What a great achivement to build this replica of a CMB. Honors to you all. Later on Thornycroft built civilian versions inspired by the CMB's like Sereia as you have mentioned. A large version of these with a 12cylinder Thornycroft engine came to Sweden in the mid 1920's. Ordered by a well yo do swede. I realy have to get that book coming soon about Thornycroft. Great job everyone. Regards Peter Lindmark, Sweden.
Peter in Sweden here again. Sorry for my bad english. In my first comment I wrote, a well to yo swede. What I meant was; well to do swede. He had this big civilian Thornycroft CMB as a comuter in Stockholm arcipelago. It was capable for over 40 knots. It was later used by swedish customs to chase bootleggers. Bootlegging then, was big in the Baltic. Her name was Hunter 3. Suitably for the work. Would love to see the CMB replika and ofcourse the Sereia in action. Regards Peter Lindmark, Sweden.
Will there be any 'good modern' footage of the replica in action anytime soon? I'm afraid the slo-mo while good was quite limited on the excitement front. I think you need a chase boat and possible a couple of drones.
Im interested in why you added the weight aft ? I used to sail when i was very young and had use of a zodiac with an inflatable keel that was powered by a suzuki 5.5 hp outboard , my friend and i could get this on the plane by the helm sitting as forward as possible and the passenger getting right up on the prow , a couple of bounces on the prow and she would jump out and up onto the water and bloody fly , we could catch waterskiers and go under their lines .
I think the display at Duxford has gone now. Not far from me in Tallinn, there is a memorial plaque to the Royal Navy sailors who fought to keep Estonia free in the 1918-20 war.
The reason she is painted white is that the original CMB 4 was painted white when she was working clandestinly running agents in and out of St Petersburg in 1919. She was moored at a nearby yacht club in Finland and was under cover as a pleasure yacht
Amazing video. I've read Agar's books 'Baltic Episode' and 'Footprints In The Sea'. I had often wondered why no one had built a replica of CMB4. It's a historically significant boat. It didn't just sink the Oleg and participate in the Kronstadt raid (I think?) it had also participated in an action off Belgium during the war I believe, and after the Kronstadt raid it helped lay a mine field that sunk a Russian destroyer (that, unfortunately, had been trying to defect, if I recall). At least, that's what I recall from Agar's books. Have you come across any photographs of any 40 foot CMB with its Lewis Guns mounted? I've always heard that during action CMB4 and the other 40 footers mounted multiple Lewis guns. On the cover of Agar's book Baltic Episode CMB4 is shown with a dual Lewis mount. However, I have never seen a photograph or technical drawing of exactly where/how the machine guns were mounted. Do you plan to build the raised wind screen that all the wartime 40' CMBs seemed to have? Do you plan on fitting her out as if it was ready for a sortie, with the wind screen, machine guns (fakes, obviously), the whole deal? I think those details would make it look like a right proper wartime vessel and make it more exciting for the public. Did the 40 footers ever have those side mounted depth charge racks I recall the larger CMBs having?
Educational and reminding us of little known raids in the Baltic, almost as good as the Tally Ho saga! Perhaps we can ask James Cameron to remake the `Cruel Sea`, forcing him to expend a few million dollars on a Seagoing Compass Rose replica? I look forward to further updates and.....Subscribed! PS. What Engine have you employed, maybe it WAS mentioned but I may have missed it whilst doing `The English Thing` - Making a Cup of Tea!
It seems that this boat did a similar job to the American PT boats ...it's interesting to see the different approach between the American design and the British one
Looks like a cold moulded hull skin but I wonder how it was done since they did not have Modern Glues ? Perhaps copper riveted like the Fairmile Harbour Patrol Launches of WW2 ?
She is not cold molded. The shape is achieved by building 19 full length stringers over hull profile molds at stations set every four feet. Then 1" x ¾" frames (ribs) around the full circumference of the boat (as far as is practicable) set on fou- inch centers, so 100 overall. These completely prescribe the shape to which planking can be added and faired to round. First layer of planking is glued and nailed to the frames, then second layer is epoxy bonded to first. Entirety then nailed and roved through to stringers every eight inches.
Is there a reason why she is white? I assume the wartime versions were not white but black or dark grey ie low visibility for operations? Remarkable what you guys have done though! Well done. Pity that your film of the trials has no sound!? It would have been great to hear her.
I think that the government offers tenders to companies that are able to achieve their specifications for whatever they need.Be it Aircraft, Or whatever. If someone produces that spec at a price that the Government accepts then that is it! You get the contract. There obviously is more to this than meets the eye. Who knows who etc! “ It’s not what you know but who you know”But generally that is how things are conducted.
The money came from fines on crooked banks, there is a surviving coastal motor boat in the national collections but this replica is functional & so can actively demonstrate national history 'bringing it alive' with the history of the brave people who served in these little ships!
