Key details
- Current boat name
- Dragonfly
- Boat class
- 7385
- Number
- 5383
- Function
- Military
- Type
Dimensions and specifications
- Length (m / ft)
- 4.88 / 16ft
- Beam (m / ft)
- 1.82 / 6ft
- Leeward
- None
- Propulsion
- Engine
Design and build
- Designer
- Amiralty
- Design date
- 1939
- Date of build
- 1953
- Place of build
- Wargrave
Current status
- Present use
- Sailing
History
DRAGONFLY is a 16ft hard chine fast motor dinghy (FMD) commonly known as a 'Skimming dish' and mainly issued to Destroyers and Sloops. Ordered in 1953 as MB 5383, part of a batch of eight from Bushnell Ltd of Wargrave, deliverd to the RN in 1956. No references have been found of her being issued to a particular vessel. Sold out of the Service in 1962 her first owner was based in Salisbury. 5383 survived the Jubilee riots in Belfast on her export to Ireland, being chased down the Falls Road by youths wielding petrol bombs as she was on a trailer. Thereafter left in a barn in Dublin until bought by her present Owner in May 2007.
A total of 954 FMD's were built and there are only 4 known survivors. GH Oct 2012