I have a model of what the family always called the 'Thorneycroft MTB'.  I'm assuming the original is WWII vintage.  Can anybody supply any information, or at least point me in the right direction, for anything about Thorneycroft MTB's?

Mike

Hi Mike

Thornycroft designed and built a few different MTBs, as a starting point which of the above does yours more closely resemble?

(pics courtesy of Modelboatmayhem)

Regards,Christian

Hi Christian

The top one is, at a guess, identical to the model I have.

Mike

Hi Mike

WW2 Thornycroft built MTBs;24-25,26-27,28(a Vosper design),49-56,67-68(CMB types in build for Finland),327-331(CMB types in build for the Phillipines),344-346  and experimental boats 104-107.

The group of eight boats in the 49-56 series were 75.5ft long and powered by 4 Thornycroft petrol engines which allowed them a top speed of 29kts (26kts cont.)Armament;2 x 21" torpedo tubes, 1 x double Vickers 0.5" MG mounted in a tub aft.They were ordered 27/09/39 and some boats were initially Royal Norwegian Navy crewed and formed the 11th Flotilla at Dover 12/41-4/42,then portsmouth 4/42-7/42,then RN crewed and based at Weymouth 7/42-1/43.They were paid off  12/43 (they all suffered from cracked frames) and transferred to the War Dept (RASC) as the 75.5ft Battlefield Class (not to be confused with the 69ft Battlefield Class,also built by Thornycroft,or the 68ft Battlefield Class built by the British Power Boat Co to the same design as the RAFs Hants And Dorset HSLs).The 75.5ft ex MTBs were used as High Speed Target Towing Launches for coastal batteries to practice firing at.They were sold off in 1947.The only survivor of this class is at Shoreham as the houseboat Marne (her original RASC name).She was originally MTB 52.She is pictured elsewhere on this forum. MTB 49 pictured above was completed 4/41 and ran aground on her maiden voyage,right opposite The Houses Of Parliament.She became RASC Meggido.

Info collated from Phil Simons' "Retired On The River" ,J Lambert & A Ross' "Allied Coastal forces of WW2 Vol II and Ben Warlow's "RN Minor Vessels in Focus",and the internet. 

Regards,Christian. 

Could'nt have put it better

Here's a well worn snap of MTB 50 of the series

Hi Ted! 49 and 51 from that batch also.

MTB 104

MTB 107

MTB 344

Will try to find pics of the other types mentioned too.

Christian, Pioneer

Thank you both very much for the information and the photos.  Fascinating stuff.  I haven't seen much posted on the non-CMB Thorneycroft boats, you have both been a great help.

Best Regards

Mike

Hi Pioneer and Mike

This picture is from Dad's albums,she is Thornycroft M1 built for Ireland) at Gibraltar in 1955.Her name was Mary Of Cork,Irish flag.She went on to star in the movie "Action Of The Tiger" with Sean Connery.I'm hoping someone out there may be able to offer more information on this great looking boat:

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Regards,Christian 

Re this class of boat;

1/24th scale hull marketed by HSL Mouldings, contact Chris Walters on the http://www.hslmouldings.co.uk - www.hslmouldings.co.uk website if you are interested.Regards,Christian.