Thorneycroft MTB

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

Edited by Christian

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. 

Edited by Christian

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.

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 

Edited by Christian - 03 August 2012 at 7:21am

Hello Christian.

Have just bought a hand made model of the Thornycroft 49 MTB on Ebay for £20. It was made by a ex Royal Navy commander and it measures 95CM in length. The following is the description given by the seller.

This was home made by our Grandpa (A Navy Commander).
The engine, a typical OS40 model aircraft engine,
started when we tried once 20 years ago.

It was made in wood ply and plastic during WW2.
There are authentic twin 'barrel' copper fuel tanks and fuel pipes.
The remote control equipment has long gone, being out of date,
but the steering and propeller controls are in situ.

It is 95cms (3' 1.5") long, and comes on a pine stand.
The Ack Ack guns move, and the torpedoes and depth charges can be removed.

Will post some photographs when I can.

Regards Peter.