Dartmouth Museum have identified a model of MGB 628. We would very much like to know if there are any images of her. Her history is : Here is what the records reveal about MGB 628:
Construction & Type
MGB 628 was a Fairmile “D” type — one of the famous “Dog Boats” — ordered on 27 April 1941 as part of the 1941 Original Programme. She was built by J. W. & A. Upham at Brixham and completed in November 1942, making her one of only a small number of Fairmile Ds assembled in the West Country. The type was 115 feet long, powered by four Packard engines, and designed to combat German E-boats in coastal waters.[wikipedia]
Commissioning & Early Service
Her first commanding officer was appointed on 28 December 1942: Temporary Lieutenant R. E. Cunningham, RNVR, who remained in command until at least June 1944. Following delivery, she was initially based at HMS St Christopher — the Royal Navy’s Coastal Forces training establishment at Fort William, Scotland — where new dog boats worked up their crews before operational deployment.
Her officers in this early period included:
• First Lieutenant D. Rigg, RNVR (November 1942 – January 1943)
• Third Officer / First Lieutenant G. F. Hewitson, RANVR (an Australian officer, October 1942 – June 1943)
• First Lieutenant R. H. Widdows, RNVR (August 1943 – June 1944)
Reclassification
Like most surviving Fairmile Ds in home waters, she was reclassified from MGB 628 to MTB 628 in September 1943, reflecting the RN’s shift to a combined gun/torpedo role for the type.
D-Day and the 55th MTB Flotilla
By June 1944 she had joined the 55th MTB Flotilla as part of the Eastern Task Force for Operation Neptune — the naval phase of the Normandy landings. The flotilla was under Senior Officer Lieutenant-Commander D. G. Bradford, RNVR (also commanding MTB 617), and the full complement at that time comprised MTBs 617, 621, 624, 628, 629, 630, 632, 650, 652, 668, 682, and 773, with MTB 759 joining in July–September 1944. This was a substantial coastal forces commitment to the D-Day operation, tasked with protecting the invasion flanks and patrolling against German E-boat interference.[unithistories]
Fate
MGB/MTB 628 survived the war and was placed for disposal in October 1945. She was one of the majority of surviving coastal forces craft that were simply sold off after the war, rather than being preserved or transferred to the Sea Cadets.[wikipedia]
It does not appear she was ever in dartmouth …
However, there is a gap in her record between the work-up period at Fort William (early 1943) and the confirmed 55th Flotilla assignment (June 1944). She may have been attached to another flotilla or base during that intervening period. Any help much appreciated!
Jonathan