Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 11:23-22:24

Warships that punched far above their weight

Augustus Agar's tiny coastal motor boat stands out among Royal Navy attacks on much larger opponents because of the displacement gap and hazardous torpedo launch.

Augustus AgarCoastal Motor BoatsHMS GlowwormSmall Craft WarfareThomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald
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Question

Which Royal Navy ship most deserves the award for punching above its weight, and why?

Short answer

Augustus Agar's five-ton coastal motor boat is the strongest pound-for-pound choice, with HMS Glowworm another compelling candidate.

Notes

Nelson's boarding of an 80-gun and a 112-gun ship with a 74, Thomas Cochrane's exploits, and HMS Glowworm all offer candidates for fighting above a ship's weight. The strongest pound-for-pound choice is Lieutenant Augustus Agar's five-ton coastal motor boat, which torpedoed a Russian cruiser in 1919. Its torpedo rolled off the stern facing forward, so the boat had to turn clear of its own weapon. The tiny crew rode exposed on top of the craft in Baltic conditions. The later comparison puts the opposing cruiser's displacement at 1,395 times the boat's, while the launching method itself added a risk of striking the vessel that released the torpedo.