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The decision - in the mid 1950's - to disband British Coastal Forces, as a separate body within the Royal Navy was received with some dismay by many within the Service and tinged with a little sadness by many others then outside, but the political decision was inevitable if due consideration is made for the austere age that the cost of the Second World War had put upon Great Britain.
The perceived threat of a great expansion of the Soviet Bloc throughout Europe after WW2 was to be taken up by the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The costs of naval responsibilities for the protection of the 'free' European coast lines had been proportionately taken up by the Nations considered to be most at risk from any such expansion. The military expenditure of Great Britain had to be reduced, and in the continual - annual - slimming down of all the three Services, the mid 50's saw a sharp focus being made upon the Royal Navy.
History has shown us that Coastal Forces can never be dismissed however. The rapid dismantling of British Coastal Forces soon after WW1 was to have serious implications within a few years and it was only through the efforts of a few strong personalities that the Royal Navy was again made to realize that this withered arm had a very important role to play once more.
The expertise in British design and construction of small military coastal craft was not about to be lost however as private companies - so much the back bone of British Coastal Forces during WW2 - diversified and began to rely on the export markets for the trade of their wares. Immense technological advances were being made in weaponry and propulsion systems throughout the '50's and in 1957 the Vosper 'Brave' class demonstrated that Britain was still a World leader.
The Soviet Union did not stand idle through these times either. Although the Iron Curtain had been fully drawn by this decade there were indications that their vast coastline's were being carefully monitored and patrolled by a new range of Soviet coastal craft.
Having had a vast fleet of - captured - Lease Lend and of course their own designs of coastal craft to rely on after the Second World War (the performance and abilities of which were well known) the Soviet's began a massive post War 'Military Modernization Plan' that generated huge naval expenditure at the very time of severe curtailment by the British Gov't. The World stage had irrevocably changed with Britain now being identified among the lesser naval powers - even behind France who had by then 'opted' out of NATO. The Soviet Navy was far ahead of the West with the development and deployment of their coastal forces craft during the late 50's and early 60's.
Britain's decision, to wind down its own 'small ships' with the closure of HMS Hornet - the famous and last Coastal Forces base, was obviously a Political decision taken with a view of the then current Defense Budget - it began to be viewed almost as History repeating itself - but it is surprising that the two superb British 'Brave' class were never to be fitted with Surface-to-Surface missiles, however, 'Tenacity' as a private venture craft, and the 3 'Scimitar' class of 1969/70 were designed to be Missile armed, although none were carry the weapons.
The Soviet Navy took delivery of the first 'Osa' class Missile boat in 1958 (Nov). Powered by diesel engines she had the early versions of 4 ' Styx ' missiles which at that time had a range of 10/12 miles. By 1964 these craft, and their armament, had been further developed and were being exported to Soviet friendly Nations. During 1967 they were to demonstrate to the World that a well armed 'traditional' Coastal Force's type vessel now had the fire power of a Cruiser. On October 14th 1967 the Israeli Flag Ship 'Eilat' was destroyed with the loss of 47 lives by an Egyptian 'Osa' Missile armed craft.
Israeli Navy Ship 'Eilat'
(Formally 'INS Elath' and originally HMS Zealous)
Ex British 'Z' class Destroyer.
Laid down at Cammel Laird, Birkenhead 1942. Launched February 1944, completed October 1944.
Ownership passed to Israel in 1955 - refitted by Harland Wolff, Langton Dock Liverpool - handed over in 1956 and became the Flag Ship of the Israeli Navy.
Egyptian Navy Missile Craft 'Assuit'
(ex - Soviet "Osa" type)
This type of Missile craft was under development during the early 1950's - became operational from 1958 in the Soviet Union . It was continually 'updated' and eventually exported to Soviet 'friendly' nations from 1964 onwards - Egypt had received 12 vessels by 1966. Armed with 4 of the latest version of ' Styx ' guided Missiles of 15-18 mile range, this type and the smaller "Komar" class (2 Styx Missiles) were to demonstrate a new chapter in the use of Coastal Forces craft.
The Arab -Israeli 'War of Attrition' 1967-70
The details of the engagement - during what was to become known as 'The War of Attrition 1967- 1970' - are slightly confused and depend on what 'History' you read, but the undisputed facts are that the INS Eilat was hit by a total of 4 missiles - 3 of which caused the loss of the Flag ship - the 4th Missile hit the debris of the sinking Hulk. The 'uniqueness' of this engagement, if it can be termed in such a way, was that a comparatively small Coastal Forces craft, using Surface to Surface weapons, had demonstrated that it was able to hit and sink a Capital Ship from an - over the horizon - firing position - conditions normally associated with heavy Naval units. The lessons were not lost by Israel who very quickly developed successful anti-missile tactics against later further 'Styx' launches and significantly added to the development (and success) of their own Surface-to-Surface 'Gabriel' Missile.
Considering the time scale of all of the above - it is not surprising that it can now be clearly seen that the British 'Dark' class were completely obsolete as Front Line Attack craft by the time of the first launch (P 1116 Dark Hunter. 18th March 1954). The 'Brave' class (1957) were never to be missile armed but the then Vosper Company, (later to amalgamate with the David Brown and Thornycroft Company's), developed their own missile armed craft which by 1970 was to culminate with the design and build of 'Tenacity' (see Boat Histories).
This 'Private Venture' craft is shown with dummy launch pods for the then proposed 'Sea Killer' (or the 'developing' American 'Harpoon') Surface to Surface Missiles. As is now well known this vessel was eventually to be taken on by the Royal Navy, some 3 years after launch - 'de-armed' and refitted - to be used on Fishery Protection duties. Historians are divided on whether the Royal Navy had missed a great chance to regain some lost ground in naval power or whether there was actually no logical requirement for such craft in the modern Royal Navy. Submarines and air power are seen to fit the Strategic need in modern thinking - even after the illustrative tragedy that befell INS Eilat.
The need for a Coastal Force Arm however will never go away – not even for the British Royal Navy. University and Fleet Training Squadrons – Fishery Protection – Air Sea Rescue – even Custom’s Cutters etc are now just remnants of a once proud former British Naval Coastal Force but – World wide – the importance of a well armed ‘Small Ship’ is seen to be as relevant as ever. Today a single ‘Stealth’ designed F P Missile craft could be as potent as a ‘Battle Squadron’ of WW1 or, if Nuclear armed, a complete ‘Task Force’ of WW2.
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