The dog boat section shifts from river gunboats to fast coastal craft. The design joined a destroyer-like bow to a fast motorboat stern, used four engines, and aimed to run more dryly into a head sea. Broken forward plywood frames in short, steep seas led to doubled framing and steel-angle reinforcement without abandoning the basic form. Prefabricated construction across many yards allowed orders to expand rapidly and let builders incorporate torpedo scallops, new weapons, and role changes during production. The same hull could emerge as a motor gunboat, motor torpedo boat, air-sea rescue craft, or anti-submarine boat as operational needs changed.
Chapter · 1:51:42-1:58:40
Fairmile D dog boat design and production
The Fairmile D discussion shows how British motor gunboat design combined speed, seakeeping, prefabrication, and rapid wartime modification.