Brooke Provenance

The signatory below attests to the following; -

John Walter Brooke & Company, 1913

Many Seaplane Tenders were built to this early Admiralty pattern and shared similar features with ‘Smuggler’. Boat 26 / 117 is built lightly on carvel construction with closely pitched frames to provide an enhanced broaching characteristic.

With a generous working area about the main deck and well-deck, these Seaplane tenders have a cruising speed of around 16 knots (tidal waters), and were capable of patrolling dedicated ‘Air Routes’. Many of these craft were powered by the Brooke 65-F/10 marine motor (75hp unit) until 1928, when the Brooke 40-F28 Hundred’ retrofit ‘marine motor (103 hp), became widely available.

‘Smugglers’ primary power unit is possibly the only remaining Brooke 40-F/28/30 marine motor in existence. The unit was fully restored by John D.M.Brooke, Grandson of John Walter Brooke for B26/ML117.

Note: - A better understanding of operations for early service craft of this type can be found in the Canimpex publication “The History of RAF Marine Craft, 1918-1939”, Volume 1, ISBN 0-9510266-2-3 by Geoffrey D Pilborough (pbk).