Motor Torpedo Boats

Their Suit-ability for Islands Defence

IN these days of war scares, with their consequent defence programmes, the motor torpedo boat is receiving con siderable prominence, and one wonders if the formula used in the rout of the Spanish Armada is being applied to modern warfare.

Our history books tell us that the Eng lish success in that battle was due to the fact that their smaller boats out-man oeuvred the larger vessels, enabling them to get within their range and to dis charge a number of cannon before the Spaniards could train their heavier guns.

How similar in operation is the modem weapon, the motor torpedo boat, which, being a small target, is able to get practic ally right under the guns of a battleship to discharge its torpedoes.

The motor torpedo boat not only has favourable qualities as a weapon, but it is at the same time economical. In Eng land, a smaller class boat costs about £30,000 and the larger about £50,000, with out armaments. But boatbuilders in Sydney are of the opinion that, with their smaller overhead and general expenses and lower wages, these figures could be

reduced by one-third, and one boat alone is capable of sinking a battleship costing millions.

Britain, U.S.A., Italy and France are building M.T.B.’s in large numbers, and also supplying them to other countries, such as Norway, Sweden and Holland.

Australia is building 12.

But what of the Islands Territories?

What better weapon for their defence than the vicious little high-speed motor torpedo boat? A flotilla of six to a dozen could safeguard a large group of islands, in case of emergency, and in peace time could be used for patrolling or other pur poses.

Capable of a speed of 40 knots, using a pair of powerful petrol engines, these boats can also be equipped with an aux iliary Diesel engine, giving an economical cruising or patrolling speed of 10 knots.

They would be effective in operation against poachers or smugglers.

Flight Lieutenant W. N. Gibson re turned to Sydney from Port Moresby, Papua, by the “Macdhui” on June 14.

He was in charge of an Air Force am phibian which broke away from its moor ings during the night recently, and was damaged on a coral reef.