Thornycroft 67ft High Speed Launch, Mark IB

The 67 ft Thornycroft HSLs Mk1B were the series production of the craft with non-handed propellers. A Mk1 variant, HSL 2505, had been converted to operate with non-handed propellers and a slight increase in speed had followed. However the Mk1B craft are all listed with the same speed as the Mk1 craft. Otherwise there were no major differences in layout to the Mk1 craft.

Craft built to this variant were delivered from late 1943 onwards, having been ordered in May 1942. Thornycroft built two batches, one batch at Hampton (2607 - 2614) and the second batch at Woolston (2653 - 2660), however the second batch were originally to be built at Hampton and were allocated Yard Numbers 2640 - 2647 respectively. The units were given new Yard Numbers from Woolston. Two units were built by Ranalah Yacht under sub contract from Thornycroft, and larger batch of 10 craft (2661 - 2670) were sub contracted out to Meakes of Marlow.

Most of the HSLs built in this configuration remained in UK waters for the most part of WWII and the majority were disposed of in 1946/47 through the Admiralty. Several ended up laid up at Marine Craft Constructors Ltd at Dumbarton, and it is very likely that most ended up having their engines and fittings removed and the hulls buried in a large pit nearby. HSL 2661 was recorded as being written off in May 1947, but there are no further details.

HSL 2609 at some time during her RAF service was fitted with a large radar reflector, presumably for target work.

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