Difference between revisions of "MTB Vosper(2)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=uk_mtb_vosper_2series}}
+
{{About
 +
| about = British motor torpedo boat '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 +
| usage = other versions
 +
| link = MTB Vosper (Family)
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=uk_mtb_vosper_2series
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 +
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
−
<!--''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship’s creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot. If a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them understand which ship is being discussed.''-->
+
<!-- ''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot: if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.'' -->
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British motor torpedo boat {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.83 "Masters of the Sea"]] as part of the British fleet closed beta test. With the split of the naval tech trees in [[Update "New Power"]], {{PAGENAME}} was moved to the coastal fleet tech tree.
−
{{Break}}
 
−
The '''{{specs|name}}''' is a rank {{specs|rank}} British motor torpedo boat {{Battle-rating|1}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.83 "Masters of the Sea"]] as part of the British fleet closed beta test.
 
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
−
''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armament separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Tips for preserving survivability should be saved for the "Use in battle" section.''
+
{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.'' -->
  
−
''If necessary, use a graphic template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.''
+
[[File:{{PAGENAME}}_Internals.png|thumb|{{PAGENAME}} internals (starboard). Note the ammunition storage below the bridge.]]
 +
 
 +
MTB Vosper(2) has the following armour layout:
 +
 
 +
* [[20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II]] gun shield: 12.7 mm, hardened armour
 +
* Hull: 24 mm, wood
 +
* Superstructure: 15 mm, wood
 +
 
 +
While the gun shield may stop low-calibre machine guns, heavy machine guns and cannons will have no trouble with them at any range. The hull and superstructure will not stop any sort of gunfire.
 +
 
 +
The hull is split into three compartments. Starting from the bow and working towards the stern, the first compartment starts at the bow and ends at the forward gun mount; the second ends in front of the aft gun mount, between the fuel tanks and the engines; and the third ends at the stern.
 +
 
 +
MTB Vosper(2) can be hull-broken by any round with a large enough diameter and explosive mass. In general, this is limited to HE rounds greater with a diameter greater than or equal to 4 inches (102 mm) with an explosive mass greater than 1.5 kg. At MTB Vosper(2)'s own battle rating, there is only one gun capable of hull-breaking her:
 +
 
 +
* the [[8cwt QF Mk I (114 mm)|114 mm 8cwt QF Mk I]], found on {{Specs-Link|uk_dark_class}}.
 +
 
 +
There is one ammunition storage that holds ammunition for both the primary armament and secondary armament. It is located directly below the bridge, just above the waterline. Destroying it will instantly destroy MTB Vosper(2).
 +
 
 +
MTB Vosper(2) has a crew complement of 12. With a stock crew, it is knocked out when 8 crew are lost; with an aced crew, this is increased to 9. Overall, the survivability is average.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
−
''Write about the ship’s mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward speed and reverse speed.''
+
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}
 +
<!-- ''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.'' -->
 +
 
 +
{{NavalMobility
 +
|SpeedForwardStockAB = 76
 +
|SpeedBackStockAB = 26
 +
|TurnTimeStockAB = 23.68
 +
|TurnSpeedStockAB = 45
 +
 
 +
|TurnTimeSpadedAB = 16.33
 +
|TurnSpeedSpadedAB = 43
 +
 
 +
|SpeedForwardStockRB = 64
 +
|SpeedBackStockRB = 22
 +
|TurnTimeStockRB = 26.53
 +
|TurnSpeedStockRB = 46
 +
 
 +
|TurnTimeSpadedRB = 21.99
 +
|TurnSpeedSpadedRB = 45
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
MTB Vosper(2) has a displacement of 38 tons.
 +
 
 +
When moving forwards at high speeds, the bow will drift slightly to starboard without any player input. When moving backwards, the bow drifts slightly to port.
 +
 
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
 +
 
 +
The recommended modification research order is:
 +
 
 +
# Tool Set
 +
# Fire Protection System
 +
# 12.7 mm I belt or 20 mm HE
 +
# Smokescreen
 +
# Propeller Replacement
 +
# Artillery Support
 +
 
 +
After that, prioritize the rest of the seakeeping modifications first, then research the remaining modifications in whatever order you prefer.
  
 
== Armament ==
 
== Armament ==
 +
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
 
=== Primary armament ===
 
=== Primary armament ===
−
''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}</nowiki></code>.''
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{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}
 +
<!-- ''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}</nowiki></code>. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.'' -->
 +
{{main|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The primary armament consists of a single 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II mounted fore, with a maximum of 1,980 rounds of ammunition. Stock, the mount can traverse horizontally and vertically at a rate of 64°/s; with the "Primary Armament Targeting" modification installed, this is increased to 75°/s. The gun has a magazine capacity of 60 rounds and a cyclic rate of fire of around 450 rounds/min. With a stock crew, it can be reloaded in 5.2 seconds; with an aced crew, it can be reloaded in 4 seconds.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="25%"
 +
! colspan="2" | Primary armament guidance
 +
|-
 +
! Horizontal !! Vertical
 +
|-
 +
| ±180° || -10°/+60°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
There are three ammunition types available:
 +
 
 +
* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|HEF-T|High-explosive fragmentation tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF-I|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}
 +
* '''20 mm HE:''' {{Annotation|HEF-T|High-explosive fragmentation tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF-I|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF-I|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary}}
 +
* '''20 mm AP:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF-I|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary}}
 +
 
 +
{{:20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)/Ammunition|HEF-T, AP-T, HEF-I}}
  
−
''Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.''
+
The best ammunition for general use is the HE belt, due to it having the highest ratio of HE rounds to AP rounds, making it the most effective against both aircraft and the vast majority of surface targets. Because of this, the HE belt should be the main ammunition once it is unlocked. Additionally, the AP belt, with its higher amount of AP rounds, is better for dealing with armoured targets, so take a decent amount of these as well for specialized usage.
  
 
=== Secondary armament ===
 
=== Secondary armament ===
−
''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armament and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section.''
+
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}
 +
<!-- ''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.'' -->
 +
{{main|Vickers Mk.V (12.7 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The secondary armament consists of two 12.7 mm Vickers Mk.V machine guns in a twin mount aft. There are 5,200 rounds of ammunition available for it, 2,600 rounds per gun. Stock, the mount can traverse horizontally and vertically at a rate of 64°/s; with the "Auxiliary Armament Targeting" modification installed, this is increased to 75°/s. Each gun has a belt capacity of 200 rounds and a cyclic rate of fire of about 600 rounds/min, though the gun on the gunner's right side fires slightly faster, around 685 rounds/min. With a stock crew, the guns can be reloaded in 13 seconds; with an aced crew, they can be reloaded in 10 seconds.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="25%"
 +
! colspan="2" | Secondary armament guidance
 +
|-
 +
! Horizontal !! Vertical
 +
|-
 +
| ±180° || -10°/+70°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
There are three ammunition types available:
 +
 
 +
* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|T|M1 tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|I|M1 incendiary}}
 +
* '''12.7 mm I:''' {{Annotation|T|M1 tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|I|M1 incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|I|M1 incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|I|M1 incendiary}}
 +
* '''12.7 mm API:''' {{Annotation|T|M1 tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|I|M1 incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|M2 armour-piercing}}
 +
 
 +
{{:Vickers Mk.V (12.7 mm)/Ammunition|T, AP, I}}
 +
 
 +
Of the belts, the I belt has a noticeably higher damage output than both the Universal and API belts, both of which are about the same in terms of damage. This is because it has the highest concentration of incendiary rounds, which are the only ones with any high-explosive filler. However, because it lacks any armour-piercing rounds, the I belt has slightly less armour penetration than the other two belts. In general, though, any armour that can stop the incendiary round will also be able to stop the armour-piercing round. For the most effectiveness, take only the I belt once unlocked, and switch the primary 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II cannon to deal with armoured targets.
 +
 
 +
=== Additional armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Fleet-Additional}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe the available additional armaments of the ship: depth charges, mines, torpedoes. Talk about their positions, available ammunition and launch features such as dead zones of torpedoes. If there is no additional armament, remove this section.'' -->
 +
{{main|Mk.VIII (533 mm)|Mk.VII depth charge}}
 +
 
 +
MTB Vosper(2) has four possible loadouts:
 +
 
 +
# 2 x Mk.VIII torpedo
 +
# 4 x Mk.VII depth charge
 +
# 2 x Mk.VIII torpedo, 4 x Mk.VII depth charge
 +
# Without load
 +
 
 +
'''Torpedoes'''
 +
 
 +
MTB Vosper(2) can carry two 533 mm Mk.VIII torpedoes. The torpedo tubes are located on either side of the bridge, pointing forwards with the nose angled outwards.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="9" | Torpedo characteristics
 +
|-
 +
! Torpedo Mode !! Mass (kg) !! Maximum speed in water (km/h) !! Travel distance (km) !! Depth stroke (m) !! Arming distance (m) !! Explosive type !! Explosive mass (kg) !! TNT equivalent (kg)
 +
|-
 +
| {{Annotation|No|'Torpedo Mode' modification uninstalled}} || 1566 || 84 || 4.57 || 1 || 50 || TNT || 327 || 327
 +
|-
 +
| {{Annotation|Yes|'Torpedo Mode' modification installed}} || 1566 || 76 || 6.40 || 1 || 50 || TNT || 327 || 327
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
The Torpedo Mode modification is available as a rank IV modification. Installing it will give the following changes:
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
! colspan="2" | Torpedo mode specification changes
 +
|-
 +
! Max Distance (m)
 +
! Max Speed (m/s)
 +
|-
 +
| +1830 || -2
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
It's best to always keep Torpedo Mode uninstalled. The maximum speed of a torpedo is much more valuable in coastal battles than its maximum range. Coastal fleet maps are also small enough that the decreased range with Torpedo Mode installed isn't much of an issue.
 +
 
 +
In RB, always set the depth stroke to the minimum 1 m setting, since most vessels that MTB Vosper(2) can face will not have a deep enough draught to fuse the torpedo at a depth stroke setting of 4 m. In AB, depth stroke is automatically set to the most optimal setting.
 +
 
 +
When using torpedoes, be aware that unless they are already launched, the torpedoes have a very high chance to detonate when shot at, instantly destroying the boat. To avoid this, fire the torpedoes immediately after spawning in—as well as after any subsequent reloads in AB—or simply don't take them at all. Torpedoes are a situational weapon, so it's largely down to personal preference whether or not to take them.
 +
 
 +
'''Depth Charges'''
 +
 
 +
[[File:{{PAGENAME}}_DC_Order.png|thumb|Mk.VII depth charges numbered according to their drop order.]]
  
−
''If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.''
+
The Mk.VII depth charges are carried around the bridge area, three on each side. They are dropped one at a time in the following order:
  
−
=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
+
# Port, foremost
−
''An important part of the ship’s armament responsible for air raid defense. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship’s anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets.''
+
# Starboard, foremost
 +
# Port, aftmost
 +
# Starboard, aftmost
  
−
''If there is no anti-aircraft artillery, remove this section.''
+
Before spawning, the detonation time delay can be set anywhere between 3 seconds and 10 seconds.
  
−
=== Torpedo armament ===
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
−
''Many ships are armed with torpedo launchers, and for some vessels such as boats, torpedoes are an extremely important means of defeating an opponent. Evaluate the position of the torpedo launchers, discuss the ammunition available, firing specifics such as dead zones, features of the torpedoes themselves, etc.''
+
! colspan="7" | Depth charge characteristics
 +
|-
 +
! Mass (kg)
 +
! Explosive type
 +
! Explosive mass (kg)
 +
! TNT equivalent (kg)
 +
! HE armour penetration (mm)
 +
! Armoured vehicle destruction radius (m)
 +
! Fragment dispersion radius (m)
 +
|-
 +
| 196 || TNT || 130 || 130 || 101 || 8 || 122
 +
|}
  
−
''If there is no torpedo armament, remove this section.''
+
There is almost no practical reason to use depth charges on any naval vessel in the game. Although they usually result in a one-hit kill if used properly, they are extremely situational, requiring the player to close to point-blank ranges to even use them. In almost every case, anytime a depth charge could be used, the guns or torpedoes can be used instead to greater effect. In fact, depth charges tend to actually be a liability in battle, since they essentially act as exposed ammo racks before they're dropped. Like torpedoes, they have a relatively high chance to detonate when shot at, instantly destroying the boat.
  
−
=== Special armament ===
+
Despite this, some success can be had in dropping them either next to or in front of a large, slow target. If dropping them next to the target, remember the depth charge drop order, since it's most likely that only the depth charges dropped on the side closest to the enemy will deal any damage. If dropping in front of the target, rush in from the sides as quickly as possible and drop them all at once directly in front of the target. For both cases, set the depth charge time delay to the minimum 3 seconds, since any higher time delay will only allow the depth charge to sink further away from the target, giving them more time to move out of the way. Again, using depth charges is extremely situational, and they will only be a liability the vast majority of the time, so take them at your own discretion.
−
''Depth charges, mines, rocket launchers and missiles are also effective in skilled hands and can be an unexpected surprise for an opponent. Evaluate the ammunition of this type of armament and rate its performance in combat.''
 
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don’t get try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
<!-- ''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
 
 +
Between the primary and secondary armaments, the secondary twin 12.7 Vickers Mk.V machine guns are actually much more effective than the primary single 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II. Using 12.7 mm I belt, the two machine guns together have a much greater damage output than the cannon, and with their larger belt capacity, they are also able to sustain fire for much longer periods of time before needing to reload. However, this does come at the cost of a longer reload and the fact that they are mounted aft, preventing them from firing in a ~46° arc forwards. Conveniently, the disadvantages of the Vickers Mk.V machine guns are the advantages of the Oerlikon Mk.II cannon, and vice versa: the Oerlikon Mk.II is mounted on the bow and has a quicker reload, but it is weaker in terms of damage. The primary and secondary armament nicely complement each other, and to fully make use of MTB Vosper(2), both must be used together.
 +
 
 +
Since the Vickers Mk.V machine guns have the best damage output, switch to manual control of the secondaries and use these as the primary weapon. During their reloads, or in case they get knocked out, switch back to the Oerlikon Mk.II to continue the fight. The main disadvantage of heavy machine guns like the Vickers Mk.V is that they generally have a very long reload. By switching back to the Oerlikon Mk.II during reloads, MTB Vosper(2) can mostly circumvent this problem, allowing it to continue sustaining fire through about 70-80% of the reload of the machine guns, depending on crew skills. With this to fall back on, MTB Vosper(2) can afford to be more aggressive than most other vessels at this tier. However, to fully make use of this, the Oerlikon Mk.II should have a full magazine at all times, which can only be guaranteed by disabling the AI gunners. While this does greatly increase surface capabilities, it leaves MTB Vosper(2) open to aerial attacks, so always look out for enemy aircraft, and reenable the AI gunners to target aircraft if necessary. When targeting aircraft, the Vickers Mk.V machine guns tend to be more effective than the Oerlikon Mk.II due to their volume of fire, so in this case, switch back to the cannon to give control of the machine guns to the AI gunners.
 +
 
 +
An alternative to this is to be proactive with the reloads like with other vessels. After engagements, if there isn't much ammunition left in the Vickers Mk.V magazines—less than about 100 rounds between both guns—retreat to cover, and then fire off any remaining ammunition to reload in safety. When playing like this, the Oerlikon Mk.II is more like a last resort weapon to switch to in a pinch. Since you're not constantly relying on it, it doesn't need to be full at all times, which frees it up for use by the AI gunners in combat. While this is certainly the safest approach to playing MTB Vosper(2), it doesn't take advantage of its strengths as much as the first playstyle does. That said, both are effective in their own right, so it's down to personal preference which way to play. Whichever playstyle you prefer, remember to be flexible and always be prepared to switch to the other weapon.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
<!--Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".-->
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
* Powerful 20 mm with 40 mm of penetration for the AP round
+
 
−
* Good speed
+
* Strong secondary armament: great damage output
−
* The twin turret with 12.7mm is much powerful than the quadra 7.7 mm
+
* Good manoeuvrability
−
* Generous matchmaking
+
* Good torpedoes: above-average maximum speed and explosive charge
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
* No armour
+
 
−
* Only two torpedoes
+
* Long secondary armament reload
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''
+
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ship in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the ship and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Ship-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the ship's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
 
 +
During the 1930s, the Admiralty began to reestablish the coastal boat flotillas it once commanded during the First World War. British boatbuilding company Vosper & Company competed for the contract but lost both times in 1935 and 1936, the lucrative contract to build the first coastal boats since WWI going instead to their rival, British Power Boat Company. In response to this, Vospers developed plans for a faster and more seaworthy design than that of their rivals'. In the following months, Vospers proposed their new design to the Admiralty multiple times, but ultimately, they could not secure a contract to build a prototype. Around this time, though, the Admiralty officials had unofficially suggested that future contracts would only be awarded for vessels that could surpass 40 knots in speed and that were armed with two 21-inch torpedoes as well as an assortment of light anti-aircraft guns. Additionally, it was known from previous specifications that the Admiralty wanted a vessel capable of operating in open waters in at least Force 5 winds and that was fast enough to cross the English Channel during the night. With these unofficial specifications, Vospers preemptively began development on a new vessel as a private venture at the company's own expense.
 +
 
 +
Immediately, it was decided that the private venture vessel had to be larger than the existing 60 ft British Power Boat MTB in order to meet the specifications. Additionally, engines more powerful than the Napier Sea Lion engines used in the BPB design were required. With none available domestically, Vospers looked to the Asso 1000 engine by Italian manufacturer Isotta-Fraschini. Though in limited supply, the Asso 1000 was specifically designed for marine craft and provided the necessary power: 1,150 bhp at 1,500 rpm maximum and 950 bhp at 1,660 rpm continuous. In late 1936, Vospers completed their design. It called for three Asso 1000 engines and two in-house 75 bhp auxiliary engines, the latter of which could be coupled to the outer shafts to give a total maximum power of 3,600 bhp. The hull-form was a hard chine planing design and was 69½ ft in length with a displacement of about 33 tons. The prototype was laid down before the end of the year and completed in May 1937.
 +
 
 +
Upon completion, the prototype underwent internal trials where she achieved a top speed of 47.8 knots unloaded and 43.7 knots loaded. Satisfied with these results, Vospers presented the prototype to the Admiralty for official trials against the 60 ft British Power Boat MTB. The prototype fared favorably, and after much deliberation, the Admiralty decided to purchase the vessel from Vospers. She was commissioned in May 1938 as MTB 102 and sent to HMS Vernon for further evaluation. Up to this point, MTB 102 had not actually been fitted with torpedoes, so during her time at HMS Vernon, many torpedo configurations were tested. These included the tried-and-true yet outdated stern projection systems, as seen on the 60 ft British Power Boat MTB and earlier WWI designs, as well as a unique arrangement of a single launcher in the stem of the hull with a reload carried internally. These all had their own issues, and none were found to be satisfactory. Ultimately, it was decided that MTB 102 should have two torpedo tubes mounted on either side of the bridge, pointed forwards with the nose angled outwards, an uncommon configuration for the time. Around this time, the gun armament had also not yet been decided, so various configurations were also experimented with, including combinations of 0.303 in and 0.50 in machine guns and a 20 mm autocannon.
 +
 
 +
Impressed with MTB 102, the Admiralty placed an order for four more vessels on 15th August 1938, Vospers' first-ever Admiralty contract. These vessels, and any ordered after, all shared the same overall design as MTB 102, although with several minor changes such as the hull being lengthened to 70 ft 3¼ in. After 1940, with the entrance of Italy into the war, Isotta-Fraschini engines could no longer be obtained, and subsequent boats had to be fitted with much weaker American Hall Scott engines—only 1800 bhp total—as a stopgap measure until they could be upgraded with more powerful Packard engines, although this wasn't until 1941 as supply was limited. Of the 32 planned 70 ft Vosper MTBs, 28 were completed and are as follows:
 +
 
 +
* MTBs 20-23: Ordered 15th August 1938, all were completed by December 1939. MTBs 20, 21, and 23 were sold to the Romanian Navy. MTB 22 served with the 4th MTB Flotilla. She survived to the end of the war and was sold in 1945.
 +
 
 +
* MTBs 29-30: Ordered on 8th September 1938—including a Thornycroft design, MTB 28—as replacements for the three boats sold to Romania, all were completed by July 1940. Both MTB 29 and 30 served with the 4th MTB Flotilla. MTB 29 was lost in a collision with a German E-boat on 6th October 1942, and MTB 30 struck a mine and was lost on 18th December 1942.
 +
 
 +
* MTBs 31-40: Ordered on 27th September 1939, six were completed by May 1941. MTBs 33, 37, 39, and 40 were bombed by German aircraft while under construction in 1940-41. The completed boats survived to the end of the war and were sold in 1945-46.
 +
 
 +
* MTBs 57-66: Ordered on 26th February 1940, all were completed by April 1942. MTB 61 was stranded during an attack on 9th May 1943, and MTBs 63 and 64 were lost after collisions with friendly MTBs on 2nd April 1943. The remaining boats were sold in 1944.
 +
 
 +
* MTBs 69-70: Ordered in April 1940, both were completed by June 1940 and received only two engines. Both were stationed at HMS Beehive, Felixstowe. They both survived to the end of the war and were sold in 1945-46.
 +
 
 +
* MTBs 218-221: Ordered on 7th December 1940, all were completed by September 1941. MTB 218 struck a mine and was lost on 18th August 1942, and MTB 220 was sunk by German E-boats on 13th May 1942. MTBs 219 and 221 survived to the end of the war. MTB 221 was sold in 1945, and MTB 219 was transferred to the Sea Cadet Corps at Staines in 1945 and was converted to a houseboat in 1948.
 +
 
 +
The 70 ft Vosper MTB design continued to receive many improvements and modifications order-to-order and would lead to the development of the 72 ft Vosper MTB and 73 ft Vosper MTB.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_mtb_vosper_2series Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
−
<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
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<!-- ''Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''-->
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
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* [[Vosper 1 series]] - Sister ship with equipped only with Lewis machine gun armaments.
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* [[MTB Vosper (Family)]]
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* {{Specs-Link|uk_mtb_vosper_1series}}
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* {{Specs-Link|it_a1_vosper}}
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''encyclopedia page on ship;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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* ''other literature.''
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 +
* [http://cfv.org.uk/research/boat/database <nowiki>[Coastal Forces Veterans]</nowiki> Boat Database]
 +
* [http://www.ww2ships.com/britain/gb-sc-002-b.shtml <nowiki>[ww2ships.com]</nowiki> 70' Vosper Motor Torpedo Boat]
 +
* [https://www.unithistories.com/units_british/RN_MTBs.html#MTB_Boats <nowiki>[Unit Histories]</nowiki> Royal Navy Coastal Forces 1940-1945]
 +
* [http://www.naval-history.net/WW2BritishLosses3Coastal.htm <nowiki>[naval-history.net]</nowiki> British vessels lost at sea in World War 2 - MGB, MTB, SGB, ML, etc] - originally published in British Vessels Lost at Sea, 1935-45, His Majesty's Stationary Office, 1947
 +
 
 +
===References===
 +
 
 +
* Lambert, J., & Ross, A. (1993). ''Allied Coastal Forces of World War II Volume II: Vosper MTBs & U.S. Elcos'' (pp. 21-32). London, England: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-602-7.
  
 +
{{ShipManufacturer Vospers}}
 
{{Britain boats}}
 
{{Britain boats}}

Latest revision as of 18:48, 1 March 2023

This page is about the British motor torpedo boat MTB Vosper(2). For other versions, see MTB Vosper (Family).
MTB Vosper(2)
uk_mtb_vosper_2series.png
GarageImage MTB Vosper(2).jpg
MTB Vosper(2)
Britain flag.png Britain
I Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
1.7 1.7 1.7
Class:
Research:4 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:2 100 Specs-Card-Lion.png

Description

The MTB Vosper 2 series is a rank I British motor torpedo boat with a battle rating of 1.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.83 "Masters of the Sea" as part of the British fleet closed beta test. With the split of the naval tech trees in Update "New Power", MTB Vosper(2) was moved to the coastal fleet tech tree.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull24 mm (wood)
Superstructure15 mm (wood)
Number of section3
Displacement38 t
Crew12 people
MTB Vosper(2) internals (starboard). Note the ammunition storage below the bridge.

MTB Vosper(2) has the following armour layout:

While the gun shield may stop low-calibre machine guns, heavy machine guns and cannons will have no trouble with them at any range. The hull and superstructure will not stop any sort of gunfire.

The hull is split into three compartments. Starting from the bow and working towards the stern, the first compartment starts at the bow and ends at the forward gun mount; the second ends in front of the aft gun mount, between the fuel tanks and the engines; and the third ends at the stern.

MTB Vosper(2) can be hull-broken by any round with a large enough diameter and explosive mass. In general, this is limited to HE rounds greater with a diameter greater than or equal to 4 inches (102 mm) with an explosive mass greater than 1.5 kg. At MTB Vosper(2)'s own battle rating, there is only one gun capable of hull-breaking her:

There is one ammunition storage that holds ammunition for both the primary armament and secondary armament. It is located directly below the bridge, just above the waterline. Destroying it will instantly destroy MTB Vosper(2).

MTB Vosper(2) has a crew complement of 12. With a stock crew, it is knocked out when 8 crew are lost; with an aced crew, this is increased to 9. Overall, the survivability is average.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB104 / 35 km/h
RB74 / 25 km/h
Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode Upgrade Status Maximum Speed (km/h) Turn Time (s) Turn Radius (m)
Forward Reverse
AB Stock 76 26 ~23.68 ~47.11
Upgraded 104 35 ~16.33 ~31.04
RB/SB Stock 64 22 ~26.53 ~53.95
Upgraded 74 25 ~21.99 ~43.75

MTB Vosper(2) has a displacement of 38 tons.

When moving forwards at high speeds, the bow will drift slightly to starboard without any player input. When moving backwards, the bow drifts slightly to port.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB177 → 222 Sl icon.png
RB246 → 308 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications4 420 Rp icon.png
2 680 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost300 Ge icon.png
Crew training600 Sl icon.png
Experts2 100 Sl icon.png
Aces45 Ge icon.png
Research Aces110 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
20 / 30 / 100 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Seakeeping Unsinkability Firepower
Mods new ship hull.png
Dry-Docking
Research:
220 Rp icon.png
Cost:
135 Sl icon.png
55 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship rudder.png
Rudder Replacement
Research:
165 Rp icon.png
Cost:
100 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship screw.png
Propeller Replacement
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship engine.png
Engine Maintenance
Research:
360 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods ship damage control crew.png
Damage Control Division
Research:
220 Rp icon.png
Cost:
135 Sl icon.png
55 Ge icon.png
Mods ship fire control crew.png
Fire Division
Research:
165 Rp icon.png
Cost:
100 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
Smokescreen
Research:
165 Rp icon.png
Cost:
100 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship pumps.png
New Pumps
Research:
360 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
20 mm HE magazines
Research:
220 Rp icon.png
Cost:
135 Sl icon.png
55 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
12.7 mm I
Research:
220 Rp icon.png
Cost:
135 Sl icon.png
55 Ge icon.png
Mods new aux caliber turrets.png
Auxiliary Armament Targeting
Research:
165 Rp icon.png
Cost:
100 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
20 mm AP magazines
Research:
165 Rp icon.png
Cost:
100 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
12.7 mm API
Research:
165 Rp icon.png
Cost:
100 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new main caliber turrets.png
Primary Armament Targeting
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods depth charge.png
Depth Charges
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods ship art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
360 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods torpedo.png
Torpedo Mode
Research:
360 Rp icon.png
Cost:
220 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png

The recommended modification research order is:

  1. Tool Set
  2. Fire Protection System
  3. 12.7 mm I belt or 20 mm HE
  4. Smokescreen
  5. Propeller Replacement
  6. Artillery Support

After that, prioritize the rest of the seakeeping modifications first, then research the remaining modifications in whatever order you prefer.

Armament

Primary armament

Turret20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II autocannon
Ammunition1800 rounds
Belt capacity60 rounds
Fire rate450 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 60°
Main article: 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)

The primary armament consists of a single 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II mounted fore, with a maximum of 1,980 rounds of ammunition. Stock, the mount can traverse horizontally and vertically at a rate of 64°/s; with the "Primary Armament Targeting" modification installed, this is increased to 75°/s. The gun has a magazine capacity of 60 rounds and a cyclic rate of fire of around 450 rounds/min. With a stock crew, it can be reloaded in 5.2 seconds; with an aced crew, it can be reloaded in 4 seconds.

Primary armament guidance
Horizontal Vertical
±180° -10°/+60°

There are three ammunition types available:

  • Universal: HEF-T · HEF-I · AP-T
  • 20 mm HE: HEF-T · HEF-I · AP-T · HEF-I
  • 20 mm AP: AP-T · AP-T · AP-T · HEF-I

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HEF-T 2 2 2 2 2 2
AP-T 34 32 24 17 12 8
HEF-I 2 2 2 2 2 2
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HEF-T 830 0.12 0 0.1 6.57 79° 80° 81°
AP-T 830 0.12 - - - 47° 60° 65°
HEF-I 830 0.12 0 0.1 11.17 79° 80° 81°

The best ammunition for general use is the HE belt, due to it having the highest ratio of HE rounds to AP rounds, making it the most effective against both aircraft and the vast majority of surface targets. Because of this, the HE belt should be the main ammunition once it is unlocked. Additionally, the AP belt, with its higher amount of AP rounds, is better for dealing with armoured targets, so take a decent amount of these as well for specialized usage.

Secondary armament

Turret2 x 12.7 mm Vickers Mk.V machine gun
Ammunition4000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main article: Vickers Mk.V (12.7 mm)

The secondary armament consists of two 12.7 mm Vickers Mk.V machine guns in a twin mount aft. There are 5,200 rounds of ammunition available for it, 2,600 rounds per gun. Stock, the mount can traverse horizontally and vertically at a rate of 64°/s; with the "Auxiliary Armament Targeting" modification installed, this is increased to 75°/s. Each gun has a belt capacity of 200 rounds and a cyclic rate of fire of about 600 rounds/min, though the gun on the gunner's right side fires slightly faster, around 685 rounds/min. With a stock crew, the guns can be reloaded in 13 seconds; with an aced crew, they can be reloaded in 10 seconds.

Secondary armament guidance
Horizontal Vertical
±180° -10°/+70°

There are three ammunition types available:

  • Universal: T · AP · I
  • 12.7 mm I: T · I · I · I
  • 12.7 mm API: T · AP · I · AP

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
T 20 19 16 13 10 8
AP 24 24 20 17 14 12
I 3 2 2 2 2 2
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
T 753 0.04 - - - 47° 56° 65°
AP 753 0.05 - - - 47° 56° 65°
I 753 0.04 0 0.1 1.8 47° 56° 65°

Of the belts, the I belt has a noticeably higher damage output than both the Universal and API belts, both of which are about the same in terms of damage. This is because it has the highest concentration of incendiary rounds, which are the only ones with any high-explosive filler. However, because it lacks any armour-piercing rounds, the I belt has slightly less armour penetration than the other two belts. In general, though, any armour that can stop the incendiary round will also be able to stop the armour-piercing round. For the most effectiveness, take only the I belt once unlocked, and switch the primary 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II cannon to deal with armoured targets.

Additional armament

Setup 12 x 533 mm Mk.VIII torpedo
Setup 24 x Mk.VII depth charge
Setup 32 x 533 mm Mk.VIII torpedo
4 x Mk.VII depth charge
Main articles: Mk.VIII (533 mm), Mk.VII depth charge

MTB Vosper(2) has four possible loadouts:

  1. 2 x Mk.VIII torpedo
  2. 4 x Mk.VII depth charge
  3. 2 x Mk.VIII torpedo, 4 x Mk.VII depth charge
  4. Without load

Torpedoes

MTB Vosper(2) can carry two 533 mm Mk.VIII torpedoes. The torpedo tubes are located on either side of the bridge, pointing forwards with the nose angled outwards.

Torpedo characteristics
Torpedo Mode Mass (kg) Maximum speed in water (km/h) Travel distance (km) Depth stroke (m) Arming distance (m) Explosive type Explosive mass (kg) TNT equivalent (kg)
No 1566 84 4.57 1 50 TNT 327 327
Yes 1566 76 6.40 1 50 TNT 327 327

The Torpedo Mode modification is available as a rank IV modification. Installing it will give the following changes:

Torpedo mode specification changes
Max Distance (m) Max Speed (m/s)
+1830 -2

It's best to always keep Torpedo Mode uninstalled. The maximum speed of a torpedo is much more valuable in coastal battles than its maximum range. Coastal fleet maps are also small enough that the decreased range with Torpedo Mode installed isn't much of an issue.

In RB, always set the depth stroke to the minimum 1 m setting, since most vessels that MTB Vosper(2) can face will not have a deep enough draught to fuse the torpedo at a depth stroke setting of 4 m. In AB, depth stroke is automatically set to the most optimal setting.

When using torpedoes, be aware that unless they are already launched, the torpedoes have a very high chance to detonate when shot at, instantly destroying the boat. To avoid this, fire the torpedoes immediately after spawning in—as well as after any subsequent reloads in AB—or simply don't take them at all. Torpedoes are a situational weapon, so it's largely down to personal preference whether or not to take them.

Depth Charges

Mk.VII depth charges numbered according to their drop order.

The Mk.VII depth charges are carried around the bridge area, three on each side. They are dropped one at a time in the following order:

  1. Port, foremost
  2. Starboard, foremost
  3. Port, aftmost
  4. Starboard, aftmost

Before spawning, the detonation time delay can be set anywhere between 3 seconds and 10 seconds.

Depth charge characteristics
Mass (kg) Explosive type Explosive mass (kg) TNT equivalent (kg) HE armour penetration (mm) Armoured vehicle destruction radius (m) Fragment dispersion radius (m)
196 TNT 130 130 101 8 122

There is almost no practical reason to use depth charges on any naval vessel in the game. Although they usually result in a one-hit kill if used properly, they are extremely situational, requiring the player to close to point-blank ranges to even use them. In almost every case, anytime a depth charge could be used, the guns or torpedoes can be used instead to greater effect. In fact, depth charges tend to actually be a liability in battle, since they essentially act as exposed ammo racks before they're dropped. Like torpedoes, they have a relatively high chance to detonate when shot at, instantly destroying the boat.

Despite this, some success can be had in dropping them either next to or in front of a large, slow target. If dropping them next to the target, remember the depth charge drop order, since it's most likely that only the depth charges dropped on the side closest to the enemy will deal any damage. If dropping in front of the target, rush in from the sides as quickly as possible and drop them all at once directly in front of the target. For both cases, set the depth charge time delay to the minimum 3 seconds, since any higher time delay will only allow the depth charge to sink further away from the target, giving them more time to move out of the way. Again, using depth charges is extremely situational, and they will only be a liability the vast majority of the time, so take them at your own discretion.

Usage in battles

Between the primary and secondary armaments, the secondary twin 12.7 Vickers Mk.V machine guns are actually much more effective than the primary single 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II. Using 12.7 mm I belt, the two machine guns together have a much greater damage output than the cannon, and with their larger belt capacity, they are also able to sustain fire for much longer periods of time before needing to reload. However, this does come at the cost of a longer reload and the fact that they are mounted aft, preventing them from firing in a ~46° arc forwards. Conveniently, the disadvantages of the Vickers Mk.V machine guns are the advantages of the Oerlikon Mk.II cannon, and vice versa: the Oerlikon Mk.II is mounted on the bow and has a quicker reload, but it is weaker in terms of damage. The primary and secondary armament nicely complement each other, and to fully make use of MTB Vosper(2), both must be used together.

Since the Vickers Mk.V machine guns have the best damage output, switch to manual control of the secondaries and use these as the primary weapon. During their reloads, or in case they get knocked out, switch back to the Oerlikon Mk.II to continue the fight. The main disadvantage of heavy machine guns like the Vickers Mk.V is that they generally have a very long reload. By switching back to the Oerlikon Mk.II during reloads, MTB Vosper(2) can mostly circumvent this problem, allowing it to continue sustaining fire through about 70-80% of the reload of the machine guns, depending on crew skills. With this to fall back on, MTB Vosper(2) can afford to be more aggressive than most other vessels at this tier. However, to fully make use of this, the Oerlikon Mk.II should have a full magazine at all times, which can only be guaranteed by disabling the AI gunners. While this does greatly increase surface capabilities, it leaves MTB Vosper(2) open to aerial attacks, so always look out for enemy aircraft, and reenable the AI gunners to target aircraft if necessary. When targeting aircraft, the Vickers Mk.V machine guns tend to be more effective than the Oerlikon Mk.II due to their volume of fire, so in this case, switch back to the cannon to give control of the machine guns to the AI gunners.

An alternative to this is to be proactive with the reloads like with other vessels. After engagements, if there isn't much ammunition left in the Vickers Mk.V magazines—less than about 100 rounds between both guns—retreat to cover, and then fire off any remaining ammunition to reload in safety. When playing like this, the Oerlikon Mk.II is more like a last resort weapon to switch to in a pinch. Since you're not constantly relying on it, it doesn't need to be full at all times, which frees it up for use by the AI gunners in combat. While this is certainly the safest approach to playing MTB Vosper(2), it doesn't take advantage of its strengths as much as the first playstyle does. That said, both are effective in their own right, so it's down to personal preference which way to play. Whichever playstyle you prefer, remember to be flexible and always be prepared to switch to the other weapon.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Strong secondary armament: great damage output
  • Good manoeuvrability
  • Good torpedoes: above-average maximum speed and explosive charge

Cons:

  • Long secondary armament reload

History

During the 1930s, the Admiralty began to reestablish the coastal boat flotillas it once commanded during the First World War. British boatbuilding company Vosper & Company competed for the contract but lost both times in 1935 and 1936, the lucrative contract to build the first coastal boats since WWI going instead to their rival, British Power Boat Company. In response to this, Vospers developed plans for a faster and more seaworthy design than that of their rivals'. In the following months, Vospers proposed their new design to the Admiralty multiple times, but ultimately, they could not secure a contract to build a prototype. Around this time, though, the Admiralty officials had unofficially suggested that future contracts would only be awarded for vessels that could surpass 40 knots in speed and that were armed with two 21-inch torpedoes as well as an assortment of light anti-aircraft guns. Additionally, it was known from previous specifications that the Admiralty wanted a vessel capable of operating in open waters in at least Force 5 winds and that was fast enough to cross the English Channel during the night. With these unofficial specifications, Vospers preemptively began development on a new vessel as a private venture at the company's own expense.

Immediately, it was decided that the private venture vessel had to be larger than the existing 60 ft British Power Boat MTB in order to meet the specifications. Additionally, engines more powerful than the Napier Sea Lion engines used in the BPB design were required. With none available domestically, Vospers looked to the Asso 1000 engine by Italian manufacturer Isotta-Fraschini. Though in limited supply, the Asso 1000 was specifically designed for marine craft and provided the necessary power: 1,150 bhp at 1,500 rpm maximum and 950 bhp at 1,660 rpm continuous. In late 1936, Vospers completed their design. It called for three Asso 1000 engines and two in-house 75 bhp auxiliary engines, the latter of which could be coupled to the outer shafts to give a total maximum power of 3,600 bhp. The hull-form was a hard chine planing design and was 69½ ft in length with a displacement of about 33 tons. The prototype was laid down before the end of the year and completed in May 1937.

Upon completion, the prototype underwent internal trials where she achieved a top speed of 47.8 knots unloaded and 43.7 knots loaded. Satisfied with these results, Vospers presented the prototype to the Admiralty for official trials against the 60 ft British Power Boat MTB. The prototype fared favorably, and after much deliberation, the Admiralty decided to purchase the vessel from Vospers. She was commissioned in May 1938 as MTB 102 and sent to HMS Vernon for further evaluation. Up to this point, MTB 102 had not actually been fitted with torpedoes, so during her time at HMS Vernon, many torpedo configurations were tested. These included the tried-and-true yet outdated stern projection systems, as seen on the 60 ft British Power Boat MTB and earlier WWI designs, as well as a unique arrangement of a single launcher in the stem of the hull with a reload carried internally. These all had their own issues, and none were found to be satisfactory. Ultimately, it was decided that MTB 102 should have two torpedo tubes mounted on either side of the bridge, pointed forwards with the nose angled outwards, an uncommon configuration for the time. Around this time, the gun armament had also not yet been decided, so various configurations were also experimented with, including combinations of 0.303 in and 0.50 in machine guns and a 20 mm autocannon.

Impressed with MTB 102, the Admiralty placed an order for four more vessels on 15th August 1938, Vospers' first-ever Admiralty contract. These vessels, and any ordered after, all shared the same overall design as MTB 102, although with several minor changes such as the hull being lengthened to 70 ft 3¼ in. After 1940, with the entrance of Italy into the war, Isotta-Fraschini engines could no longer be obtained, and subsequent boats had to be fitted with much weaker American Hall Scott engines—only 1800 bhp total—as a stopgap measure until they could be upgraded with more powerful Packard engines, although this wasn't until 1941 as supply was limited. Of the 32 planned 70 ft Vosper MTBs, 28 were completed and are as follows:

  • MTBs 20-23: Ordered 15th August 1938, all were completed by December 1939. MTBs 20, 21, and 23 were sold to the Romanian Navy. MTB 22 served with the 4th MTB Flotilla. She survived to the end of the war and was sold in 1945.
  • MTBs 29-30: Ordered on 8th September 1938—including a Thornycroft design, MTB 28—as replacements for the three boats sold to Romania, all were completed by July 1940. Both MTB 29 and 30 served with the 4th MTB Flotilla. MTB 29 was lost in a collision with a German E-boat on 6th October 1942, and MTB 30 struck a mine and was lost on 18th December 1942.
  • MTBs 31-40: Ordered on 27th September 1939, six were completed by May 1941. MTBs 33, 37, 39, and 40 were bombed by German aircraft while under construction in 1940-41. The completed boats survived to the end of the war and were sold in 1945-46.
  • MTBs 57-66: Ordered on 26th February 1940, all were completed by April 1942. MTB 61 was stranded during an attack on 9th May 1943, and MTBs 63 and 64 were lost after collisions with friendly MTBs on 2nd April 1943. The remaining boats were sold in 1944.
  • MTBs 69-70: Ordered in April 1940, both were completed by June 1940 and received only two engines. Both were stationed at HMS Beehive, Felixstowe. They both survived to the end of the war and were sold in 1945-46.
  • MTBs 218-221: Ordered on 7th December 1940, all were completed by September 1941. MTB 218 struck a mine and was lost on 18th August 1942, and MTB 220 was sunk by German E-boats on 13th May 1942. MTBs 219 and 221 survived to the end of the war. MTB 221 was sold in 1945, and MTB 219 was transferred to the Sea Cadet Corps at Staines in 1945 and was converted to a houseboat in 1948.

The 70 ft Vosper MTB design continued to receive many improvements and modifications order-to-order and would lead to the development of the 72 ft Vosper MTB and 73 ft Vosper MTB.

Media

Skins

See also

External links

References

  • Lambert, J., & Ross, A. (1993). Allied Coastal Forces of World War II Volume II: Vosper MTBs & U.S. Elcos (pp. 21-32). London, England: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-602-7.


Vosper & Company
Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB) 
70 ft Vosper  MTB Vosper · MTB Vosper(2) · GIS 811*
Gay-class  HMS Gay Archer
Brave-class  Brave Borderer
Schnellboot Type 153  Pfeil**
  *70 ft Vosper in post-war Italian Service
  **Built for West Germany

Britain boats
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  MTB-1(1) · MTB-1(2) · MTB Vosper · MTB Vosper(2) · MTB-422
Motor gun boats  Dark Adventurer · Fairmile A (ML100) · Fairmile B (ML345) · Fairmile C (312) · Fairmile C (332) · Fairmile D (601) · Fairmile H LCS(L)(2)
  HMAS Arrow · HMAS Fremantle · MGB-61 · MGB-75 · ML 1383 · SGB Grey Fox · SGB Grey Goose
Gunboats  HMS Spey

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