The Petrol Navy: British, American and Other Naval Motor Boats at War 1914-1920

By Steve R. Dunn

Seaforth Publishing, 2023

Peter L. Belmonte, Reviewer

ML. 110, Lost in Action During the Zeebrugge Raid

The naval history of World War I encompasses not only the large ships so often encountered in histories and memoirs, but also covers smaller ships and boats. These vessels plied coastal and inland waterways on a multitude of duties, and often their crews were amateur sailors and yachtsmen. In The Petrol Navy: British, American and Other Naval Motor Boats at War 1914-1920, naval historian Steve R. Dunn gives these small craft their long overdue historical attention. While focusing on British and American boats, Dunn also reports on the vessels used by France, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Russia.

The book is arranged topically and chronologically, with sections covering motor launches, coastal motor boats, and submarine chasers. Dunn begins by covering the development of amateur yachting in Britain; he describes how its growth impacted the beginnings of Royal Navy use of small motor boats and yachts. The author outlines some of the technical data associated with the boats, their construction, their engines, and their armament. Dunn describes the often- harrowing actions of these vessels in action in the North Sea, off the coast of Belgium, in the Adriatic Sea, and other places.

ML. 83 Patrolled British Waters

These craft engaged in patrol, mine laying, mine sweeping, antisubmarine, and torpedo attack operations. Dunn’s descriptions of some of the operations and battles make for good reading; the accounts also reflect great credit on the men who crewed the boats. In addition, he recounts the trials encountered by many of the boats in their efforts to arrive at their points of intended operations; sailing these small craft in open sea or even inland waterways wasn’t always an easy proposition.

Dunn also covers the postwar use of boats in the Rhineland during the occupation era, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in Hungary, in the Baltic area, and in North Russia. He also covers American postwar mine sweeping operations in the North Sea. Modern scholarship credits British motor launches with one confirmed U-boat sinking and one confirmed assist. 

Still, Dunn correctly points out the measure of their success “is that they kept the U-boats underwater, made them exhaust their batteries and oxygen, prevented them from surfacing to fire at passing merchant ships, and drove them away from trade routes” (pp. 272-273). In addition, the various types of craft were successful at other duties, such as smokescreen laying, sea rescue, and liaison duties.

There are many photographs of the boats and crews; several appendices give various tables recounting losses, dispositions of boats, medal citations, etc. One appendix contains schematic drawings of several types of boats. This well-written book is an important addition to the naval history of World War I. It is highly recommended to anyone interested in small military boats or naval history in general.

Peter L. Belmonte