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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This page is about the British motor torpedo boat MTB-1(2). For other versions, see MTB-1 (Family).

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) internals (starboard side). Note the ammo storages just in front of the bridge.

MTB-1 2 series has the following armour layout:

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

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

MTB-1 2 series can be hull-broken by any round with a large enough diameter and a large enough explosive mass. In general, this is limited to HE rounds fired from guns greater than 4 inches (102 mm) in diameter. Hull-break triggers when such a round hits and destroys any hull compartment — or in some cases, the bridge — upon which the rest of the boat is destroyed. At MTB-1 2 series' battle rating, there is only one gun capable of hull-breaking her:

• the 8cwt QF Mk I, found on Dark Adventurer.

The hull is split into three compartments. The first compartment starts at the bow and ends between the pumps and the ammunition storage; the second ends just behind the bridge; and the third ends at the stern.

MTB-1 2 series has one ammunition storage that holds ammunition for both the fore and aft gun turrets. It is located in front of the bridge just above the waterline. Destroying it will instantly destroy the boat. Note that the ammunition storage says that it contains 7,760 rounds of ammunition; this is most likely a typo, since MTB-1 2 series can only carry a maximum of 3,880 rounds.

With a crew complement of 11, MTB-1 2 series' overall survivability is below-average.

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	~35.43
	Upgraded	86	43	~12.67	~22.41
RB/SB	Stock	53	26	~20.77	~36.73
	Upgraded	61	31	~17.44	~33.15

MTB-1 2 series has a displacement of 22.4 tons.

Armament

Primary armament

The primary armament consists of eight 7.72 mm Lewis 1916 machine guns in two quadruple mounts, one on either side of the bridge. There are 1,940 rounds of ammunition available for each mount, 485 rounds per gun, for a total of 3,880 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 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.

Turrets are named sequentially, clockwise, starting at the bow

Primary Armament Guidance
No.1 Turret (starboard)		No.2 Turret (port)
Horizontal	Vertical	Horizontal	Vertical
±180°	-5°/+43°	±160°	-5°/+43°

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
Universal	10	9	8	7	6	5
7.7 mm AP belt	10	9	8	7	6	5
7.7 mm API belt	10	9	8	7	6	5

The best ammunition type 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 and lack of tracer rounds, the incendiary tracer rounds can actually be stopped by some wooden hulls and almost all metal hulls. Additionally, their damage output is closer to that of the standard tracer round than the AP round, and they rarely start fires, if ever. While the IT rounds are technically the best against aircraft, with such a long reload time to switch to the API belt and with barely any noticeable difference, there's really no point in using the API belt for that either. Take only the AP belt for maximum effectiveness.

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 through the transom tail first, i.e. facing forwards.

The 18-inch Mk.XII is fairly average in terms of maximum speed and range, though it has a rather small explosive mass compared to other torpedoes. Still, a hit with the Mk.XII torpedo is more than enough to destroy any boat. Besides that, this torpedo is unnoteworthy.

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		74	1.37

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

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

Once unlocked, always have the Torpedo Mode modification installed. The higher maximum speed is much more valuable against the fast boats of this tier, and the maps are small enough that the decreased maximum range doesn't really matter. Note that the Torpedo Mode modification on MTB-1 2 series has the opposite effect compared to most other vehicles. Typically, the maximum range is increased at the cost of speed.

If using torpedoes, be aware that, unless already launched, the torpedoes can be shot at, and there is a small chance for them to detonate if destroyed. To avoid this, fire the torpedoes early on — and after 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 you want to take them or not.

Special armament

Mk.VII depth charges numbered according to their drop order (click to view a larger image).

MTB-1(2) has four possible loadouts:

1. 2x Mk.XII torpedo
2. 6x Mk.VII depth charge
3. 2x Mk.XII torpedo, 6x Mk.VII depth charge
4. Without load

Depth Charges

The Mk.VII depth charges are carried around the bridge area, three on each side. They are dropped one at a time in the following order:

1. Port, foremost
2. Starboard, foremost
3. Port, centre
4. Starboard, centre
5. Port, aftmost
6. Starboard, 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

There is no practical reason to use depth charges on any naval vessel in the game. Although they usually result in a one-hit kill if used properly, they are extremely situational and are actually a liability in most cases, since they essentially act as exposed ammo racks before they're dropped.

With some luck though, sailing up right next to a slower target and dropping a depth charge can lead to some success. If attempting this, remember the depth charge drop order and set the depth charge time delay to the minimum 3 seconds, since any higher time delay will only mean that the depth charge will sink further, and thus away, from the target. Again, this is extremely situational, and you will be better off not using depth charges at all.

Usage in battles

MTB-1 2 series is, for the most part, identical to her tech tree equivalent, MTB-1(1). She shares many of the same drawbacks — low per-hit damage, low maximum range, and poor survivability — but with one key difference: whereas the gun turrets are mounted on the fore and aft on MTB-1 1 series, they are mounted side-by-side amidships on MTB-1 2 series. This allows MTB-1 2 series to bring all of her guns to bear without having to expose the rear hull compartments at all, greatly increasing her potential survivability. In general, MTB-1 2 series has the exact same playstyle as MTB-1 1 series but with a bit of extra versatility because of the gun mount placements. Always angle the hull to show as little of the sides and rear and possible and stick to close-range engagements so that the guns' low maximum range isn't an issue. Also, keep in mind that MTB-1 2 series' ammunition is very limited, only being able to carry five reloads per gun, so only fire when you know you can land the shots and make every shot count. Despite the limited ammo, though, it's almost always better to empty out the magazines after each engagement because MTB-1 2 series, along with MTB-1 1 series, has the longest reload of any rank I naval vehicle. Emptying the magazines is done to reload the guns in safety, and while this does waste ammunition, it's certainly better than the alternative of having to reload mid-engagement.

The firing arcs for the gun mounts are very good, both of which are able to in all directions except in 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, as said before, it's best to angle the hull to show as little of the rear hull compartments as much as possible.

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
This is a premium vehicle: all modifications are unlocked on purchase

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Relatively large magazine capacity: can destroy most opponents without needing to reload
• Placement of guns allows all guns to fire directly ahead
• Large volume of fire can quickly take down low-flying aircraft

Cons:

• Only armed with small-calibre guns: low damage output per gun and low maximum range
• Longest reload of any reserve boat
• Below-average survivability
• Relatively weak torpedoes (low explosive mass compared to other similar torpedoes)

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. The first two coastal boats since WWI were ordered on 27th September 1935 by the Royal Navy, the order being given to British Power Boat Company based at Hythe, a town near Southampton. In addition to this initial 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 internally on rails above the engines. On the stern 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 their path. In addition to torpedoes, the boats were also armed with a number of depth charges and, depending on the exact 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 the Mediterranean at the start of WWII and was based at HMS Vulcan in Malta. They were soon recalled back to England in December 1939 to be based at HMS Beehive, Felixstowe, though MTB 19 was sent to HMS Vernon, 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 HMS Tamar, Hong Kong. They were all lost during the Battle of Hong Kong in December 1941. MTB 8 was bombed by IJN aircraft and was damaged beyond repair, 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 (Family)
• MTB-1(1)
• MTB Vosper

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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