IT was the scourge of the allied navy during the Second World War and almost scuppered preparations for the D-Day landings.

With a crew of 15 sailors, the 35m E-boat S130 was among nine German crafts to virtually destroy seven merchant ships taking part in a practice run for the Utah Beach landing.

A total of 639 Americans were killed - more than ten times the losses for the actual D-Day landing - as the Schnellboots rained torpedoes on convoy T45 in April 1944.

Now, more than 60 years later, an English firm is to begin a £1.5m restoration of the last known remaining E-boat S130, which had a top speed of 40 knots.

The two-year project begins next week when staff at ship-builders Hythe Marine start work on sealing the hull to make it waterproof.

The news is being hailed as a landmark success in an ongoing campaign, backed by the Daily Echo, to find a new home for 18 priceless wartime vessels, including S130.

The paper reported in April how the British Military Powerboat Trust collection could be split up and moved outside the county if new premises cannot be found.

Members of the trust have been told the ships must have left the old Husband's Shipyard in Marchwood by next September.

Although the Echo's campaign has not yet secured a new home for the boats it has helped start the long road to recovery for E-boat S130.

Operations manager Richard Hellyer said: "The Daily Echo has brought us to the attention of someone who is seriously considering helping with the restoration."

The first phase of the work will be carried out by Hythe Marine, who will seal the leaking hull of S130.

Mr Hellyer said: "The boat has problems with flooding because of some underwater openings that need to be sealed.

"We're taking her to Hythe Marine, an old and long-established company which will bring her up, sort her out and put her back in the water again.

"She will be on their slipway for about ten days.

"Then we are hoping to move her into the nextstep of restoration which could be in the Plymouth area," added Mr Hellyer.

Tomorrow, trust volunteers will take a rest from their efforts with a buffet lunch organised by trustees.