SEA TERRIERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 237, 13 November 1940, Page 7

SEA TERRIERS

USE OF MOTOR BOATS

FAST TORPEDO CARRIERS

| ' A new and weighty factor in naval strategy of to-day is the use of motor boats*. Fast and light, these small craft are now being used by Britain. Germany and Italy for lightning attacks on merchant shipping and naval craft. Their potentialities were first seen during the 1.914--18 Avar, when used by Italy—then our ally—for successful attacks against enemy shipping particularly that in ports protected by the boom system. Through the years oT peace experimental work was responsible for pro dueing faster and better armed vessels (writes Ros* Terry in the Melbourne Sun). Notable for his efforts in experimental work Avitli the little ships Avas Lawrence ot' Arabia (known in the R.A.F. as Aircraftsman ShaAv).. Quite frequently he was at tlie helm of small, bomb-proof motor boats,, which Avere attacked by R.A.F. 'planes with heavy practice bombs. This not only gaA r e the pilots good bombing practice, but revealed the value of the boats under near-active service conditions. Among experts they have long been the subject of controversy. It has often been said that they can do the work or large destroyers, but Britain's recent acquisition from U.S.A. of 50 destroyers suggests that the effectiveness of the smaller craft is limited. With quarters of from six to eight men, the trim little vcsstels ; uusually from 50 to 80 feet long, can take the sea in nearly all weathers. Their maximum speed varies from 30 to 40 knots. Acceleration and manoeuvreability are other features. It takes about seven seconds for them to go from 10' to 40 knots. Cost f 75,000 Each. Built at the cost of about £75,000 each, the British vessels can carry tAVo 21-inch torpedo' tubes or foijr ISrinch tubes. Other armaments are depth charges and machine guns in poAver-operated turrets, similar to those on. R.A.F. 'planes.

Various designs have been adopted by many other countries for oi'fence and de/ence. Germany and Italy arc believed to possess -considerable numbers of them, and it is quite possible that Hitler would use them in his threatened invasion of Britain.- Current war reports suggest that German torpedo boats are operating from captured Channel ports and canals.

Their value in winter under war conditions will probably be proved in the coming months.

Italy has used the boats in the Mediterranean, but not Avith the success she expected. They were most likely being used in place of larger craft and their failure proves to some extent that small boats can be used only for specific purposes. An outstanding example of the use of such vessels was the disablement of the big French battleship Richelieu at Dakar after the French defeat.

A British naval motor boat entered Dakar Harbour, raced to the battleship and dropped depth charges under her stern, damaging her propellers and steering gear. This action paved the way for a successful attack on the battleship by" torpedo r planes of the Fleet Air Arm.