SGB9 1943
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| SGB1 | Thornycroft, Woolston | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 1941 | |
| SGB2 | Thornycroft, Woolston | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 1941 | |
| SGB3, 1943 - Grey Seal | S303 | Yarrow, Scotstoun | 1/1941 | 28/9/1941 | 2/1942 | sold 8/1949 |
| SGB4, 1943 - Grey Fox | S304 | Yarrow, Scotstoun | 1/1941 | 25/9/1941 | 3/1942 | sold 10/1947 |
| SGB5, 1943 - Grey Owl | S305 | Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn | 4/1941 | 27/8/1941 | 4/1942 | sold 12/1949 |
| SGB6, 1943 - Grey Shark | S306 | Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn | 3/1941 | 17/11/1941 | 4/1942 | sold 10/1947 |
| SGB7 | S309 | Denny, Dumbarton | 2/1941 | 25/9/1941 | 3/1942 | sunk 19/8/1942 |
| SGB8, 1943 - Grey Wolf | S308 | Denny, Dumbarton | 2/1941 | 3/11/1941 | 4/1942 | sold 2/1948 |
| SGB9, 1943 - Grey Goose | S307 | 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 |
Metrovick geared steam turbines, 1 Foster Wheeler or Lamont boiler |
|
Power, h. p. |
7200 - 8000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
34 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 50 |
|
Armament |
2 x 1 - 40/39 pompom, 2 x 2 - 12.7/62, 2 - 533 TT |
| Sensors | type 286 radar |
|
Complement |
27 |
Ship 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 apply steam turbine plant. 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 QF Mk I HA, 1 x 1 - 40/50 Mk XIV, 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon. Complement was 34.
late 1943, all survived: - 1 x 1 - 40/50, 1 x 1 - 40/39, 2x 2 - 12.7/62; + 2 x 1 - 57/43 QF Mk IIA, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 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, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon
(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
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10