Forceful Tug – Plans & Hull (Set)

Requires an independent paddle-wheel drive for the best performance. The drawing includes some model construction information and a simple non-feathering set of paddle wheels. Plank on frame construction.

The Forceful is the last paddle tug in active service with the Royal Navy (or any other Navy in the world). When she is decommissioned in the near future her going will mark the end of almost 150 years of paddle tug use in the Royal Navy. The first large-scale use of steamships in the RN were paddle tugs. This was captured in Constable’s painting of the ‘Sovereign of the Seas’ which shows a 100 gun ship of the line’ being towed into port by a paddle tug. With the going of Forceful this tradition will end. The Forceful is a Director class paddle tug: (Director, Dexterous, Faithful, Favorite, Forceful, Grinder and Griper) ‑ these tugs came into use from 1957 onwards. They were designed specifically to handle aircraft carriers, their masts being designed to fold down flat so that they could easily get under the overhanging sides of the carriers. At that time, 1957,the RN had 23 fleet carriers. It was felt that paddles would give the tugs greater maneuverability alongside the carriers. Their passing is due to two main factors, (a)the RN now has only 3 carriers still in service (Bulwark Hermes and Triumph, and (b) the paddle tug is a very labour-intensive boat. With a crew of 26 on the Forceful

Please note that all plans are printed to order and as such we are unable to accept returns.

Please note that all Vacform parts are made to order and as such we are unable to accept returns unless they are found to be faulty.