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Amotor torpedo boat is a fasttorpedo boat, especially of the mid 20th century. Themotor in the designation originally referred to their use ofpetrol engines, typicallymarinised aircraft engines or their derivatives, which distinguished them from other naval craft of the era, including other torpedo boats, that usedsteam turbines orreciprocating steam engines. Later,diesel-powered torpedo boats appeared, in turn or retroactively referred to as "motor torpedo boats" for theirinternal combustion engines, as distinct from steam powered reciprocating or turbine propulsion.
Though other navies built similar petrol-powered craft, the specific designation "motor torpedo boat", abbreviated to "MTB", is generally used for craft of theRoyal Navy (RN) andRoyal Canadian Navy boats.
During theSecond World War, theUS Navy built several classes of marineV-12-poweredPT boat, whosehull classification symbol "PT" stood for "patrol, torpedo", but which were grouped into motor torpedo boat squadrons.[1] German diesel-powered torpedo boats of the Second World War were calledS-boote (Schnellboote, "fast boats") by theKriegsmarine and "E-boats" by the Allies. These large craft (well over 100ft overall) were not known as motor torpedo boats at the time, but later have been grouped with them by some. Italian MTBs of this period were known asMotoscafo Armato Silurante ("MAS", torpedo-armed motorboats). French MTBs were known asvedettes lance torpilles ("torpedo-launching fast boats").
The role of the motor torpedo boat has been absorbed in modern navies by thefast attack craft.
Torpedo boats were designed for missions that variously involved high speed, operating at night, low speed ambush, and manoeuvrability to allow them to get close enough to launch their torpedoes at enemy vessels. With no significant armour, the boats relied upon surprise and agility at high speed to avoid being hit by gunfire from bigger ships.
TheRoyal Navy started developing particularly small, agile, and fastpetrol-powered torpedo boats in the early 20th century, shortly before the beginning of theFirst World War. Known ascoastal motor boats, these were only around 15 long tons (15 t). They were joined by theItalian Navy'sMAS boats, of 20–30 long tons (20–30 t) displacement.MAS 15 was the only motor torpedo boat in history to sink a battleship, the Austro-Hungarian vesselSzent István in 1918. In the Second World War, Britain fielded a variety of motor launches (MLs), motor torpedo boats (MTBs), motor gunboats (MGBs) and motor anti-submarine boats (MASBs), which were operated byCoastal Forces. A similar size boat with a different role in the Second World War was theBPB 63 ft (19 m)high-speed launch used by the RAF for air-sea rescue operations.[2] Diesel-powered MTBs entered the Royal Navy with theDark-class andGay-classfast patrol boats in 1954. The last MTBs in the Royal Navy were the twoBrave-class fast patrol boats of 1958, which were capable of 50 knots (93 km/h).
Many boats were designated MTBs. A variety of designs were adopted and built. For instance, a 55 ft (17 m) type, capable of 40 kn (46 mph; 74 km/h), was shown in 1930.[3]
The following is an incomplete list of British motor torpedo boats:
CommanderPeter Du CaneCBE, the managing director ofVosper Ltd, designed a motor torpedo boat as a private venture in 1936. She was completed and launched in 1937. The vessel was bought by theAdmiralty and taken into service with the Royal Navy as MTB 102.
The installed powerplant of threeIsotta Fraschini Asso V-18[4] 57-litrepetrol engines delivered 3,300 hp (2,500 kW) which gave her a speed of 48 kn (55 mph; 89 km/h) light and 43 kn (49 mph; 80 km/h) when carrying a full load.
Armament was two 21 in (533 mm)torpedo tubes; depth charges, machine guns and20mm Oerlikon were trialled on her.
MTB 102 was the fastest wartime British naval vessel in service. She was atDunkirk in 1940 for theevacuation of British and French troops, where she served as Rear-AdmiralFrederic Wake-Walker's flagship after the destroyerHMSKeith was sunk. She carriedWinston Churchill andDwight Eisenhower when they reviewed the fleet before theInvasion of Normandy in 1944.
They were based on theBritish Power Boat Company Type Two 63 ft HSL (high-speed launch) originally designed for theRoyal Air Force for air-sea rescue but reduced to 60 ft (18 m) in length. They could carry two 18-inch (457 mm) torpedoes and achieve a maximum speed of 33 kn (38 mph; 61 km/h).[5] The Royal Navy ordered their first (of a total of 18) in 1936.[6] These entered service as MTB numbers 1 to 12 and 14 to 19. In the early days of the war, they were painted with different numbers and photos distributed to the press to give the impression the Royal Navy had more than they actually did. One photo was sent to the American monthlyPopular Science showing the number twenty-three.[7]
Initially ordered as an MGB in 1941; they were converted to MTBs (412-418, 430-432, and 534-500) from 1942 by addition of two 18-inch tubes and a 6-pdr gun. Although 10 tons heavier after conversion they still made 39 knots.[8]
Built as a private venture, the 45-ft MTBs were scaled down versions of larger Vosper design and intended to be carried by larger vessels. As MTB 104 to 107, these were taken up by Admiralty but found to be poor seakeeping and not used for combat.[9]
MTB 105 was carried aboard theSpecial Service VesselHMSFidelity after her conversion to a Commando carrier for service in the Far East with T Company,40 Commando.Fidelity was torpedoed and sunk with great loss of life as part ofConvoy ON 154. The eight crew of MTB 105, along with two from one ofFidelity's floatplanes were the only survivors from the sinking.
Although various boat lengths were produced by Vosper for the Royal Navy, the "70 ft" boat was produced from 1940. The design was produced with modifications as MTBs 31-40, 57-66, 73-98, 222-245 and 347-362.
Using threePackard V1-12 marine engines, they were capable of around 37 kn (43 mph; 69 km/h). Early models carried two 21-inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes, twin 0.50 in (13 mm) machine guns in a "bin" behind the bridge and two 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns.[10] They could also carry fourdepth charges.
The Vosper 70 was also used in other navies, such asRomania's, which acquired three in 1939, withNMSViscolul the lead ship of the class.
Between 1943 and 1945, the"Vosper 73ft" design appeared; this was a flush-decked type with a slight sheer forward, dispensing entirely with the low forecastle and scalloping of the majority of '70-footer' types. The type II differed from the Type I in that it carried a heavier gun armament at the expense of two torpedo tubes. Boats produced to this design carried pennant numbers MTB 380-395 and MTB 523-537. The Type II did not enter service before the end of the war but was in use after the war.[11]
The first two (MTB 24, 25) were actually 74 ft prototypes for the design ordered in 1938. Powered by three Isotti-Franschini engines they could reach 37 knots. The later ones, MTBs 49-56, had four Thornycroft RY12 engines but were too slow for operations.[14]
A development of the Vosper designs,White had been building under sub-contract. After construction passed toPolish Navy as S5-S10.Armed with two 18-inch torpedoes, 6-pounder gun forward, twin 20mm Oerlikon aft and two twin .303 machine gun mountings.[15]
The Fairmile D was a very large British MTB designed by Bill Holt and conceived by Fairmile Marine for the Royal Navy. Nicknamed "Dog Boats", they were designed to combat the known advantages of the German E-boats over previous British coastal craft designs. Larger than earlier MTB ormotor gun boat (MGB) designs, the Fairmile D was driven by four Packard 12-cylinder 1250 horsepower supercharged petrol engines and could achieve 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) at full load. The boat carried 5,200 gallons of 100 octane fuel for a range, at maximum continuous speed, of 506 nautical miles. Armament varied according to role but could include four 18-inch or two 21-inch torpedoes, 6-pounder and 2-pounder guns, Oerlikons, multiple machine guns and depth charges.[16]
These boats were designed byHubert Scott-Paine for theCanadian Power Boat Company, and used by theRoyal Canadian Navy29th MTB Flotilla. Originally designed asmotor gun boats (MGBs), carrying a 6-pounder (57mm, 2.24 inch) to engage enemy small craft, they were re-designated MTBs.
Scott-Paine type G 70 foot boat
After the end ofWorld War II a number of Royal Navy vessels were stripped and sold for use as houseboats. These included MGBs as well as MTBs. Many of these were moored in maritime locations such asChichester Canal (MTB 71, now restored and on display at the Royal Naval Museum in Gosport[18][19]),[20]Langstone Harbour,Littlehampton,Hayling Island andWootton Creek, although most have now disappeared from these locations.[citation needed] More MTB houseboats can be found atShoreham-by-Sea (West Sussex),Cobden Bridge (Southampton) andBembridge (Isle of Wight).[21]
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