The Type Two HSL was a 63-foot high-speed launch craft made by British Power Boat Company (BPBC). The craft were used during the Second World War for air-sea rescue operations to save Allied aircrew from the sea. The Type Two superseded the 64 ft HSL, and was itself replaced by the Type Three 68 ft "Hants and Dorset" also built by the BPBC. The Type Two (aka Type 2) was nicknamed the "Whaleback" due to the distinctive curve to its deck and humped cabin.

History

thumb|left|HSL 130 picking up an RAF [[Handley Page Halifax|Halifax crew off the Isle of Wight, 1942]]

The Type Two was designed in 1937 by George Selman, Chief Designer and Naval Architect of the British Power Boat Company, which was founded by Hubert Scott-Paine at Hythe. Scott-Paine had previously owned the Supermarine Aviation Company, later builders of the Supermarine Spitfire and several flying boat types.

A low-set cabin contained the wheel-house, chart room and a sickbay. For defence against enemy aircraft, on top of the cabin were two aircraft-style turrets made by Armstrong-Whitworth initially with a single .303 in Vickers K gun or Lewis gun (later improved to paired guns of the same calibre). The mahogany

  • Comprehensive list of RAF boats
  • A photograph of high-speed launch HSL 164 at speed