The Fairmile D motor torpedo boat was a type of British Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB) 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 Gun Boat (MGB) designs (which were typically around 70 feet) but slower, at 30 knots compared to 40 knots.
Unlike the Fairmile B designs, 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 for downed airmen. 229 boats were 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 Gun Boat and a Motor Torpedo boat, the MGB designation was dropped.
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
- Fairmile A motor launch
- Fairmile B motor launch
- Fairmile C motor gun boat
- Fairmile H landing craft
- Steam Gun Boat
- Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy
References
- 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 IÂ : Fairmile designs and US Submarine Chasers. 1990. ISBN 978-0-85177-519-7
- Konstam, Angus. British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939-45. 2003. ISBN 978-1-84176-500-6
- Chesneau, Roger (editor).Conway's all the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. London, UK: Comway Maritime Press, 1980. ISBN 0-85177-146-7
- Reynolds, Leonard C. Dog Boats at War: Royal Navy D Class MTBs and MGBs, 1939-1945. 2000. ISBN 978-0-7509-1443-7
- Reynolds, Leonard C. Motor Gunboat 658: The Small Boat War in the Mediterranean 1955/2002. ISBN 0-304-36183-6
External links
- Coastal Forces And Communications with France Before D Day 1944
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II - by Chris Bishop at google books
- Watercolour painting of a Fairmile D Type Motor Torpedo Boat at speed
- Book Review of Dog Boats at War: Royal Navy D Class MTBs and MGBs, 1939-1945
- List of Motor Torpedo Boats at unithistories.com