Aims of the Trust
Our mission is "preserving the history of the Royal Navy's Coastal Forces". Coastal Forces was typified by young men, all volunteers, who took the war to the enemy in Britain's darkest hour. The boats were small frail craft armed with torpedoes and loaded with high octane petrol. They went into enemy waters to seek and destroy at close range and at night. They achieved remarkable success totally disproportionate to the numbers and size of the vessels. They were not called "the Spitfires of the Seas" for nothing.
There are a wealth of exciting stories to tell and it is our aim to create a permanent exhibition which will include at least one wartime vessel. The future is exciting and challenging. We owe it to veterans, families and the public to tell the story.
If you would like to help and become involved we would be delighted to hear from you.
Please e-mail the Trust Director, Commander Rupert Head.
Achievements of Coastal Forces
Coastal forces made an enormous contribution to WW2 in every theatre of war
- 900 actions resulting in 400 enemy vessels sunk
- more torpedoes fired than the submarine service with a greater proportion of hits
- vital intelligence gathered for D Day
- landing and retrieving agents on enemy coastlines
- by 1946 over 2000 vessels and 30,000 personnel formed Coastal forces
- 3000 decorations won including 4 Victoria Crosses
Achievements of the Trust
The work of the trust has helped keep the memory alive through...
- Memorial plaques at each Coastal forces base
- A film archive of interviews with veterans
- A DVD including wartime footage and interviews.
- A collection of historic material, photographs, letters, models and memorabilia
- A memorial room at HMS Hornet, Gosport
- A regular newsletter.
- An annual Remembrance Service at HMS Hornet