Osprey New Vanguard 74 : British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939-1945

During the Second World War, flotillas of the Royal Navy's Motor Torpedo Boats and other coastal forces fought a deadly war for control of the English Channel and the North Sea. These small, fast boats attacked enemy convoys, escorted freighters, landed secret agents and even raided enemy ports. Unsung heroes, these craft and their tiny crews helped stave off defeat in the dark days of 1940. The same vessels then took the fight to other waters, and by the end of the war, British MTBs had seen service in the Mediterranean, the Baltic and the Far East. This book examines the development and operation of these frail, sleek little warships, and describes the way they were manned and how they fought. Text by Angus Konstam with illustrations by Tony Bryan.

Contents

• Introduction
• Design and Role
• Operation
• The MTB Fleet
• Bibliography
• Colour Plate Commentary
• Index