An interesting article about the Beer Boat of old days:
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HMS Manxman a minelayer built during WW 2 had a load displacement of 3415 tons and 72,000 SHP.
Capable of over 40 knots in her day she was the inshore minesweeping support ship in Singapore.
The forward boiler room had been removed and diesel generators installed to supply power alongside to minesweepers.
She did some runs south to Australia to bring back beer stowed in the minelaying lockers.
The US navy thought she was a WW 1 destroyer with her 3 stacks and got a surprise when the US fleet detached her because they were increasing speed. As she disappeared at high speed ahead of them she signalled “ see you in Portsmouth”.
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