Launch (boat)

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"Motor launch" redirects here. For the British military vessel type, see Motor Launch.

A launch in contemporary usage refers to a large motorboat. ^[1]

The name originally referred to the largest boat carried by a warship. The etymology of the word is given as Portuguese lancha "barge", from Malay lancha, lancharan, "boat," from lanchar "velocity without effort," "action of gliding smoothly" (said primarily of boats and turtles).

[edit] Military launches

Further information: Motor Launch

Motor Launch was the designation for large (typically 60 to 115 feet long) vessels used in the Second World War by the Royal Navy and some other navies. They were used for inshore work in defending the coast from submarines and carried relatively light armament: a few depth charges, a gun and a few machine guns.