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PHQ
  • What’s On
  • Explore The Quarter
  • Charters & Hire
  • Our Charity
  • Contact
  • Donate
PHQ
  • What’s On
  • Explore The Quarter
  • Charters & Hire
  • Our Charity
  • Contact
  • Donate

Our Vessels

Our Heritage
Website header 18 our vessels

From the thunderous power of our high-speed craft to the sleek elegance of our smaller sailing boats, our diverse array of small historic vessels embodies a century of nautical and naval innovation. Discover these thrilling craft, each with its own captivating story to tell, whether it’s their pivotal role in amphibious operations, daring air-sea rescue missions, or covert manoeuvres.

We meticulously restore and safeguard these invaluable pieces of naval heritage, amassing one of the country’s largest collections of military-related craft. Many of these boats are fully operational, offering firsthand experiences through our ticketed boat trips and charters.

Click on an image below to find out more.

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54 heritage vessel

High Speed Launch 102

HSL 102 rescued aircrew from the sea during the Second World War. She stands as the sole surviving example of the 100 class high-speed air-sea rescue launches.

MGB 81 w Spinnaker

Motor Gun Boat 81

MGB 81, constructed in 1942, can reach speeds of over 40 knots. She participated in numerous actions during the Second World War, including the Normandy landings.

F8 Beach

Landing Craft Foxtrot 8

F8, a Landing Craft designed for transport of vehicles and personnel, has been fully restored and now offers low-cost accessible harbour trips. See What's On pages for dates and times.

CMB4R Hydroplane

Coastal Motor Boat 4 Replica

Our CMB 4R (Replica) boat is a fully operational reproduction of a 40ft CMB. The craft was built by Boathouse 4 volunteers, guided by boatbuilding professionals.

ST 1502 w Credit v5

Seaplane Tender 1502

While a seaplane was at anchor or moored to a pontoon, tenders like 1502 would transfer crews, provisions, and munitions to land.

D49 close up

Harbour Launch (Diesel) 49

Known as Port Auxiliary Service, or PAS boats, these vessels were workhorses of the dockyards, running continuously throughout major naval bases.

Vic 56 Steam 110

Victualling Inshore Craft 56

VIC 56 is an eighty-five-foot steamship. She is maintained in working condition at Boathouse 4. Keep an eye on our What's On pages to find out when she'll next be in steam!

ASC 26 Decking

Armed Steam Cutter 26

Armed Steam Cutter (ASC) 26 was completed in 1910 and assigned new to Town-class Light Cruiser HMS Falmouth in September 1911. Now affectionately known as Falmouth, we are restoring her to operational condition in Boathouse 4.

SC 438

Steam Cutter 438

Built in 1897, Steam Cutter 438 was restored to operational condition in 2008 and is now based in Boathouse 4.

CMB4 321

Coastal Motor Boat 4

On loan from the Imperial War Museum, CMB 4 took part in raids on the Bolshevik fleet in 1919. We have constructed an operational replica of this craft in Boathouse 4.

H.M. the Queen enjoying the day onboard Green Parrot 1976 It is low res but it's the Queen

Green Parrot

Green Parrot was commissioned in 1956 and later modified for use by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as her Royal Barge during state visits to Portsmouth. She is currently awaiting restoration.

Wilson Pickett 311

Wilson Picket

The dghajsa is a traditional Maltese wooden rowing boat, typically used for fishing or transportation.

2. Cyclops afloat in the Mast Pond after her refit, 2008 180KB

Cyclops

Cyclops is a 42-foot open rowing launch. This the largest type of boat which served naval ships in 1915, when Cyclops was built, and would have had two men to each of her 18 oars.

1668 alngside pontoon

Range Safety Launch 1668

RSLs such as ours had aluminium superstructures and were tough seaworthy craft, very nimble and extremely responsive, and as such, ideal for teaching boat handling.

See our Buildings
Victory Gallery
PHQ

Follow Us

Contact

023 9282 0921 info@portsmouthhq.org

Address

19 College Road
HM Naval Base
Portsmouth
PO1 3LJ

Opening Times

Dockyard Site

7 Days a Week
10am - 6pm
Last entry at 4:30pm

Boathouse 4

7 Days a Week
10am - 4:30pm
Last entry at 4pm

Supporters

regional growth fund
heritage fund
culture recovery fund
historic england
department for digital culture
Privacy Policy
Portsmouth Historic Quarter Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England No 1959490 | Charity Registration No 293188 | VAT Registration No 780 8538 94

Contact

023 9282 0921 info@portsmouthhq.org

Address

19 College Road
HM Naval Base
Portsmouth
PO1 3LJ

Opening Times

Dockyard Site

7 Days a Week
10am - 6pm
Last entry at 4:30pm

Boathouse 4

7 Days a Week
10am - 4:30pm
Last entry at 4pm

footer shape
Privacy Policy
Portsmouth Historic Quarter Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England No 1959490 | Charity Registration No 293188 | VAT Registration No 780 8538 94