MTB 219 | National Historic Ships

Registration number 1957

Status Registered

adminnhs

Details

Function Naval & Military Vessel

Subfunction Torpedo Boat

Location Gosport

Vessel type Motor Torpedo Boat

Current use Ongoing conservation

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Vosper, Portsmouth

Built in 1941

Hull material Wood

Rig None

Number of decks 1

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Petrol

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

17.00 feet (5.19m)

Length: Overall

72.60 feet (22.14m)

History

Built by Vospers in Portsmouth in 1941, MTB 219 made many attacks on enemy shipping, sustaining damage on 11 September 1941. On 12 February 1942, she was involved with the attack on SCHARNHORST, GNEISENAU and PRINZ EUGEN. She sank the German destroyer SEEADLER on 13 May 1942 and continued to attack enemy shipping until she was paid off on 19 December 1943. She still bears the signs of war damage today and is the only surviving vessel of her class.

MTB 219 was stored in a steel Thames Barge for a number of years. Unfortunately, little of the original interior or superstructure remains, but much painstaking work has been done on her deck planking. She was a houseboat in Chelsea for fifty years and was also used for filming during this time.

Since 2021, MTB 219 has been owned by Kraken Heritage CIC, a subsidiary of Kraken Technology. As of June 2025, the vessel has been stabilised, weather protection fitted to the top deck to prevent deterioration, and moved to a secure location in Gosport pending future restoration.

Grants

Januart 2015
A Sustainability Grant of £1000 for crane and moving costs was made from the Strategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships UK
September 2013
A Sustainability Grant of £1500 for a survey was made from the Strategic Development Fund of National Historic Ships UK