ANGUS KONSTAM, Illustrated by TONY BRYAN
BRITISH MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT 1939-45
Note: Where draught is given, the draught aft is quoted, being deeper than the draught forward. Space precludes details of 'long-hull' Fairmile or Camper & Nicholson MGB/MTBs. It is hoped that a later study of MGBs will cover these larger vessels. Experimental MTBs have also been omitted from the list.
60-foot British Power Boat MTB
Numbers: MTBs 1-12, 13-19
Dimensions: Length: 60 feet, 3 inches; Beam: 13 feet, 3 inches; Draught: 2 feet, 9 inches Displacement: 22 tons
Propulsion: Three Napier engines; Speed: 33 knots
Armament: Two 18-inch torpedo tubes, two twin .303-inch machine guns (MGs)
Complement: 9
55-foot Thornycroft CMB
Numbers: MTBs 26-27, 67-68, 213-217, 327-331
Dimensions: Length: 55 feet; Beam: 11 feet; Draught: 3 feet, 6 inches; Displacement: 17 tons
Propulsion: Two Thornycroft engines; Speed: 38 knots
Armament: Two 18-inch torpedo tubes, two twin .303-inch MGs, two depth charges (DCs)
Complement: 5
75-foot Thornycroft MTB
Numbers: MTBs 49-56
Dimensions: Length; 75 feet, 6 inches; Beam: 16 feet, 7 inches; Draught: 5 feet, 5 inches; Displacement: 52 tons
Propulsion: Four Thornycroft engines; Speed; 29 knots
Armament: Two 21-inch torpedo tubes, one twin .5-inch MG turret, two single .303-inch MGs, two DCs
Complement: 12
73-foot White MTB (Vosper Design)
Numbers: MTBs 41-48, 201-212, 246-257
Dimensions: Length: 73 feet; Beam: 18 feet; Draught: 5 feet, 6 inches; Displacement: 33-41 tons
Propulsion: Three Sterling engines; Speed: 39 knots
Armament: Two 21-inch torpedo tubes, one twin .5-inch MG turret, two single .303-inch MGs
Complement: 12
73-foot White MTB (White Design)
Numbers: MTBs 424-429
Dimensions; Length: 73 feet; Beam; 18 feet; Draught: 5 feet, 6 inches; Displacement: 46 tons
Propulsion: Three Sterling engines; Speed: 37 knots
Armament: Two 18-inch torpedo tubes, one single 6-pdr. QF, one twin Oerlikon, two twin .303-inch MGs
Complement: 17
60-foot Vosper MTB
Numbers: MTBs 71-72
Dimensions: Length: 60 feet; Beam: 15 feet; Draught; 3 feet, 6 inches; Displacement: 32 tons
Propulsion: Two Isotta-Fraschini; Speed: 35 knots
Armament: Two 18-inch torpedo tubes, one twin .5-inch MG turret, one twin .303-inch MGs, 4 DCs.
Complement: 10
70-foot Vosper MTB
Numbers: 20-23, 29-30, 31-40, 57-66. 69-70, 218-221
Dimensions: Length: 70 feet; Beam: 14 feet, 9 inches; Draught: 5 feet; Displacement: 37-40 tons
Propulsion: 20-23, 29-30, 31-34: Three Isotta-Fraschini; Speed: 40 knots 35-40, 57-66, 69-70, 218-221: Three Hall-Scott engines; Speed: 25 knots (In 1942 all were retro-fitted with three Packard engines: Speed 40 knots)
Armament: Two 21-inch torpedo tubes, two twin .5-inch MG turret
Note: MTBs 31-40 had only one MG turret. 57-66 had an additional single Oerlikon. MTB 61 was converted into an MGB, having its torpedo tubes removed, and three single Oerlikons fitted. MTBs 69-70 had two quad .303-inch MGs and two single .303-inch MGs in place of other deck guns. From 1943, MTBs 31-40 were retro-fitted with a single Oerlikon in lieu of the MG turret.
Complement: 10
The forward messdeck of a Vosper 72-foot 6-inch MTB (in this case MTB 351). The photograph is taken looking forward on the port side, towards the heads. The hatch leads out onto the forecastle. (Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd)
72-foot 6-inch Vosper MTB
Numbers: MTBs 73-98, 222-245, 275-306, 347-378, 396-411
Dimensions: Length: 72 feet, 6 inches; Beam: 19 feet, 2 inches; Draught: 6 feet, 3 inches; Displacement: 40 tons
Propulsion: Three Packard engines; Speed: 39 knots Armament: (as fitted) Two 21-inch torpedo tubes, one twin .5-inch MG turret, two single .303-inch MGs, 2 DCs.
Note: Armament varied considerably throughout the war, but by 1944 most remaining boats carried one twin Oerlikon aft, and one single Oerlikon or one 2-pdr. forward in lieu of the .5-inch turret.
Complement: 13
73-foot Vosper MTB Type I
Numbers: MTBs 379 (prototype), 380-395
Dimensions: Length: 73 feet; Beam: 19 feet, 4 inches; Draught: 5 feet, 7 inches; Displacement: 47 tons
Propulsion: Three Packard engines; Speed: 39 knots
Armament: Four 18-inch torpedo tubes, one twin Oerlikon, two twin .303-inch MGs
Complement: 13
A trio of British Power Boat vessels (MTB 416, 413 and 412, all 71-foot 9-inch Mark V boats) photographed in the English Channel in June 1944. With a powerful armament and a top speed of 39 knots, these were amongst the best-designed MTBs of the war. (Imperial War Museum)
73-foot Vosper MTB Type II
Numbers: MTBs 412-418, 430-432, 434-500, 502-509
Dimensions: Length: 71 feet, 9 inches; Beam: 20 feet 7 inches; Draught: 5 feet, 9 inches; Displacement: 52 tons
Propulsion: Three Packard engines; Speed: 39 knots
Armament: Two 18-inch torpedo tubes, one 6-prd, QF, one twin Oerlikon, two twin .303-inch MGs turrets
Complement: 15
72-foot British Power Boat MTB
Numbers: MTBs 412-418, 430-432, 434-500, 502-509
Dimensions: Length: 71 feet, 9 inches; Beam: 20 feet, 7 inches; Draught: 5 feet, 9 inches; Displacement: 52 tons
Propulsion: Three Packard engines; Speed: 39 knots
Armament: Two 18-inch torpedo tubes, one 6-pdr. QF, one twin Oerlikon, two twin .303-inch MG turrets
Complement: 15
70-foot Elco MTB
Numbers: MTBs 259-268
Dimensions: Length: 70 feet; Beam: 19 feet, 11 inches; Draught: 4 feet, 6 inches; Displacement: 32 tons
Propulsion: Three Packard engines; Speed: 42 knots
Armament: Two 21-inch torpedo tubes, one twin Oerlikon, two twin .5-inch MG turrets, two twin .303-inch MGs, 2 DCs
Complement: 12
MTB 74 was specially converted for an attack on the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst while it was in Brest during early 1942. Its 18-inch torpedo was remounted on the forecastle to fire over any protective anti-torpedo nets. Although the battlecruiser sailed before it could be used, MTB 74 was able to play a major part in the St Nazaire raid in March 1942. (Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd)
77-foot Elco MTB
Numbers: MTBs 307-316
Dimensions: Length: 77 feet, 6 inches; Beam: 19 feet, 11 inches; Draught: 5 feet, 3 inches; Displacement: 46 tons
Propulsion: Three Packard engines; Speed: 41 knots
Armament: Two 21-inch torpedo tubes, one single Oerlikon, one twin .5-inch MG turret
Complement: 12
78-foot Higgins MTB
Numbers: MTBs 419-423
Dimensions: Length: 78 feet; Beam: 19 feet, 8 inches; Draught: 6 feet, 1 inch; Displacement: 48 tons
Propulsion: Three Packard engines; Speed: 40 knots
Armament: Two 21-inch torpedo tubes, one twin Oerlikon, one single 40mm Bofors
Complement: 13
Note: MTBs 33, 37, 39, 40 and 108 were destroyed by air attack while under construction in the Vosper Yard in Portsmouth, 1940-41.
MTB 5 Sunk by mine, North Sea, December 1940
MTB 6 Foundered, Sardinia, November 1939
MTB 7 Scuttled, Hong Kong, December 1941
MTB 8 Destroyed by artillery, Hong Kong, December 1941
MTB 9 Scuttled, Hong Kong, December 1941
MTB 10 Scuttled, Hong Kong, December 1941
MTB 11 Scuttled, Hong Kong, December 1941
MTB 12 Destroyed by artillery, Hong Kong, December 1941
MTB 15 Sunk by mine, Thames Estuary, September 1940
MTB 16 Sunk by mine, Thames Estuary, October 1940
MTB 17 Sunk by mine, English Channel, October 1940
MTB 26 Sunk in surface action, Hong Kong, December 1941
MTB 27 Scuttled, Hong Kong, December 1941
MTB 29 Sunk in collision with enemy warship, North Sea, October 1942
MTB 30 Sunk by mine, North Sea, December 1942
MTB 41 Sunk by mine, North Sea, February 1941
MTB 43 Sunk in surface action, English Channel, August 1942
MTB 44 Sunk in surface action, English Channel, August 1942
MTB 47 Sunk in surface action, English Channel, January 1942
MTB 61 Wrecked, Greece, May 1943
MTB 63 Sunk in collision with friendly warship, Libya, April 1943
MTB 64 Sunk in collision with friendly warship, Libya, April 1943
MTB 67 Sunk by air attack, Crete, May 1941
MTB 68 Sunk in collision with friendly warship, Libya, December 1941
MTB 73 Sunk by air attack, Sardinia, November 1943
MTB 74 Sunk by shore batteries, St Nazaire, March 1942
MTB 77 Sunk by air attack, Ionian Sea, September 1943
MTB 87 Sunk by mine, North Sea, October 1942
MTB 93 Sunk in collision with friendly warship, Harwich, August 1944
MTB 201 Sunk in surface action, English Channel, June 1942
MTB 203 Lost at sea (cause unknown), English Channel, May 1944
MTB 213 Sunk by air attack, Crete, May 1941
MTB 214 Sunk by air attack, Crete, May 1941
MTB 215 Lost at sea (cause unknown), Mediterranean, 1941
MTB 216 Sunk by air attack, Crete, May 1941
MTB 217 Sunk by air attack, Crete, May 1941
MTB 218 Sunk by mine, English Channel, August 1942
MTB 220 Sunk in surface action, English Channel, May 1942
MTB 222 Sunk by mine, North Sea, November 1943
MTB 230 Sunk in collision with friendly warship, North Sea, November 1943
MTB 237 Sunk in surface action, English Channel, August 1942
MTB 241 Sunk in surface action, North Sea, March 1944
MTB 242 Foundered, Malta, July 1945
MTB 243 Damaged then scuttled as target, July 1945
MTB 248 Sunk in collision with friendly warship, English Channel, June 1944
MTB 255 Destroyed by fire, Ostend, February 1945
MTB 259 Foundered, Mediterranean, June 1942
MTB 262 Sunk by air attack, Tunisia, February 1943
MTB 264 Sunk by mine, Tunisia, May 1943
MTB 266 Sunk due to damage in surface action, Alexandria, April 1944
MTB 267 Foundered, Mediterranean April 1943
MTB 284 Destroyed while freighted as cargo, Mediterranean, September 1943
MTB 285 Destroyed while freighted as cargo, Mediterranean, September 1943
MTB 287 Wrecked, Dalmatian Coast, November 1944
MTB 288 Sunk by air attack, Sicily, July 1943
MTB 308 Sunk by air attack, Tobruk, September 1943
MTB 310 Sunk by air attack, Tobruk, September 1943
MTB 311 Sunk by mine, Tunisia, May 1943
MTB 312 Sunk by air attack, Tobruk, September 1942
MTB 314 Captured, Tobruk, September 1942. Sunk by air attack, April 1943
MTB 316 Sunk in surface action, Sicily, September 1943
MTB 347 Sunk in surface action, North Sea, October 1944
MTB 352 Sunk in collision, North Sea, March 1944
A group of 73-foot Vosper MTBs, built by J.S. White of Cowes, photographed at the end of the war. Although White produced 32 boats according to Vosper designs, the yard also produced six White designs (MTBs 424 to 429) that carried a 6-pounder forward, and a twin Oerlikon aft. (Imperial War Museum)
MTB 357 Sunk in surface action, North Sea, December 1943
MTB 360 Sunk in surface action, North Sea, October 1944
MTB 365 Sunk in surface action. North Sea, October 1943
MTB 371 Wrecked, Dalmatian Coast, November 1944
MTB 372 Sunk in surface action, Adriatic Sea, July 1944
MTB 412 Sunk in collision with enemy warship, Normandy, July 1944
MTB 417 Sunk in surface action, English Channel, March 1944
MTB 430 Sunk in surface action, Normandy, July 1944
MTB 434 Sunk in surface action, Normandy, July 1944
MTB 438 Destroyed by fire, Ostend, February 1945
MTB 444 Destroyed by fire, Ostend, February 1945
MTB 448 Sunk by air attack, Normandy, June 1944
MTB 459 Destroyed by fire, Ostend, February 1945
MTB 460 Destroyed by fire, Ostend, February 1945
MTB 461 Destroyed by fire, Ostend, February 1945
MTB 462 Destroyed by fire, Ostend, February 1945
MTB 463 Sunk by mine, Normandy, July 1945
MTB 465 Destroyed by fire, Ostend, February 1945
MTB 466 Destroyed by fire, Ostend, February 1945
MTB 494 Sunk in collision with enemy warship, North Sea, April 1945
A trio of MTBs berthed at the submarine base in Malta. The two 77-foot Elco boats in the foreground sport two different types of splinter camouflage; grey and dark grey on their lower hulls. (Private collection, Museum of Naval Firepower, Gosport)
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