
The Coastal Forces Heritage Trust
Established to record, support and celebrate the boats, technology, stories and people who have shaped Coastal Forces for over a century…
Welcome
Based in HM Naval Base in Portsmouth, the Coastal Forces Heritage Trust is a charity whose objectives are to record, support and celebrate the boats, technology, stories and people who have shaped Coastal Forces for over a century. That spirit of technical innovation, tactical flair, selfless bravery and the ‘call of the sea’ is still with us today. Help us to keep it alive!
The Royal Navy began experimenting with small coastal motor boats imported from the USA in 1915. Within a year, British-built craft were proliferating. They served with distinction around the shallow North Sea coastline and were used to carry torpedoes and mines with Lewis guns for self defence. By the end of the First World War, some had even been converted into unmanned drones in collaboration with the fledgling RAF and in 1919, the daring raid on Kronstadt during the Russian War brought Coastal Forces their first Victoria Cross.
The 1930s saw a period of boatbuilding innovation, led by legendary figures like John Thornycroft, Hubert Scott-Paine and Peter Du Cane and when war broke out in 1939, the Admiralty soon initiated a massive building programme that produced nearly 1900 hulls in the next five years. Whilst most boats were built in Britain, our American Allies made an important contribution.
Coastal Forces made an enormous contribution to World War Two including 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 all over the world and 3000 decorations won – including 4 Victoria Crosses.
The postwar period saw a decline in numbers, but Coastal Forces made important contributions to technology, tactics and training in the 1960s and 70s, operated alongside the security forces during ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland for nearly 30 years, and today the Coastal Forces Squadron operates right around the British Isles as well as participating in front line NATO maritime security activities in Northern Europe.

Forthcoming Members’ Events
- The Coastal Motor Boat Story
- A lecture in the magnificent surroundings of Boathouse 4, HM Naval Base Portsmouth
- With David Griffiths and Martin Kelly
- 27 February 2025
- Discounted entry for Friends of Coastal Forces
Recent CFHT Achievements
- Night Hunters – Coastal Forces Museum in Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
- Memorial plaques at each Coastal Forces base around the UK
- A film archive of interviews with veterans
- A DVD including wartime footage and interviews
- A growing collection of historic material, photographs, letters, models and memorabilia
- A memorial room and annual Remembrance Service at HMS Hornet, Gosport

Coastal Forces Museum
The Night Hunters: the Royal Navy’s Coastal Forces at War at Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
FREE entry for Members of the Friends of Coastal Forces
Join the Friends of Coastal Forces
Membership entitles you to a range of benefits together with links to various articles, photographs, books and features that are only available to members.
These include:
- Free entry to ‘The Night Hunters: the Royal Navy’s Coastal Forces at War’ Museum at Priddy’s Hard
- Invitations to exclusive member events
- Corporate membership of the Hornet Services Sailing Club
- News updates on Coastal Forces Activities
- The knowledge that you are contributing to the philanthropic activities of the Trust
- Additional member benefits being negotiated
If you would like to become a Member, click on the ‘Find out more’ button below for further details.
JOIN today
Become a member to get exclusive access to a range of benefits
Help Us Achieve Our Aims
The Coastal Forces Heritage Trust need materials, time and money.
If you would like to help and become involved, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Please email: directorcoastalforces@outlook.com

A commentary from Lieutenant Commander Peter Scott RNVR
“I’d like to tell you a little about the light coastal forces, the small, fast ships…”
» Listen