We begin our acquaintance with the British naval forces with the famous early-series Fairmile model D motor torpedo boats. Throughout 1941, engineers of Britain's Royal Navy were busy developing and testing new types of gunboats and torpedo gunboats in order to design a countermeasure against the German Schnellboots – fast torpedo boats that were interfering with the operations of British military and merchant vessels in the English Channel. The requirements advanced for the vessel were perfectly clear – the boat was intended as a universal platform to carry powerful armaments of various types, and it also had to possess a speed of no less than 30 knots, so as to at least stand a chance of counteracting the fast-moving German naval predators. In the course of testing, the shipbuilders came to the conclusion that the perfect platform would be a boat with an angular bow and stern, but also with a rounded bottom that could house four screw propellers. This design was also compatible with military manufacturing of the time – boats of this series were being produced and upgraded from earlier Fairmiles at small wharfs along the shores of Great Britain. And so the Fairmile D universal (gun/torpedo) boat was born, and immediately dubbed ’Dog Boat‘ by the sailors. This nickname was clearly inspired by the model letter, but as it turned out, the Fairmile became a true guard dog of the English Channel.

The Fairmile D was one of the most widely produced boats of the Second World War. The various production series differed primarily in their armament – the cannon and machine-gun weaponry was soon significantly improved, torpedo tubes and depth charges began to appear on the boat, and many gunboats were modernized into torpedo gunboats. Today's guest is the Fairmile D early-series motor torpedo boat. It is a rather large vessel measuring 35 meters in length, equipped with four engines with a combined power of 5,000 hp, providing a maximum speed of 32 knots (a little less than 60 km/h). The boat was armed with one automatic 40mm 2-pdr QF Mk IIc cannon on the bow, twin 20mm Oerlikon Mk V machine guns on the stern, two twin high-caliber .5 Vickers Mk III machine guns and two twin rifle-caliber .303 Vickers No. 5 Mk I machine guns on the bridge. This version of the boat carried no torpedoes, but had a pair of Mk VII depth charges. Read the full article and leave your comments on our website!