Difference between revisions of "MTB Vosper"

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{{Specs-Card|code=uk_mtb_vosper_1series}}
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{{About
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| about = British motor torpedo boat '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = MTB Vosper (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=uk_mtb_vosper_1series
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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<!--''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.''-->
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<!-- ''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.
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{{Break}}
 
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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.
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{{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.'' -->
  
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If necessary, use a graphic template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.-->
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[[File:{{PAGENAME}}_Internals.png|thumb|{{PAGENAME}} internals (starboard). Note the ammunition storage below the bridge.]]
  
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Being constructed out of wood, the Vosper 1 has no armour and therefore must rely on manoeuvrability to survive. Areas to note is the engines located in the stern and the ammunition storage at the bow which makes it vulnerable to explosions. The crew consists of 10 men.
+
MTB Vosper has the following armour layout:
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[[File:X-RayImage StarboardView Vosper1.png|thumb|none|Profile image of the Vosper 1 with x-ray enabled showing various internals. The engine bay lies in the stern with ammunition storage sitting under the bridge at the bow.]]
+
 
 +
* Hull: 24 mm, wood
 +
* Superstructure: 15 mm, wood
 +
 
 +
Any gun in the game will easily be able to penetrate the hull and superstructure at any range.
 +
 
 +
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 in front of the bridge; the second ends behind the aft gun mounts, just after the fuel tanks; and the third ends at the stern.
 +
 
 +
MTB Vosper 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'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 all gun mounts. It is located directly below the bridge, just above the waterline. Destroying it will instantly destroy MTB Vosper.
 +
 
 +
MTB Vosper has a crew complement of 10. With a stock crew, it is knocked out when 6 crew are lost; with an aced crew, this is increased to 7. Overall, the survivability is average.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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<!--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.-->
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{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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 +
{{NavalMobility
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|SpeedForwardStockAB = 76
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|SpeedBackStockAB = 27
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|TurnTimeStockAB = 19.42
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|TurnSpeedStockAB = 44
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 +
|TurnTimeSpadedAB = 12.61
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|TurnSpeedSpadedAB = 43
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 +
|SpeedForwardStockRB = 64
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|SpeedBackStockRB = 22
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|TurnTimeStockRB = 21.92
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|TurnSpeedStockRB = 45
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 +
|TurnTimeSpadedRB = 17.83
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|TurnSpeedSpadedRB = 44
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}}
 +
 
 +
MTB Vosper 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}}
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 +
The recommended modification research order is:
  
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As with any MTB the Vosper 1 is a fast craft being able to reach up to speeds at 64 km/h and then up to a further 104 km/h when fully upgraded. The time it takes to reach maximum speed of 104 km/h is 13.74 seconds and the time it takes to come to a complete halt is 15.49 seconds. Reverse speed goes up to 36 km/h once upgraded.
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# Tool Set
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# Fire Protection System
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# 7.7 mm API belt
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# Smokescreen
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# Propeller Replacement
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# Artillery Support
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 +
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 ===
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<!--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}}
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<!-- ''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|Lewis 1916 (7.72 mm)}}
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[[File:Vosper1 Centre CloseUpImage.png|thumb|{{PAGENAME}} gun turret placements. The two mounts behind the bridge are staggered to not obstruct each other when firing to the sides.]]
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 +
The primary armament consists of eight 7.72 mm Lewis 1916 machine guns in four twin mounts. Two of these are mounted  side-by-side in front of the bridge with the other two staggered behind the bridge. There are 1,940 rounds of ammunition available for each mount, 970 rounds per gun, for a total of 7,760 rounds. Stock, the mounts can traverse horizontally and vertically at a rate of 64°/s; with the "Primary Armament Targeting" modification installed, this is increased to 75°/s. Each gun has a magazine capacity of 97 rounds and a cyclic rate of fire of around 550 rounds/min. With a stock crew, the guns can be reloaded in 10.4 seconds; with an aced crew, they can be reloaded in 8 seconds.
 +
 
 +
{{Notice|Turrets are named sequentially, clockwise, starting at the bow}}
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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! colspan="8" | Primary armament guidance
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|-
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! colspan="2" rowspan="1" | No.1 Turret (fore-starboard)
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! colspan="2" rowspan="1" | No.2 Turret (aft-starboard)
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! colspan="2" rowspan="1" | No.3 Turret (aft-port)
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! colspan="2" rowspan="1" | No.4 Turret (fore-port)
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|-
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! Horizontal !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Vertical
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|-
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| ±180° || -7°/+70° || ±180° || -10°/+70° || ±180° || -10°/+70° || ±180° || -7°/+70°
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|-
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|}
 +
 
 +
There are three ammunition types available:
 +
 
 +
* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}}
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* '''7.7 mm AP belt:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|T|Tracer}}
 +
* '''7.7 mm API belt:''' {{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|IT|Incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}}
 +
 
 +
{{:Lewis 1916 (7.72 mm)/Ammunition|AP naval, T naval, IT naval}}
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 +
While the armour-piercing round and the incendiary tracer round deal about the same amount of the damage, the standard tracer round deals incredibly little damage to both surface targets and aircraft. Because of this, the AP belt is a strict upgrade from the default belt. Compared to the AP rounds, the IT rounds also have a much higher muzzle velocity. Altogether, this makes the API belt the best overall, due both to its lack of standard tracer rounds and better ballistic properties.
 +
 
 +
=== Additional armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Fleet-Additional}}
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<!-- ''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)}}
 +
 
 +
MTB Vosper has two possible loadouts:
  
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Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.-->
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# 2 x Mk.VIII torpedo
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# Without load
  
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[[File:Vosper1 Centre CloseUpImage.png|thumb|x200px|right|Close shot of the Vosper 1 showing the turret placement. Note that the two turrets behind the bridge are offset to prevent obstructing from each another. This shot also shows the two angled torpedo tubes on the hull sides.]]
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'''Torpedoes'''
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Like the MTB-1, the Vosper 1 carries the same primary armament of eight 7.72 Lewis guns. However the largest difference is that is divided among four separate turrets with two guns each. Two turrets sit at the bow and the other two at the centre of the vessel just behind the bridge. With more crew manning the guns reload time takes ~9.5 seconds. The guns ammunition capacity sits at 960 with 7760 in storage.
 
  
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Being a light machine gun, the 7.7 calibre has relatively low range and power which is compensated by the amount of guns therefore it relies of volume of fire rather than stopping power. The general range that you should engage targets is within 1 km to maximise it's effectiveness and to avoid being out ranged by more powerful machine guns.
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MTB Vosper 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.
  
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=== Torpedo armament ===
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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<!--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.
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! colspan="9" | Torpedo characteristics
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|-
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! 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)
 +
|-
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| {{Annotation|No|'Torpedo Mode' modification uninstalled}} || 1,566 || 84 || 4.57 || 1 || 50 || TNT || 327 || 327
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|-
 +
| {{Annotation|Yes|'Torpedo Mode' modification installed}} || 1,566 || 76 || 6.40 || 1 || 50 || TNT || 327 || 327
 +
|}
  
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If there is no torpedo armament, remove this section.-->
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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.
  
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Torpedo armaments consists of two 533mm Mk.VIII torpedoes with a range of 4.57 km at speed of 84 km/h. Each torpedo sits at bulwarks and are angled slightly so captains would need to rely on manoeuvring to aim them at longer ranges.
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In RB, always set the depth stroke to the minimum 1 m setting, since most vessels that MTB Vosper 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.
  
 
== 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).-->
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<!-- ''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).'' -->
  
−
Those who have piloted the MTB-1 should utilise the Vosper 1 in the same manner. Despite appearances the Vosper 1 is functionally similar with the only noteworthy differences in that the Vosper 1 has slightly faster torpedoes and shorter reload times for it's primary armaments. With no armour and high speed it is best suited to capturing points and ambushing larger ships with torpedoes or backing allied ships with smokescreen and anti-air cover as the low calibre of 7.72 Lewis guns is still effective on aircraft.
+
In terms of armament, MTB Vosper is very similar to the reserve vessel of the tech tree, {{Specs-Link|uk_mtb_1series}}, the difference being in the placement of the guns. While MTB-1(1) has the eight guns split into two quadruple mounts, MTB Vosper has them in four twin mounts. With this arrangement, MTB Vosper can typically only bring four or six of her eight guns on target at once, since the mounts block each other at most angles. Although there is a small ~7.5° arc about 60° to port (between the 9 and 10 o'clock positions) where all eight guns can be used at once, it's difficult to keep targets in such a small range, so this shouldn't be relied on. Because of this, MTB Vosper is limited to only a fraction of the firepower of MTB-1(1), whose armament wasn't very good to begin with. That said, this gun arrangement does come with a few benefits, the most significant of which being the much quicker reloads, nearly half of that of MTB-1(1). Additionally, having twin mounts instead of quad mounts also makes each individual mount smaller, reducing the likelihood of losing a turret to random fire and making it less detrimental should it happen.
  
−
Captains should generally avoid engaging enemy crafts longer than 1.5 km as the 7.7 calibre of the Lewis guns can be out ranged by larger calibres like the American .50 Cal or Russian 12.7 mm. Therefore it is recommended to attack in ranges less than 1 km in order to take advantage of the volume of fire whilst still retaining penetrative power. The torpedoes are also quite fast with good range which is useful against larger, slow moving vessels at distance.
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Even with these differences, though, MTB Vosper has nearly the exact same playstyle as MTB-1(1) due to the limitations of the guns. Because of their bad damage output, always keep enemies in directions where six of the guns can fire. Similarly, because of their poor ballistic qualities, stick to close-range engagements and avoid open areas of the map wherever possible. Make use of MTB Vosper's higher top speed to rush into ambush positions behind cover that MTB-1(1) would be too slow to reach. From there, support your team by targeting distracted enemies. For larger opponents such as sub-chasers, try not to draw attention to yourself with gunfire. Instead, either use the torpedoes, or simply mark them on the map for your team, call artillery, and then retreat behind cover.
 +
 
 +
Despite the reloads being shorter than that of MTB-1(1), they are still quite long overall, so it's still a good idea to be proactive with the reloads. Always be aware of how much ammunition is left in the guns and fire off any remaining ammunition if there isn't much left after engagements, retreating to do so if necessary. Like MTB-1(1), a good time to do this with MTB Vosper is when the magazines are about half empty, though it may not always be obvious when that is just from the ammunition counter, since not all of the guns can fire at once. The guns can only sustain fire for about 10 seconds before needing to reload, so make use of that to determine the amount of remaining ammunition by mentally keeping track of how long you've fired the guns. Lastly, like MTB-1(1), MTB Vosper can only carry enough ammunition for ten reloads at most, though again just like MTB-1(1), MTB Vosper also doesn't tend to survive long enough for this to become an issue, so keep that in mind but don't worry too much about it.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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<!--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".-->
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<!-- ''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:'''
  
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* Fast
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* Good manoeuvrability
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* Four turrets give good fire coverage
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* Good torpedoes: above-average maximum speed and explosive mass
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* Torpedoes have long range with good speeds of 84 km/h
 
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
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* No armour
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* Primary armament consists only of low-calibre machine guns: very low overall damage output
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* Primary armaments of the 7.7 Lewis guns are rather ineffective at ranges longer than 1.5 km
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* Not all gun mounts can be brought on target at once, one or more of the turrets will be blocked at most angles
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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''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.''
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<!-- ''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).'' -->
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 +
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.
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 +
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.
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 +
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.
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 +
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:
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 +
* 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.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_mtb_vosper_1series Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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<!--''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;''
−
* ''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 2 series]] - Sister ship with front pair of Lewis machine gun armaments replaced with a 20 mm autocannon and a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.
+
* [[MTB Vosper (Family)]]
 +
* {{Specs-Link|uk_mtb_vosper_2series}}
 +
* {{Specs-Link|it_a1_vosper}}
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* {{Specs-Link|uk_mtb_1series}}
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
  
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* [http://cfv.org.uk/research/boat/database <nowiki>[Coastal Forces Veterans]</nowiki> Boat Database]
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* ''encyclopedia page on ship;''
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* [http://www.ww2ships.com/britain/gb-sc-002-b.shtml <nowiki>[ww2ships.com]</nowiki> 70' Vosper Motor Torpedo Boat]
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* ''other literature.''
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* [https://www.unithistories.com/units_british/RN_MTBs.html#MTB_Boats <nowiki>[Unit Histories]</nowiki> Royal Navy Coastal Forces 1940-1945]
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* [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
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===References===
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* 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.
  
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{{ShipManufacturer Vospers}}
 
{{Britain boats}}
 
{{Britain boats}}

Latest revision as of 18:47, 1 March 2023

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This page is about the British motor torpedo boat MTB Vosper. For other versions, see MTB Vosper (Family).
MTB Vosper
uk_mtb_vosper_1series.png
GarageImage MTB Vosper.jpg
MTB Vosper
Britain flag.png Britain
I Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
1.0 1.0 1.0
Class:
Research:2 900 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:700 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The MTB Vosper 1 series is a rank I British motor torpedo boat with a battle rating of 1.0 (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 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
Crew10 people
MTB Vosper internals (starboard). Note the ammunition storage below the bridge.

MTB Vosper has the following armour layout:

  • Hull: 24 mm, wood
  • Superstructure: 15 mm, wood

Any gun in the game will easily be able to penetrate the hull and superstructure at any range.

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 in front of the bridge; the second ends behind the aft gun mounts, just after the fuel tanks; and the third ends at the stern.

MTB Vosper 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's own battle rating, there is only one gun capable of hull-breaking her:

There is one ammunition storage that holds ammunition for all gun mounts. It is located directly below the bridge, just above the waterline. Destroying it will instantly destroy MTB Vosper.

MTB Vosper has a crew complement of 10. With a stock crew, it is knocked out when 6 crew are lost; with an aced crew, this is increased to 7. Overall, the survivability is average.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB104 / 36 km/h
RB74 / 26 km/h
Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode Upgrade Status Maximum Speed (km/h) Turn Time (s) Turn Radius (m)
Forward Reverse
AB Stock 76 27 ~19.42 ~37.78
Upgraded 104 36 ~12.61 ~23.97
RB/SB Stock 64 22 ~21.92 ~43.61
Upgraded 74 26 ~17.83 ~34.68

MTB Vosper 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
AB79 → 97 Sl icon.png
RB119 → 146 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications2 960 Rp icon.png
900 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost190 Ge icon.png
Crew training200 Sl icon.png
Experts1 000 Sl icon.png
Aces20 Ge icon.png
Research Aces96 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
10 / 20 / 100 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Seakeeping Unsinkability Firepower
Mods new ship hull.png
Dry-Docking
Research:
200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
60 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship rudder.png
Rudder Replacement
Research:
165 Rp icon.png
Cost:
50 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship screw.png
Propeller Replacement
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
110 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship engine.png
Engine Maintenance
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
75 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods ship damage control crew.png
Damage Control Division
Research:
200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
60 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods ship fire control crew.png
Fire Division
Research:
165 Rp icon.png
Cost:
50 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
Smokescreen
Research:
165 Rp icon.png
Cost:
50 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship pumps.png
New Pumps
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
75 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
7.7 mm AP belt
Research:
200 Rp icon.png
Cost:
60 Sl icon.png
50 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
7_7mm_lewis_navy_incendiary_ammo_pack
Research:
165 Rp icon.png
Cost:
50 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods new main caliber turrets.png
Primary Armament Targeting
Research:
370 Rp icon.png
Cost:
110 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods ship art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
75 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods torpedo.png
Torpedo Mode
Research:
240 Rp icon.png
Cost:
75 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png

The recommended modification research order is:

  1. Tool Set
  2. Fire Protection System
  3. 7.7 mm API belt
  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

4 х Turret2 x 7.72 mm Lewis machinegun 1916
Ammunition1940 rounds
Belt capacity97 rounds
Fire rate551 shots/min
Main article: Lewis 1916 (7.72 mm)
MTB Vosper gun turret placements. The two mounts behind the bridge are staggered to not obstruct each other when firing to the sides.

The primary armament consists of eight 7.72 mm Lewis 1916 machine guns in four twin mounts. Two of these are mounted side-by-side in front of the bridge with the other two staggered behind the bridge. There are 1,940 rounds of ammunition available for each mount, 970 rounds per gun, for a total of 7,760 rounds. Stock, the mounts can traverse horizontally and vertically at a rate of 64°/s; with the "Primary Armament Targeting" modification installed, this is increased to 75°/s. Each gun has a magazine capacity of 97 rounds and a cyclic rate of fire of around 550 rounds/min. With a stock crew, the guns can be reloaded in 10.4 seconds; with an aced crew, they can be reloaded in 8 seconds.

Msg-info.png Turrets are named sequentially, clockwise, starting at the bow
Primary armament guidance
No.1 Turret (fore-starboard) No.2 Turret (aft-starboard) No.3 Turret (aft-port) No.4 Turret (fore-port)
Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical
±180° -7°/+70° ±180° -10°/+70° ±180° -10°/+70° ±180° -7°/+70°

There are three ammunition types available:

  • Universal: AP · T · AP · T
  • 7.7 mm AP belt: AP · AP · AP · T
  • 7.7 mm API belt: IT · IT · IT · 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
AP 10 9 7 6 4 3
T 9 8 6 5 3 2
IT 10 9 7 5 4 3
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
AP 853 0.01 - - - 47° 56° 65°
T 835 0.01 - - - 47° 56° 65°
IT 920 0.01 - - - 47° 56° 65°

While the armour-piercing round and the incendiary tracer round deal about the same amount of the damage, the standard tracer round deals incredibly little damage to both surface targets and aircraft. Because of this, the AP belt is a strict upgrade from the default belt. Compared to the AP rounds, the IT rounds also have a much higher muzzle velocity. Altogether, this makes the API belt the best overall, due both to its lack of standard tracer rounds and better ballistic properties.

Additional armament

Setup 12 x 533 mm Mk.VIII torpedo
Main article: Mk.VIII (533 mm)

MTB Vosper has two possible loadouts:

  1. 2 x Mk.VIII torpedo
  2. Without load

Torpedoes

MTB Vosper 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 1,566 84 4.57 1 50 TNT 327 327
Yes 1,566 76 6.40 1 50 TNT 327 327

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 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.

Usage in battles

In terms of armament, MTB Vosper is very similar to the reserve vessel of the tech tree, MTB-1(1), the difference being in the placement of the guns. While MTB-1(1) has the eight guns split into two quadruple mounts, MTB Vosper has them in four twin mounts. With this arrangement, MTB Vosper can typically only bring four or six of her eight guns on target at once, since the mounts block each other at most angles. Although there is a small ~7.5° arc about 60° to port (between the 9 and 10 o'clock positions) where all eight guns can be used at once, it's difficult to keep targets in such a small range, so this shouldn't be relied on. Because of this, MTB Vosper is limited to only a fraction of the firepower of MTB-1(1), whose armament wasn't very good to begin with. That said, this gun arrangement does come with a few benefits, the most significant of which being the much quicker reloads, nearly half of that of MTB-1(1). Additionally, having twin mounts instead of quad mounts also makes each individual mount smaller, reducing the likelihood of losing a turret to random fire and making it less detrimental should it happen.

Even with these differences, though, MTB Vosper has nearly the exact same playstyle as MTB-1(1) due to the limitations of the guns. Because of their bad damage output, always keep enemies in directions where six of the guns can fire. Similarly, because of their poor ballistic qualities, stick to close-range engagements and avoid open areas of the map wherever possible. Make use of MTB Vosper's higher top speed to rush into ambush positions behind cover that MTB-1(1) would be too slow to reach. From there, support your team by targeting distracted enemies. For larger opponents such as sub-chasers, try not to draw attention to yourself with gunfire. Instead, either use the torpedoes, or simply mark them on the map for your team, call artillery, and then retreat behind cover.

Despite the reloads being shorter than that of MTB-1(1), they are still quite long overall, so it's still a good idea to be proactive with the reloads. Always be aware of how much ammunition is left in the guns and fire off any remaining ammunition if there isn't much left after engagements, retreating to do so if necessary. Like MTB-1(1), a good time to do this with MTB Vosper is when the magazines are about half empty, though it may not always be obvious when that is just from the ammunition counter, since not all of the guns can fire at once. The guns can only sustain fire for about 10 seconds before needing to reload, so make use of that to determine the amount of remaining ammunition by mentally keeping track of how long you've fired the guns. Lastly, like MTB-1(1), MTB Vosper can only carry enough ammunition for ten reloads at most, though again just like MTB-1(1), MTB Vosper also doesn't tend to survive long enough for this to become an issue, so keep that in mind but don't worry too much about it.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good manoeuvrability
  • Good torpedoes: above-average maximum speed and explosive mass

Cons:

  • Primary armament consists only of low-calibre machine guns: very low overall damage output
  • Not all gun mounts can be brought on target at once, one or more of the turrets will be blocked at most angles

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
Motor torpedo boats  Brave Borderer · Dark Aggressor · Dark Aggressor TD · Fairmile D (617) · Fairmile D (697) · Fairmile D (5001) · HMS Gay Archer
  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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