MTB-1(2)

MTB-1(2)

MTB-1(2)

Britain

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.0	1.0	1.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Motor torpedo boat

Boat

Purchase:250

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Description

The MTB-1 2 series is a premium rank I British motor torpedo boat with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic".

General info

Survivability and armour

MTB-1 2 series has the following armour layout:

• Hull: 24 mm, wood
• Superstructure: 2 mm, steel

MTB-1 2 series internals (starboard side). Note the ammo storages just in front of the bridge.

Any gun in the game will easily be able to penetrate anywhere on the boat at practically any range. MTB-1 2 series can also be hull-broken by any gun larger than 4 inches (102 mm). At MTB-1 2 series' battle rating, the only gun that can hull-break it is the 8cwt QF Mk I, found on Dark Adventurer. Although they may seem like disadvantages at first, the lack of armour and the ability to be hull-broken are traits that apply to the vast majority of boats in tier 1 and tier 2. In this aspect, MTB-1 2 series isn't better or worse off compared to any other boat.

MTB-1 2 series' hull is split into three compartments. The first compartment starts at the bow and ends between the pumps and the ammunition storage in front of the bridge. The second starts where the first ends and ends just behind the bridge. The third starts at the end of the bridge and ends at the stern. Overall, with a crew complement of 10, survivability is average.

Of note though are two ammo storages in front of the bridge. Destroying these will also destroy the rest of the boat. In practice, though, this almost never happens, since most guns at this battle rating are either machine guns or low-calibre autocannons which require a large number of hits to destroy the ammo storages. It's both faster and easier to just target the hull compartments and knock out the crew.

Mobility

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode	Upgrade Status	Maximum Speed (km/h)		Turn Time (s)	Turn Radius (m)
		Forward	Reverse
AB	Stock	63	32	~18.64	~33.79
	Upgraded	86	43	~12.67	~21.85
RB/SB	Stock	53	26	~20.77	~38.57
	Upgraded	61	31	~17.44	~31.61

Compared to other motor torpedo boats in tier I, MTB-1 2 series is the slowest. She is also quite heavy for her size, with a total displacement of 22.4 tons.

Armament

Primary armament

In her main armament group, MTB-1 2 series has two quadruple 7.72 mm Lewis machinegun 1916 mounts above the bridge, for a total of 8 guns. For each mount, there are 1940 rounds of ammunition available, 485 rounds per gun, for a total of 3880 rounds. They can traverse horizontally at a rate of 64°/s and vertically at a rate of 64°/s. Each gun has a magazine capacity of 97 rounds and has a rate of fire of 550 rounds/min. With a stock crew, the guns can be reloaded in 18.2 seconds; with an aced crew, they can be reloaded in 14 seconds. Their maximum range against surface targets is roughly 1.6 km.

Turrets are named sequentially, clockwise, starting at the bow

Guidance for the Main Gun Turrets
No.1 Turret (right)		No.2 Turret (left)
Horizontal	Vertical	Horizontal	Vertical
±180°	-5°/+43°	±160°	-5°/+43°

There are three choices of ammunition 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
Universal	20	19	16	13	11	10
7.7 mm AP belt	20	19	16	13	11	10
7.7 mm API belt	20	19	16	13	11	10

Torpedo armament

MTB-1 2 series can carry two 18 inch Mark XII torpedoes. These are carried internally in the aft of the boat and are launched facing forwards through the transom.

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	702	50	3.20	1	50	TNT	176	176
Yes	702	74	1.37	1	50	TNT	176	176

The Torpedo Mode modification is available as a tier IV modification. Installing it will give the following changes:

Torpedo Mode Specification Changes
Max Distance (m)	Max Speed (m/s)
-1829	+7

Special armament

Mk.VII depth charges numbered 1-6 according to the order in which they're dropped (click to view a larger image).

MTB-1 1 series can carry six Mk.VII depth charges just behind the bridge, three on each side facing outwards. The depth charges are dropped one at a time and drop in this order (see the image):

1. Portside, foremost
2. Starboard side, foremost
3. Portside, middle
4. Starboard side, middle
5. Portside, aftmost
6. Starboard side, aftmost

Before spawning, the detonation time delay can be set anywhere between 3 seconds and 10 seconds.

Depth Charge Characteristics
Mass (kg)	Explosive Type	Explosive Mass (kg)	TNT Equivalent (kg)
196	TNT	130	130

Usage in battles

MTB-1 2 series' main armament only consists of low-calibre machine guns, so the damage output per hit is very low, although this is somewhat alleviated by the fact that she has 8 such guns. Regardless, the guns will always be limited by their low maximum range, roughly 1.6 km. Despite their deficiencies, the guns have a relatively large magazine size of 97 rounds, and, with a rate of fire of 550 rpm, MTB-1 2 series can sustain about 10.58 seconds of fire. Assuming that all the shots are well-aimed, this is more than enough to destroy most boats at this tier without having to reload, unlike some other reserve boats, the G-5 and the Type T-14, which both have to reload once or more to destroy most targets. Be careful though, since MTB-1 2 series has one of the longest reload times at this tier. Because of this, it's always better to empty the magazines after each engagement so that the maximum amount of ammunition is available for the next engagement.

The firing arcs for the gun mounts are very good, both of which are able to in all directions with the exception of a small 47° arc in the direction of the other gun mount. They both traverse relatively quickly and can rotate 360°, so switching direction during an engagement isn't much of a problem. That said, when engaging enemies, it's best to keep them either directly in front or directly behind MTB-1 2 series so that the sides of the boat aren't shown.

Ammunition Choices

The best ammunition choice is the 7.7 mm AP belt since it has the highest ratio of AP to T rounds. While the 7.7 mm API belt may look tempting because of the incendiary tracer rounds, the IT rounds are actually stopped by most wooden hulls and rarely start fires, if ever. This belt is the best to use against aircraft, though with such a long reload to switch to it and such a minuscule difference, there isn't much of a point in using it in that role either.

Torpedoes

The 18-inch Mk.XII is fairly average in terms of maximum speed and range, but it has a very low TNT equivalence compared to other torpedoes at this tier. Still, a hit with the Mk.XII torpedo on any boat at this tier is more than enough to destroy it. Otherwise, this is torpedo is unnoteworthy.

The Torpedo Mode modification should always be installed. The higher maximum speed is much more valuable against the fast-moving boats of tier I and II, and the maps are small enough that the reduction to the maximum range doesn't really matter.

Be aware though that, if the torpedo is unused, it can be shot at, and, if it's destroyed, there is a chance the entire boat can be destroyed along with it. For this reason, it's best to either use them early on or to not take them into battle at all.

Depth Charges

Being anti-submarine weapons and with the present lack of submarines in the game, there is practically no reason to use them. While they can be used against surface targets, this is extremely situational. Sailing up right next to a slower target and dropping a depth charge can lead to some success, though again, this is very situational. If attempting this, remember the order in which the depth charges drop and that there is no reason to use any depth charge activation time setting above the minimum 3 seconds, since higher delay times means the depth charge will sink further, and thus away, from the target. Again, it should be reiterated that this is very situational.

There is no practical reason to take them into battle, especially since, if they're not dropped, they essentially become unarmoured ammo racks.

Modules

Tier	Seakeeping		Unsinkability		Firepower
I	Dry-Docking		Tool Set		7.7 mm AP belt
II		Rudder Replacement	Fire Protection System	Smokescreen	7.7 mm API belt
III	Propeller Replacement				Primary Armament Targeting	Depth Charges
IV		Engine Maintenance	New Pumps		Artillery Support	Torpedo Mode

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Relatively large magazine capacity, can sustain fire for ~10 seconds before reloading
• Large number of guns

Cons:

• Main armament consists of low-calibre machine guns, low damage output per gun
• Guns have a small maximum range, ~1.6 km
• Very long reload
• Relatively weak torpedoes (low TNT equivalence)

History

Though the Royal Navy had operated a small number of coastal boats during the first World War, by the 1930s, these flotillas had long been dissolved and the Royal Navy had yet to construct any more coastal boats. The first two coastal boats since WWI were ordered on 27th September 1935 by the Royal Navy, the order given to British Power Boat Company based at Hythe, a town near Southampton. In addition to this order, four more were ordered on 19th October 1935. These six boats were completed by November 1936, and, with their commissioning on 27th April 1937, the Royal Navy Coastal Forces was founded. Following this, three more boats were ordered on 7th December 1936, and nine more on 11th January 1938. In total, 18 boats were ordered, all of them being completed by 1939.

These boats had a standard displacement of 18 tons and had a length of 60 ft. 4 in., a width of 13 ft. 4 in., and a drought of 2 ft. 10 in. at standard displacement. They were powered by three Napier Sea Lion petrol engines, each driving a single shaft, and could reach speeds of around 30-35 knots. Each boat could carry two 18 inch torpedoes which were stored on rails above the engines. On the aft were two more rails that could be folded down to the transom, extending the torpedoes' rails outside of the boat. The torpedoes fired facing forwards down the rails, after which the boat that fired them would have to turn to evade them. In addition to torpedoes, the boats were also armed with a number of depth charges and, depending on the boat, up to eight Lewis guns.

MTB 1, the first of the boats, was redesignated MTB 7 in 1937. Similarly, MTB 7 was redesignated MTB 1 in the same year. In 1938, the former MTB 1, now MTB 7, was redesignated MTB 13. At the same time, MTB 13 was redesignated MTB 7. Finally, later in 1938, the former MTB 1, now MTB 13, was again redesignated MTB 19. Thus, by the start of WWII, the boats were numbered MTBs 1-12 and 14-19 and formed two MTB flotillas: 1st MTB Flotilla, consisting of MTBs 1-6 and 14-19; and 2nd MTB Flotilla, consisting of MTBs 7-12.

The 1st MTB Flotilla was sent to Malta at the start of WWII and served with HMS Vulcan. They were soon recalled back to England in December 1939 to be based at Felixstowe with HMS Beehive, though MTB 19 was sent to HMS Vernon at Portsmouth. Along the way back, due to bad weather, MTB 6 had to be foundered. After they arrived, the remaining boats continued to operate in the English Channel until they were either lost or replaced. Those lost were MTBs 15, 16, and 17, all of which were mined in 1940.

The 2nd MTB Flotilla was commissioned in 1938 and assigned to Hong Kong with HMS Tamar. They were all lost during the Battle of Hong Kong in December 1941. MTB 8 was bombed by IJN aircraft and was lost, and MTB 12 was sunk in action by IJN landing craft. The remainder of the 2nd MTB Flotilla was scuttled on 26th December 1941.

Media

Images

• 

  MTB-1(2) featured in an in-game art.

See also

• MTB-1(1)
• MTB Vosper
• MTB Vosper(2)

External links

• unithistories.com - Royal Navy Coastal Forces 1940-1945
• naval-history.net - 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
• mwadui.com - Royal Navy Coastal Forces - Hong Kong
• Coastal Forces Heritage Trust - History
• yalumba.co.uk - British Power Boat Co Page 1 and British Power Boat Co Page 5
• Wikipedia - Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy

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