THEY played a crucial part in serving the country during the Second World War.

However, a 21st-century battle to save a priceless collection of boats purpose-built more than 60 years ago has been lost, and now some of the unique vessels face the scrapyard.

The remainder of the 14 historic vessels held by the British Military Powerboat Trust at Marchwood will be moved across the country.

A search to find a new home in Hampshire was mounted after the trust was told to leave the old Husband's shipyard site by September.

Many of the boats were built at Hythe and later operated out of HMS Hornet in Gosport.

Archivist Clive Frampton said: "I get the impression that the words 'heritage' and 'history' mean nothing in Southampton."

Trust vice-chairman Peter Baillie said: "We all feel regret but one has just got to be realistic. We have had a lot of fun and it's been very interesting since we formed in 1998."

An air-sea rescue launch boat used to rescue fallen pilots is in such a bad state of disrepair that it will be destroyed unless its original owner reclaims it by the end of April.

A 43-ft Range Safety Launch, also in a bad state of repair, is being broken up for spares and a rotting Skimmer boat has already been dismantled.

A communications boat called the RASC Humber was saved this weekend when two offers were made for her.

Mr Baillie added: "The simple thing with all these boats is we haven't been able to get them under cover and consequently they then deteriorate with the weather. They were in a bad condition anyway and have just been getting worse. It comes down quite simply to pounds and pence."

Trust bosses are waiting for an agreement to be finalised to house six of the most important boats at a purpose-built museum in Poole.

The facility will not be up and running for five years and temporary homes for three of the boats have been found near Plymouth in the meantime, including a German E-Boat S130.

The boat was the scourge of the Allied navy during the Second World War and almost scuppered preparations for the D-Day landings.

The other three boats - a seaplane tender and captains' boats FMB Ark Royal and FMD Dainty, will be launched in Southampton on May 30 following months of careful restoration.

It is hoped a temporary home will be provided for them in the Hythe/Marchwood area until the Poole centre is ready.

The remaining boats have been returned to their original owners, sold or given away to new homes.

A SEPARATE, small collection of Dunkirk Little Ships based at the old Husband's Yard is also under threat.

Two boats which helped to rescue more than 300,000 British and French troops stranded at Dunkirk in May 1940 need new homes.

It is believed that the Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust will be able to find new accommodation without too much difficulty because it has several sites across the country.

Little Ships Trust bosses need a new home for another boat called the Isle of Scomer.

The RNLI lifeboat, built in 1931, was used for spares by the trust.