Bridgend
the town by the river
H.M.M.T.B.47
His Majesty's Motor Torpedo Boat
At the outbreak of war II there were
three flotillas of Motor Torpedo Boats between 60 ft. and 72 feet long.
These could maintain 40 knots and were armed with two torpedo tubes. They
were built by the British Power Boat Company, Vosper and Thornycroft. A
surface craft with a main armament of torpedoes, that was intended to travel
at sea with the battle fleet and to attack major enemy warships in the area,
but they were used in other missions
Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) were designed for high speed and night operations
and low speed ambush, they also had great manoeuvrability on the water, with
a low noise level and little or no wake, which
enabled them to get close enough to the enemy to launch their torpedoes.
The craft relied upon surprise and their ability to manoeuvre at high speed
to avoid being hit by gunfire from the enemy.
The H.M.M.T.B.47 was adopted by Bridgend during "Warship week" in 1941. She
was a new Motor Torpedo Boat of the White 73 feet-type class, and built by
J.S.White & Co. Cowes, England, U.K. she was ordered on the 27th June 1939
and commissioned on the 8th of July 1941. Her service was
a short one as she was attacked and sunk by gunfire from a German surface
craft off the coast of Cap Griz Nez France. 17th of January 1942.
The
first Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla
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Porthcawl Museum
In the old Police Station
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42 Dunraven Place, Bridgend
Contact: Mike 07840 287 383
web site here
Bridgend Sandwich Bar.
Est: 1940
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