Campaigners push the boat out as 'Spitfires of the sea' saved

Two of the last remaining fully operational high-speed Second World War motor boats, known as the "Spitfires of the sea", have been saved for the nation thanks to a £580,000 grant.

The boats, which were the fastest of their type, were vital parts of the Allied war effort.

One of the boats, an MGB 81, is an example of the vessel which was used during the US landing at Omaha beach on D-Day.

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The other boat, an HSL 102, is the only surviving example of the 100 class high-speed launch which was used at RAF Calshot, near Southampton, Hants, to retrieve shot-down airmen from the sea.

During the war, the HSL vessels saved a total of 10,000 airmen of various nationalities. The saved HSL 102 also featured in the film Enigma with Kate Winslet in 2001.

Now the National Heritage Memorial Fund has provided the money to enable the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust to purchase the two boats.

Despite an original life expectancy of 20 years, they have both been restored and are on display in Portsmouth.

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