Crusader (speedboat)

Crusader was a jet-powered speed boat piloted by John Cobb.

History
Name: Crusader
Owner: John Cobb
Builder: Vosper & Company, Portsmouth
Cost: £15,000
Yard number: 2456
Laid down: January 1952
Maiden voyage: July 1952
Fate: Wrecked on Loch Ness, 29 September 1952
General characteristics
Tonnage: 3 long tons total weight
Length: 31 ft (9.4 m)
Beam: 13 ft across floats
Installed power: 5,000 lb thrust (static)
Propulsion: de Havilland Ghost turbojet
Speed: 206.89 mph (332.96 km/h)
Crew: 1

The combination of an aerodynamically stable hullform and turbojet propulsion was proposed by Reid Railton, Cobb's adviser. A rocket-powered scale model was tested at Haslar. The full size design was by Peter du Cane and built by Vospers of Portsmouth. Technical assistance came from Saunders-Roe and Vickers-Supermarine. It cost £15,000 in 1949.

It was silver and scarlet in colour and 10 m long. The engine was a de Havilland Ghost 48 centrifugal turbojet provided as a loan by the Ministry of Supply at the request of Major Halford, the engine designer. The engine was rated at 5,000 lb thrust fed by two scoop inlets forward of the cockpit.[1]

The hull was of trimaran form, a main hull with a planing step, and two smaller rear-mounted outriggers. Construction was of birch plywood frames and stringers. The hull was skinned in birch ply covered in doped fabric with metal skin reinforcement for planing surfaces. Aircraft-style riveted aluminium was used for the box-section cantilevers to the outriggers.[2][3]

Expectation was that the boat could achieve more than 200 mph or 320 kmh.[4]

The boat was destroyed and Cobb killed on 29 September 1952 when on a world record attempt at Loch Ness, Scotland.

Fifty years later on 5 July 2002 the wreckage of Crusader was discovered by the Loch Ness Project in 200 m (660 ft) of water.[5] The site was designated as a scheduled monument in 2005.[6]

See also

References
  1. Flight p325
  2. "Can Jet Boat Blast Speed Record." Popular Mechanics, September 1952, p. 112.
  3. Flight p325-326
  4. Flight p326
  5. "John Cobb's Crusader Found by The Loch Ness Project". lochnessproject.org. 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  6. Historic Environment Scotland. "'Crusader', remains of speedboat in Loch Ness, near Achnahannet (SM11070)". Retrieved 16 April 2019.


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