Bateau de Collection - Royal Navy Spy Ship

Description

The Charleston is a spy ship built in 1945 by Berthon shipyards in Lymington for the Royal Navy. Converted for pleasure use after the war, it is now moored in the Mediterranean. In 2010, it received the BIP label from the Heritage Foundation for Maritime and River Heritage.

Ship name: CHARLESTON
Year of labeling: 2010
Renewed in: DATE OF 2019
Not renewed in: DATE OF 2018
Former names (if any): CALIBAN
Registration number: 11821/080
Registration No.: 257173
Registration district: NI Nice
Type, series, or local name: VEDETTE (MOTORYACHT)
Protected as a Historical Monument: no
Year of acquisition of the ship: 2012
Type: Maritime
Original use: Military
Propulsion mode (originally): engine
Propulsion mode (current): engine
Designer: Berthon Yachts Lymington England for Royal Navy
Builder: BERTHON LYMINGTON ENGLAND
Year of construction (or commissioning): 1945
Overall length: 23 m
Hull length: 23 m
Waterline length: 22 m
Beam: 5.84 m
Draught: 3 m
Airdraft: 5.50 m (7.45 m with mast)
Displacement (in tonnes): 130 t
Administrative tonnage (in tons): 76.68 (gross) / 48.05 (net)
Hull: type of construction, materials, particular shapes... Classic + reinforcements: – Planking 85 mm Pichpin on oak frames (doubled in places) Total weight of the boat: 130 tonnes

Hull: current condition: Good condition of the underwater works, average condition for the topsides.

Deck and superstructures: description, materials: Deck of Pichpin (original) with a width of 120 mm, secured with forged nails. Superstructures made of period plywood. (partly resin-coated on top) Clearway on upper deck.

Deck and superstructures: current condition: Deck partially restored, bulwarks in poor condition in places, superstructures in good condition except for partial corrosion on the part covering the engine room and top of the chimney.

Rigging: type, mast, running rigging, standing rigging, materials: Signal mast (gonio support, etc.)

Rigging: current condition: Good condition

Sails: description, surfaces, materials: None

Sails: current condition: None

Accommodations: description, materials: Forepeak: Chain room and miscellaneous. - Fore cabin: 4 cabins (including one double) + toilets + bathroom + Smoking room. - Interior salon (in front part) Teak - Helm station with compartment and lookout berth. teak - Kitchen (laminated riveted) - Galley (steel) - Aft cabin (teak/Pichpin/oak painted): storage room in the aft point - 1 Cabin with 4 berths – Bathroom with toilet and bunk for the mechanic.

Accommodations: current condition: Good condition

Engine(s): type, power, year – LISTER-BLACKSTONE (Type: EPVM4 160 hp Diesel with side valves and compressed air start) for propulsion. YEAR 1945. – LISTER (Type CD Bi-cylinder 22 hp diesel with manual start) for driving the compressor, generator (220v continuous), and firewater pump, etc. All mechanics are original and in perfect working condition!!!

Human testimony: Boat ordered by the Royal Navy from Berthon yacht in 2 examples (sources Berthon).

Technical or conceptual testimony: – Classic planking – Mechanics requiring a mechanic on duty for lubrication, oiling, and checking pressures and temperatures, checking grease and oil bearings of the propeller shaft. Innovative systems: – Very advanced hydraulic control systems for the time. – SESTREL automatic pilot system from the time with electromechanical control.

Event or bygone activity testimony: Spy boat of the British Navy produced in two examples by the BERTHON YACHT shipyard in LYMINGTON (England), intended for 24/7 surveillance missions in the Mediterranean. Designed not for speed but to withstand all types of weather, hence the reinforced hull and deck.

Other notable elements: Many intact accessories.

Chronology of owners, modifications, or known significant renovations: Admiralty (British Admiralty) Renovated in Portugal after the war for pleasure. Has undergone very few modifications since and we still sail in the old-fashioned way (in terms of mechanics..). The main engine was refurbished in 1960 and remained in Cannes from the post-war period until 1971 and then spent 33 years in St. Cyprien (66) where we found it two years ago.

Classified as a boat of heritage interest in 2010
Please note that this boat is aimed at a passionate and knowledgeable audience considering that many works have been carried out, and that many more are still to be expected.