Marine Craft Collection

Our London site is not just a home to a varied collection of aircraft, uniforms and medals. Marine Craft have been an integral part of the Royal Air Force’s History. At our London site the following craft are on view to the public.

63ft Pinnace Mk.1 1374

The 63ft Pinnace was the workhorse of the post war RAF Marine Craft fleet, widely used at UK and overseas bases, for lifting and laying of marine and aircraft moorings, the recovery of torpedos, sonar buoys and other practice weapons dropped on exercise, towing and cargo carrying duties, and assisting with aircrew sea survival exercises and helicopter rescue crew training.

RTTL 2757

Built by Vosper Ltd, Portsmouth with two 1700hp Rolls Royce Sea Griffon 101 engines and delivered new to RAF Alness January 1958. In 1974-5, the vessel was regularly commanded by F/Lt Colin Chandler, completing some 50 operational exercises/sorties, mainly involving RAF aircraft, though with some work with the Royal Navy and Army.

Seaplane Tender (ST) 206

Taken on charge into RAF service with the Marine Craft Section as one of the first batch of eight boats to be delivered to the RAF at Calshot, with her sea trials and commissioning reportedly being carried out by T.E. Shaw. Such high-speed tenders could serve in Stand By Flying duties, running parallel to a flying boat as it taxied and took off, carrying tools and fire extinguishers and ready to offer immediate assistance if there was an accident during take-off. Tenders could also tow flying boats to/from their moorings and ferrying passengers for the flying boats. The tender is on display in Hangar 1.