Your Boat Photos - Rescue and Target Towing Launch 2748

Your Boat Photos

No: 1741 Contributor: Peter Langsdale Year: 1964 Country: Maldives

Rescue and Target Towing Launch 2748

Taken about 1964 at MCU Alness, Cromarty Firth, Scotland. Among the many jobs I did whilst in the RAF was radar fitter, carrying out periodic maintenance on the Decca radar fitted to these launches. No motorways in those days, so we had to drive up from RAF North Luffenham in RAF Morris Minor shooting brakes, stuffed with test equipment, in two hops, with an overnight stop at RAF Turnhouse, Edinburgh.
I travelled to every MCU in the UK while on that job, and always asked for a full speed run out to at least 30 miles to "check the radar" - very exhilarating at 33 knots, hanging on for dear life!

RTTL 2748 spent some time at RAF Gan, Maldives, Indian Ocean around 1960, and I believe this craft may be found today in the Maritime Museum at Bristol.
A crash survivor relates (on the Flypast Forum) "Thankfully 2748 was in the water on the night of March 1st 1960 at RAF Gan, Maldives when a Hastings I was travelling in ditched in the sea in a raging storm 1.5 miles short of the runway. The crew of this craft saved 14 lives that night, including mine. I was pulled aboard from a dinghy by a boat hook inserted into the back of my Mae West, half holding on to a scrambling net. My colleague was less fortunate, he was hauled aboard by his hair!"

Picture added on 28 January 2008

Comments:

I have just discovered that 2748 has survived, been restored and may be at Bristol (2007). There is a photo of her, now painted white overall with black numbers, on the British Military Powerboat Trust web site in the Target Towing Launches forum.

Added by Peter Langsdale on 02 February 2008.

I was stationed at RAF Alness 1959 as a wireless op. I am trying to find a photo of the launch I served on, it was either 2757 or 2754 I am not quite sure. Can anyone help please
Kind regards
Edwin Smith

Added by Edwin Smith on 02 April 2008.

Now in plymouth - restoration continues

Added by KEITH on 18 May 2008.

In relation to 2757 based in RAF Alness in the 1960's, i have some great pictures and further information. Does anyone remember my father Ted Phillips (R1921163), he was the radio op on this craft.

Added by Christiaan Phillips on 24 January 2009.

My Dad was Stned in Alness between 76-78 Graham Matthews in his son. We are looking for info on who may know hima and pic of the boats and STN Crests. If any one can help, thank you.

Added by A MATTHEWS on 27 June 2009.

I have just seen the picture of the RTTL 2748. My Dad, Sgt Ron Claret, was stationed at RAF Alness between 1966 and 1968. He was Coxswain and I have his log books. They tell of many target towing and other duties in the Moray Firth, Cromarty Firth and to Lossiemouth, Invergordon, etc., with the 2748 and the 1391.

I don't have any pictures of either of these boats, so it was lovely to come across this one. Thank you.

Added by Jackie Jenkins on 13 October 2010.

If you still want a photo of 1391 let me know at I have a couple of her that I took when she was based at the MCU in Gibraltar circa 77/80.

Added by Steve Crossley on 25 October 2010.

2748 is moored in the River Plym, Plymouth of off Yacht Haven Marina and is in a sorry state

Added by Russ Cluer on 04 December 2010.

Has anyone pictures of the MK1 RTTL's? The ones named after bombers, apart from Spitfire, numbered from 4000-4007.
Be great to see if anyone has any.
Andrew.

Added by Andrew Wright on 15 December 2010.

Correction to my last post, the Spitfires were MK3's.
Andrew.

Added by Andrew Wright on 16 December 2010.

Hi Spitfire is in a sorry state located at NNS Pathfinder (Nigerian Navy Ship, shore base) Port Harcourt, Hurricane & Wellinfton are in Guinea Bissau where we handed them over after delivery from Rosyth (under their own steam) albeit a little tired but still healthy and requiring some work to be operational.

Added by Tony Byrne on 18 February 2011.

Tony! I understand Halifax went to the Nile. Thanks for replying to this, it would be interesting to know where all the seven boat's are now, and pictures would be better still.
Andrew.

Added by Andrew Wright on 24 February 2011.

Peter, were you ever stationed at RAF Glugor, Penang, and known as Radar. Never got to know your proper name, with Terry O'carroll as I/c Wireless mntce.? Sister ship on station RTTL 2755

Added by Tony Meagher on 06 April 2011.

Hello tony, no, I never went further East than Bahrain, and was a 3rd line servicing "expert" maintaining, retuning and repairing the radars on only the RTTLs in the United Kingdom. I had that job for a couple of years during mu total of 17 years in the RAF, and a great job it was too! I always insisted on a run out to check maximum range (30 miles offshore) as a final check. This was usually done at maximum speed, something like 33 knots, I recall - wonderful to get some sea air!

Added by Peter Langsdale on 07 April 2011.

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