The Brave-class fast patrol boats were a
class
Class, Classes, or The Class may refer to:
Common uses not otherwise categorized
* Class (biology), a taxonomic rank
* Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects
* Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used d ...
of two
gas turbine
A gas turbine or gas turbine engine is a type of Internal combustion engine#Continuous combustion, continuous flow internal combustion engine. The main parts common to all gas turbine engines form the power-producing part (known as the gas gene ...
motor torpedo boats (MTBs) that were the last of their type for the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
(RN)
Coastal Forces division. They formed the basis for a series of simpler boats which were widely built for export.
At the time of their introduction the Braves were the fastest naval vessels in the world.
Brave class
The Brave class followed the of convertible motor torpedo boats/gunboats. They were larger than the Dark class, and differed in being powered by gas turbine engines rather than the diesel engines of the Dark class. (Gas turbine propulsion had been tested in the of two experimental fast patrol boats). Three
Bristol Proteus
The Bristol Proteus was the Bristol Engine Company's first mass-produced gas turbine engine design, a turboprop that delivered just over 4,000 hp (3,000 kW). The Proteus was a reverse-flow gas turbine. Because the second turbine drov ...
engines propelled the Braves to a maximum of . Like the Dark class, the Braves had a
mahogany
Mahogany is a straight- grained, reddish-brown timber of three tropical hardwood species of the genus ''Swietenia'', indigenous to the AmericasBridgewater, Samuel (2012). ''A Natural History of Belize: Inside the Maya Forest''. Austin: Universit ...
skin over
aluminium
Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...
frame construction. They were built to be able to be used as either
motor torpedo boats or
motor gun boats. For the former role they had a
40 mm Bofors gun, four
torpedo
A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, such ...
es and two
depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon designed to destroy submarine
A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited ...
s, in the latter two 40 mm guns and two torpedoes. It was planned to arm the ships with a new gun based on the
20-pounder tank gun in a stabilised mounting, but this was abandoned.
[Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 539.][Blackman 1960, pp. 48–49.]
The Royal Navy abandoned the idea of large scale coastal forces in 1957, so only two Braves were built for the Royal Navy. The two Braves, along with a single member of the Dark class, formed the Coastal Forces Trials and Special Service Squadron, based at Gosport. These were used to maintain proficiency in Coastal Forces operations, also being used as targets and for fishery protection.
[Blackman 1962, p. 286.] The two Braves were retired from use in 1970.
''Ferocity'' and derivatives
The Braves were expensive boats, so as a private venture,
Vospers produced a simpler derivative, ''Ferocity''. This was smaller than the Braves, with an
overall length
The overall length (OAL) of an ammunition cartridge is a measurement from the base of the brass shell casing to the tip of the bullet, seated into the brass casing. Cartridge overall length, or "COL", is important to safe functioning of reloads i ...
of and was powered by two Proteus engines instead of three, which were supplemented by two diesel engines for cruising. Construction was all wooden to minimise costs. Despite the reduced size and power, performance and armament were similar to the Braves. While ''Ferocity'' herself was not sold, it formed the basis for a number of boats for export.
["Ferocity"](_blank)
''British Military Powerboat Team''. Retrieved 23 February 2012. These included sales to
West Germany
West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...
(two, called the Vosper class),
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
(six of the ''Søløven'' class),
Greece
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
for the
RMN in 1966 (four craft),
Brunei
Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with ...
and
Libya
Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...
, and was also the basis for the .
Boats in class
The two RN craft were both built by
Vospers at
Portchester
Portchester is a village in the borough of Fareham in Hampshire, England. It is northwest of Portsmouth and around 18 miles east of Southampton on the A27 road. Its population according to the 2011 United Kingdom census was 17,789.
Name
Portc ...
:
* ,
launched on 7 January 1958 and commissioned on 26 January 1960
* , launched 22 May 1958 and commissioned on 20 July 1960
At the end of their life they were sold to the Haydon-Baillie aircraft museum.
HMS ''Brave Borderer'' was the subject of an attack by the
IRA in 1965. Royal Navy ships had begun to visit Ireland on friendship visits, but Republicans objected to their presence, and members of the IRA's Kilkenny Brigade, led by Richard Behal, determined to make a political point by attacking one of the vessels (it was not their intention to kill any crew). On 10 September 1965, as HMS ''Brave Borderer'' was departing
Waterford
Waterford ( ) is a City status in Ireland, city in County Waterford in the South-East Region, Ireland, south-east of Ireland. It is located within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster. The city is situated at the head of Waterford H ...
down the
River Suir
The River Suir ( ; or ''Abhainn na Siúire'' ) is a river in Ireland that flows into the Atlantic Ocean through Waterford after a distance of .
The catchment area of the Suir is 3,610 km2. for the sea, she was fired upon using a World War 2-vintage
Boys anti-tank rifle
The Boys anti-tank rifle (officially Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55in, Boys, and sometimes incorrectly spelled "Boyes") is a British anti-tank rifle used during the Second World War. It was often nicknamed the "elephant gun" by its users due to its siz ...
which blew two holes in the side of the vessel's stern. The vessel went to full speed and was out of range before any more rounds could be fired; there were no casualties, but the vessel had to return to Vospers for several months of repairs.
Export
Denmark
Denmark purchased six ''Søløven''-class fast patrol boats, with the larger hull form and the 3-Proteus powerplant of the Brave class and the wooden construction of ''Ferocity''. Armament consisted of two 40 mm Bofors guns and four torpedoes.
[Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 79.][Blackman 1971, p. 73.] The first two boats, ''Søløven'' and ''Søridderen'' were built by Vospers (with ''Søløven'' being paid for by the United States and hence given the nominal US designation ''PT-821''), with the remaining four boats being built under license by the Royal Dockyard,
Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
.
[Prézelin and Baker 1990, p. 107.] They were placed into reserve in 1988, and disposed of when the s entered service, with disposal complete by 1992.
One of the ''Søløven''-class boats, apparently in a derelict state, was auctioned in Belgium from 12–24 February 2016, being moored alongside another in Antwerp harbour.
Another "Søløven"-class, Søbjørnen is a museum vessel at the maritime museum in Aalborg.
West Germany

West Germany ordered two fast patrol boats (both designated Type 153) from Vospers on 22 August 1960. The first, ''Strahl'' was based on the Brave class, with three Proteus gas turbines, while ''Pfeil'' was based on the smaller ''Ferocity'' with two Proteus. Armament was the same convertible combination of Bofors 40 mm guns and torpedoes as the Brave class, with the option of replacing the torpedoes with eight
mines.
[Blackman 1962, p. 104.] They were transferred to Greece in 1967.
[Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 150.]
Libya
In October 1966, Libya ordered three fast patrol boats of the ''Susa'' class from Vospers based on the Danish ''Søløven'' class, with the wooden construction of ''Ferocity'' but a larger hull powered by three Proteus engines. Armament consisted of eight
SS.12 wire-guided
anti-ship missile
An anti-ship missile (AShM or ASM) is a guided missile that is designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing. ...
s and two 40 mm Bofors guns.
[Blackman 1971, p. 223.][Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 256.]
Malaysia
The
Royal Malaysian Navy
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN, ; Jawi alphabet, Jawi: ) is the naval arm of the Malaysian Armed Forces. RMN is the main agency responsible for the country's maritime surveillance and defence operations. RMN's area of operation consists of 603,2 ...
ordered four ''Perkasa''-class fast patrol craft on 22 October 1964 to be designed and built by Vospers. The design was similar to the Danish ''Søløven'' class, with a large () wooden hull with an aluminium superstructure and powered by three Proteus engines. The original armament was four torpedoes (which could be swapped for 10 mines), a single 40 mm Bofors gun forward and a twin
20 mm Oerlikon cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons based on an original German Becker Type M2 20 mm cannon design that appeared very early in World War I. It was widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others, with various models employ ...
mount aft.
[Blackman 1971, p. 275.][Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 260.] The four boats were delivered in 1967 and re-armed with eight SS-12 missiles in 1971.
*KD ''Perkasa'' P150
*KD ''Handalan'' P151
*KD ''Gempita'' P152
*KD ''Pendekar'' P153
Brunei

A single boat of the class was purchased by Brunei Darussalam for the Boat Company of the
Royal Brunei Malay Regiment
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF); (ABDB), Jawi: , is the official organisation and collective term for all of the military forces or service branches of the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. The RBAF consists of three primary military branc ...
(the forerunner to the
Royal Brunei Navy
The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), natively known as (TLDB) is the naval force of Brunei. It is a small but relatively well-equipped military force whose main responsibility is to conduct search and rescue missions, and to deter and defend the Bru ...
proper), commissioned in 1968, she became their first ship, named , originally identified as AMDB 100.
Notes
References
* Blackman, Raymond V. B. ''Jane's Fighting Ships 1960–61''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1960.
* Blackman, Raymond V. B. ''Jane's Fighting Ships 1962–63''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1962.
* Blackman, Raymond V. B. ''Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72''. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1971. .
* Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. ''Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995''. Annapolis, Maryland USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. .
* Prézelin, Bernard and A.D Baker. ''The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/91''. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1990. .
External links
Brave Class Fast Attack Craft"World's Fastest Fighting Vessel."''Popular Science'', June 1960, pp. 92–93, detailed cutaway drawings of Brave class.
{{Ship classes of the Royal Brunei Navy
Fast attack craft
Patrol boat classes
Patrol vessels of the Royal Navy
Patrol vessels of the United Kingdom
Ship classes of the Royal Navy
Torpedo boats of the Royal Navy