The Fairmile D motor gun boat MGB 606
Class overview
NameFairmile D motor gun boat
Preceded byFairmile C motor gun boat
Planned229
Completed228
Cancelled1
General characteristics
Displacement
  • As MTB
  • 102 long tons (104 t) standard
  • 118 long tons (120 t) full load
  • As MGB
  • 90 long tons (91 t) standard
  • 107 long tons (109 t) full load
Length115 ft (35 m)
Beam20 ft 10 in (6.35 m)
Draught4 ft 9 in (1.45 m) to 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m) mean deep load
Propulsion4 × Packard 4M 2500 petrol engines, total 5,000 hp (3,728 kW)
Speed29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) at full load
Range
  • 506 nmi (937 km; 582 mi) at max revolutions
  • 2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement21
Armament
NotesSpecifications from Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. and Motor Gunboat 658

The Fairmile D motor torpedo boat was a type of British motor torpedo boat (MTB) and motor gunboat (MGB)[1] 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. They were bigger than earlier MTB or motor gunboat (MGB) designs (which were typically around 70 feet) but slower, at 30 knots compared to 40 knots.

Boats

The first twelve boats were ordered on 15 March 1941, becoming MGB 601 to MGB 612. The prefix was altered from "MGB" to "MTB" in September 1943.
Another 28 boats were ordered on 27 April 1941, as MGB 613 to MGB 616, and ML 617 to ML 640, although the MLs were quickly reclassed as MGBs. All (except early losses 622 , 631 and 639) were reclassed as "MTB" in September 1943. Eight of these were handed over to the Royal Norwegian Navy in 1942.[2]
A further 60 boats were ordered on 18 November 1941, numbered from 641 up to 700, some with the "ML"prefix, others as "MGB" or "MTB", although all survivors later became "MTB". However, from No. 697 onwards, the boats were classified as combined "MTB"/"MGB"s.
Another 23 boats were ordered on 7 April 1942 as MTB 701 to MTB 723, and then 48 more on 30 August 1942 as MTB 724 to MTB 771.
Finally, 58 more were ordered on 26 March 1943 as MTB 772 to MTB 800, and MTB 5001 to MTB 5029 (although MTB 5027 was cancelled, the only Fairmile order not to be built).

History

Unlike the Fairmile B designs (many of which were built overseas), the "Dog Boats" were only produced in component form in Britain. Some were built for the RAF's Marine Branch for use in the long range air-sea rescue role for downed airmen. Altogether, 229 boats were ordered (and 228 built) between 1942 and 1945.

Many versions were produced or converted from existing boats; MGB, MTB, MA/SB, LRRC and post-war FPB.

Since the Fairmile D could be fitted out with a mix of armament that gave it the capabilities of both a motor gunboat and a motor torpedo boat, later-war examples were all completed with a heavy combined armament and universally classified as MTBs. By 1944, the MGB designation was largely dropped by the RN and most of the mid-war (earlier model) Type Ds which had survived were reclassified as MTBs even if they lacked torpedo armament. Mediterranean-based MGBs, however, seem to have retained their MGB pennant numbers to the end of the war.

Two captured boats were put into Kriegsmarine service.

Today the D-type is a popular choice among boat modelers.

There are no known survivors, other than two abandoned wrecks, one in Chatham, England and the other in Ellingsøy, Norway.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Reynolds, Leonard C. Dog Boats at War: Royal Navy D Class MTBs and MGBs, 1939–1945. 2000. ISBN 978-0-7509-1443-7
  2. ↑ Svensholt, Hans K. "The Norwegian Navy in the Second World War". RESDAL. Red de Seguridad y Defensa de America Latina. Retrieved 3 November 2023.

References

  • Friedman, Norman, British Coastal Forces: Two World Wars and After. 2023, Seaforth Publishing ISBN 978-1-3990-1858-6
  • Lambert, John. Fairmile D Motor Torpedo Boat. (Anatomy of the Ship series) 1985 ISBN 978-1-84486-006-7
  • Lambert, John and Ross, Al. Allied Coastal Forces of World War Two, Volume I : Fairmile designs and US Submarine Chasers. 1990. ISBN 978-0-85177-519-7
  • Konstam, Angus. British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939–45. (New Vanguard). Osprey 2003. ISBN 978-1-84176-500-6
  • Konstam, Angus. British Motor Gun Boat 1939-45. (New Vanguard) Osprey 2010 ISBN 978-1-84908-077-4
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • North, A. J. D. Royal Naval Coastal Forces 1939-1945. 1972, Almark Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-85524-068-4
  • Reynolds, Leonard C. Motor Gunboat 658: The Small Boat War in the Mediterranean. 1955/2002. ISBN 0-304-36183-6
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