SGB9 1943
| 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 |
|
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 |
| Sensors | type 286PU radar |
|
Complement |
27 |
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 õ 1 76mm gun, 1 õ 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.
SGB after war
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10