Sea Skills Programme — Week 4
Week 4 — Civilian and Auxiliary Maritime Craft
The wartime flotilla relied on ordinary boats, volunteer crews, and auxiliary fleets to keep the sea lanes open.
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FISHING BOATS & DRIFTERS
Trawlers and drifters were sturdy, practical, and already at sea. They swept for mines, guarded approaches, and hauled anti-submarine nets when naval vessels were stretched thin.
HARBOUR TUGS & LAUNCHES
Small harbour tugs and launches guided convoys into dock, moved barges, and ferried crews. Their local knowledge kept traffic flowing during air raids and blackouts.
AUXILIARY SERVICE
Auxiliary fleets included lifeboats, pilot boats, and repurposed ferries. They rescued survivors, delivered fuel, and carried messages when radio silence mattered.
COASTAL SUPPLY
Barges and small coasters moved coal, food, and munitions along the coast. Their crews kept supply lines running even when larger ports were under threat.
Auxiliary briefing: why these craft mattered
War at sea was not just destroyers and battleships. It was also ordinary vessels doing extraordinary jobs — pilots steering convoys through hazards, fishing crews sweeping mines, and harbour tugs keeping ships moving under blackout rules.
- Local knowledge: crews knew tides, shoals, and safe channels better than anyone.
- Fast response: small boats could reach damaged ships quickly and move survivors to safety.
- Flexible roles: one craft might tow, deliver, patrol, and rescue all in the same week.
Logbook drill
Pick three craft types and record the wartime roles they filled. Use the space below in your own notes or logbook.
| Craft type | Wartime job | Key skill the crew needed |
|---|---|---|
| Trawler / drifter | Mine sweeping or net patrol | Stamina in rough seas |
| Harbour tug | Move or escort larger ships | Precision handling |
| Motor launch | Messenger or escort duties | Navigation in blackout |
Sea Skills programme map
Track the sequence of Sea Skills activities. Weeks with published content link straight to their Chronicle page so you can jump in and log your progress.
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Navy Patrol Service – “Harry Tate’s Navy” |
| 2 | Operation Dynamo – Dunkirk lift |
| 3 | Dunkirk and the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships |
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