HM Coastal Motor Boat 4
Encyclopedia
HM Coastal Motor Boat 4 was one of a large series of small, fast, shallow draught Coastal Motor Boats used during World War I
. She was designed by John I. Thornycroft & Company
of Hampton
, England
, ordered in January 1916, built by them and delivered that summer.
CMB 4 was 45 feet (14 m) long and 8 in 6 in (2.59 m) in the beam. She displaced 5 tons drawing 2 in 9 in (0.8382 m) of water. Power was provided by a 1 shaft Thornycroft V-12 petrol engine which developed 275 bhp and achieved a top speed of 24.8 knots (48.6 km/h). The boat was armed with one 18 inches (457.2 mm) torpedo
and four .303 Lewis machine guns. It carried a crew of 3.
In May 1916, Lt. W.N.T. Beckett MVO DSC
took command of the newly built HM Coastal Motor Boat 4. In December 1916 he proceeded to Dunkirk in charge of the 3rd CMB Division and operated on the Belgian coast. Beckett was in command of a Divisional CMB attack on German destroyers at Zeebrugge
on 7 April 1917; as a result one was sunk and one very seriously damaged. For these actions Beckett was mentioned in Despatches and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
(DSC).
The boat, under the command of Lt. Augustus Agar
, V.C., was made famous by his part in the British operations in the Baltic Sea against the Bolsheviks
in 1919 where she operated with her sister ships in activities such as the raid on Kronstadt.
After the action the boat was returned to the United Kingdom where it was on display first at the Imperial War Museum
in London
and then at the Vosper
works on Platt’s Eyot (island) on the River Thames
near Kingston
for many years with a Victoria Cross
painted on the side until the Vosper works there closed. It was then restored and is now on display with details of the action but with the painted VC removed at the Imperial War Museum’s out-station in Duxford
near Cambridge
. Agar
’s VC is held by the War Museum in London.
The boat was inscribed on the National Register of Historic Vessels in May 1996, becoming part of the National Historic Fleet
.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. She was designed by John I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
of Hampton
Hampton, London
Hampton is a suburban area, centred on an old village on the north bank of the River Thames, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in England. Formerly it was in the county of Middlesex, which was formerly also its postal county. The population is about 9,500...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, ordered in January 1916, built by them and delivered that summer.
CMB 4 was 45 feet (14 m) long and 8 in 6 in (2.59 m) in the beam. She displaced 5 tons drawing 2 in 9 in (0.8382 m) of water. Power was provided by a 1 shaft Thornycroft V-12 petrol engine which developed 275 bhp and achieved a top speed of 24.8 knots (48.6 km/h). The boat was armed with one 18 inches (457.2 mm) torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
and four .303 Lewis machine guns. It carried a crew of 3.
In May 1916, Lt. W.N.T. Beckett MVO DSC
DSC
-in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah...
took command of the newly built HM Coastal Motor Boat 4. In December 1916 he proceeded to Dunkirk in charge of the 3rd CMB Division and operated on the Belgian coast. Beckett was in command of a Divisional CMB attack on German destroyers at Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
on 7 April 1917; as a result one was sunk and one very seriously damaged. For these actions Beckett was mentioned in Despatches and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
(DSC).
The boat, under the command of Lt. Augustus Agar
Augustus Agar
Captain Augustus Willington Shelton Agar, VC, DSO, RN was a noted Royal Navy officer in both World War I and World War II and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.In...
, V.C., was made famous by his part in the British operations in the Baltic Sea against the Bolsheviks
British Campaign in the Baltic 1918-19
The British Campaign in the Baltic 1918-19 was a part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. The intervention played a key role in enabling the establishment of the independent states of Estonia and Latvia but failed to secure the control of Petrograd by Russian White forces, one of...
in 1919 where she operated with her sister ships in activities such as the raid on Kronstadt.
After the action the boat was returned to the United Kingdom where it was on display first at the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and then at the Vosper
Vosper
Vosper may refer to:*People**Cyril Ronald Vosper, a British Scientologist and, later, critic of Scientology**Dennis Forwood Vosper, Baron Runcorn, a British Conservative politician...
works on Platt’s Eyot (island) on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
near Kingston
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
for many years with a Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
painted on the side until the Vosper works there closed. It was then restored and is now on display with details of the action but with the painted VC removed at the Imperial War Museum’s out-station in Duxford
Duxford
Duxford is a village in Cambridgeshire, England, some ten miles south of Cambridge.-History:The village formed on the banks of the River Cam, a little below its emergence from the hills of north Essex...
near Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. Agar
Agar
Agar or agar-agar is a gelatinous substance derived from a polysaccharide that accumulates in the cell walls of agarophyte red algae. Throughout history into modern times, agar has been chiefly used as an ingredient in desserts throughout Asia and also as a solid substrate to contain culture medium...
’s VC is held by the War Museum in London.
The boat was inscribed on the National Register of Historic Vessels in May 1996, becoming part of the National Historic Fleet
National Historic Fleet, Core Collection
The National Historic Fleet, Core Collection is a list of museum ships located in the United Kingdom, under the National Historic Ships register.The vessels on the National Historic Fleet are distinguished by:...
.