How Soviet ‘Rockets’ ended up in London
KGB agents and Queen Elizabeth II rode on them with great pleasure.
We're not talking about weapons, but about passenger river hydrofoil boats. In the late 1950s, Soviet ‘Raketa’ (‘Rocket’) brand hydrofoils caused a real sensation in Europe.
They boasted a futuristic design for their era, with a spacious, comfortable cabin and an exceptionally smooth ride. But, their main advantage was speed. While conventional riverboats traveled at speeds of up to 25 km/h, ‘Raketa’ hydrofoil boats could reach speeds of up to 70 km/h.
So, it's no surprise that, in the USSR, they were popular with not only civilians, but also government delegations. The KGB also had its own ‘Raketa’.
The Soviet high-speed hydrofoil boats were eagerly purchased worldwide and not only by socialist countries. ‘Raketa’ hydrofoil boats also cruised the rivers of Finland, Germany and Austria. And, in the UK, they served the ‘London-Gravesend’ line on the River Thames.
On May 20, 1975, even Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, rode on it and were said to have been very pleased with the experience.
