overseen by an Admiralty with little concept of how best to use them. By the end of the war, 2,000 vessels had served in a command with its own Flag Admiral and they had become a potent weapon of war.
How this came about and the origins of the technology and concept of Coastal Forces is told in these chapters.
Part One: The Evolution of the Fast Motor Boat
Chapter 1: A Quest for Speed
The various design and technological developments that allowed the creation of fast Coastal Forces boats was not something that happened overnight. In fact, the important elements of their design can be traced back to the second half of the 19th century.
Chapter 2: An Offensive Need
Although not in name, the Coastal Motor Boat (CMB) was the true antecedent of the MTB. Its birth in 1915 was the first episode in the history of Coastal Forces.
Chapter 3: Industrial Might
To meet the need of a fleet of small coastal vessels, Britain turned to the industrial superpower of the US and the benefits of prefabrication.
Chapter 4: A Local Rivalry
Chapter 5: A Forward Thinker
© Spitfires of the Sea
Spitfires of the Sea 