Calling all RN steam pinnace/picket boat fans

[HMS Zulu]

Hi all, i'm currently looking at building a model diorama showing the 25th April Landings, and am struggling to work out how to build one of the steam picket boat/pinnaces as used to tow the oar powered landing boats closer to shore, and then give fire support.

"Dardanelles - a Midshipman's diary" by HM Denham gives more details on the configuration for the Suvla Bay Landings, a photo supposedly showing a visit by important Bulgarians to HMS Agamemnon shows an armoured superstructure around the boat's wheel, but no view of the forward armament - a photo earlier in the book but with no date, shows the armoured superstructure and a 3 pounder. By Suvla the picket boat of HMS Agamemnon had the armoured superstructure and a Maxim.

This GWF thread mentions Maxims fitted to the boats used at ANZAC beach - http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forum ... try1212286

However this quote from 'Gallipoli' by Peter Hart mentions the boats at Y Beach having the three pounder still fitted;


"Each naval boat was ready with its machine gun, the picket boats with 3-pounders.
Our battleships were now pounding away at the enemy � we were to
advance no more, so they were able to fire without fear of hitting us."

Private Daniel Joiner, 1st KOSB, 87th Brigade, 29th Division

I'm especially interested as to the configuration of those at V Beach - I haven't been able to find any clear photographs of these from any beach on 25th April so far, even a relatively far away one should be able to tell whether the boat has the 3 pounder or Maxim, and any armour sheeting or not. I know films aren't a great source of historical material, but 'Tell England' has the boats with Maxim guns when by peacetime surely they'd have the 3 pounder back, and no armour sheeting (but this could have proved too much for the film makers) - in all other respects, apart from the Turkish machine guns, it's a highly accurate film and the most accurate WW1 film i'm aware of.

Many thanks, Rob

[PICKETBOAT]

HMS Zulu

I only wish I had the information to help a little. I assume you already have a copy of N B Stapleton's little book "Picket Boats". There is one photo good on page 48 of a picket boat armed with a Vickers/Maxim on the fore deck. It's dated 1915. The boat also seems to have an enlarged or oversized shelter over the wheel. I doesn't look like the usual wooden wheel house/shelter and seems to be metal construction. Is this what you are talking about? If you have not got the book I can scan the picture.

Hope this helps.


PICKETBOAT

[HMS Zulu]

Hi picketboat, many thanks for your offer, private message on the way. Unfortunately I don't have the book but sounds like one i'll have to pick up before too long. The Maxim on the front sounds fairly common and the superstructure is likely to be the armoured one fitted