Could a small ship outrun a WW2 navy ship?

Question

It's for a story. Could a small ship, say, a fishing boat, outrun a navy ship from around the WW2 era that is giving chase?

Answer 1

not unless it could beat 35 -40 knots

Answer 2

I doubt that a fishing boat could outrun a World War 2 navy ship.  Most warships at that time were designed to operate with "the fleet."  Therefore they were built for speeds of 25 to 32 knots.  Also, with the advent of the aircraft carrier everything being built had to keep up with them. Patrol Torpedo boats and destroyers were designed and engined for higher speeds and maneuverability so they could survive an encounter with larger cruisers and battleships.

Fishing boats were not designed for speed or maneuverability.  They were designed for dragging nets and holding large amounts of fish.  In fact there were several accounts of fishing boats being attacked by surfaced submarines or smaller warships.  

However, there were pleasure boats that might have been able to outrun a warship depending upon their engines.  

Most likely the boat you would want to write about is a pleasure craft with a marine diesel engine.  You should do some research on marine diesel engines from that time.  In the United States Fairbanks Morse and Busch Sulzer built marine engines that were used in all kinds of vessels, including submarines and surface combatants.  Britian also had several manufacturers of marine diesels.  

For example, in 1928 Charles Kettering of General Motors had a 105 foot yacht built powered by two 175-hp Winton marine engines.  In 1929 Kettering had a second yacht built.  It was 170 feet long with two 600-hp Winton diesels.  No data was given about either yachts' speed.  Both were called the Olive K.

Answer 3

It's just time and they can over come them> Not with Radios & guns that can shoot miles> Besides those ships can run at speeds that very few if any commerical ships can run>

Answer 4

while most 'fleet' ships were designed for 30+ knots, there were hundreds of anti-sub DEs and frigates . as well as coastal patrol boats that didn't do more than maybe 24 flat out and maybe only 20 sometimes due to wear and tear....and there were plenty of power yachts in the 30's-40's- which could do 25-35...as to commercial fishing boats, no; they did maybe 12 to 15

Answer 5

Perhaps the real question is could a small vessel, evade and escape from a WW2 naval ship.  I think it could.  In fact because naval ships are so large, it takes time for them to get moving at "flank" speed, then it takes some time to change course, (turning radius).  Also in shallow waters, say around islands, the bigger ship might have a difficult time following the smaller boat.   It might gain advantage by being hard to see, and quicker to turn and might be only 10 MPH or so slower than the war ship.    In a long, open sea chase the biggest problem would be the guns carried on the naval vessel.  Good luck, but the nice thing about writing, you can use your imagination!!!!!!