During the terms of the Lend-Lease arrangement, the Royal Navy Admiralty ordered 38 American PT boats. 21 were delivered to British, the rest were handed over to the Soviet Navy. 26 boats were supplied by Electric Boat company (Elco) (70 and 77 foot), five by Higgins (78 foot), and the remainder from the US Navy existing stock. The first batch of 70-foot Elco boats (PTs 10 to 19) were delivered to British in November-December 1940, where after refit they were designated as MTB 259 to 268.
I have a picture of MTB 385 which is Vosper Type I MTB in production since 1943 ('Vosper MTBs in Action' Squadron-Signal 4013) with radar antenna on her mast. Since 1943 British would equip their submarines with radars and detectors. If they could fit radar equipment into a sub, why not fix on MTBs as well?
Historically speaking, radars were introduced to British MTBs in 1941. That was Type 286PU radar unit developed from ASV Mark I aircraft radar. The Type 286PU could detect an enemy torpedo boat or a submarine at a range of two miles under reasonably good weather conditions. Radar units were available and installation time would take about a week. Along with radar they would get Type 244 IFF equipment.
MTBs carried usually 4 standard Mark VII dc (410 pounds each). DC were used against surface ships (yep, I mean it) and against submarines in ASW. Yet effectiveness was low as MTBs did not have ASDIC (sonar that is).
So by 1943 a German boat could be easily attacked by a British MTB (some of them (minority) were Elco made boats) equipped with radar, torps, and depth charges.
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Wie einst Lili Marleen.
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