The Miami class crashboats were a design by Dair N Long of the Miami
Shipbuilding company, a lineal descendant of the fast rum-runners the
Mafia had commissioned during prohibition. They were commissioned by
an RAF order for 91 of these vessels. Ultimately Miami Shipbuilding
was to deliver 560 of these craft to various customers, the last being
delivered as late as 1956.
The Miami class were 63 foot in length (19.2 metres) and displaced 22 tonnes.
The hull was a hard-chine planing design. The vessels themselves were of
triple marine-ply with madapolin cloth between the plywood. The whole
assembly was nailed together with copper nails.
They were powered by four Kermath V12 petrol engines, each giving
550 hp. This enabled them to reach a speed of 42 knots. Their normal range
was 400 nautical miles.
The SAAF purchased 18 of these craft from the USA during WW2. At least 7 of these are still to be seen in South African waters as pleasure cruisers.
Mostly they were used for inshore work - especially after the arrival of the Krögerwerft boats. They could successfully be managed by a crew of four.
Back .
