This wonderful short film from the IWM is a dramatisation made at close of war in 1945, but featuring actual personnel of Light Coastal Forces — and a great set of characters they are too! The story-line illustrates the typical workload of Coastal Forces in the North Sea, from long, cold, uneventful patrols, to a night-time hunt for a German coastal convoy, and a sudden and violent clash with E-boats. If you ever wanted to know what these boats sounded like at full throttle, or see exactly how their crews went about their business, then here’s your chance!
Geoffrey M Hudson, Honorary Historian, Coastal Forces Veterans Association (CFVA) has provided some additional background information on the film. The boats featured include 70’ Vosper 1942 class boats, 70’ British Power Boat motor gunboats and MTB 210 — a J Samuel White-built 70’ Vosper which later joined the 13th MTB Flotilla at Dover. The fictional MTB 181 is probably MTB 352, commanded by Lieutenant John M Moore RNVR which joined the 11th MTB Flotilla at Felixstowe after completing her work up. Also featured is MTB 354, commanded by Lieutenant Roland Plugge RN which was the SO's boat, 5th MTB Flotilla, at Dover. The German flak trawler is in fact an RN Isles Class trawler standing in.
The film is called The Broad Fourteens